Review: Film: A Man for All Seasons, by Julie Renee Phelan

Thumps from 1 to 5: Thump of 4.

            The film “A Man for All Seasons” was released in 1966. The movie is based upon a play written by Robert Bolte. The film is directed by Fred Zinnemann, starring Paul Scofield, playing Sir Thomas More, Orson Welles, playing Cardinal Wolsey, Wendy Hiller, playing Alice More, Leo McKern, playing Thomas Cromwell, Robert Shaw, playing Henry the VIII Susannah York, playing Margaret More, Nigel Davenport, playing The Duke of Norfolk , John Hurt, playing Richard Rich , Corin Redgrave, playing William Roper, Colin Blakely, playing Matthew, Cyril Luckham, playing Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, Jack Gwillim, playing Chief Justice, and Vanessa Redgrave, playing Anne Boleyn.

Robert Bolte portrays Sir Thomas More, the ultimate man of conscience. Thomas More remains true to his principles and religion under all circumstances and at all times. For Thomas More, human dignity provides the right to be right, not the right to be wrong. However, the government begs to differ. Thomas More learns that humans in lesser power do not have the right to be right, but governments with more power have the right to be wrong. If a person chooses the right to their own conscience and human dignity, they may loose their head in the form of a beheading on behalf of the state. Bolte borrowed the title for the movie from Robert Whittington, a contemporary of More, who wrote him in 1520:

More is a man of an angel's wit and singular learning. I know not his fellow. For where is the man of that gentleness, lowliness and affability? And, as time requires, a man of marvelous mirth and pastimes, and sometimes of sad gravity. A man for all seasons. [1]"The film revolves around a crucial 16th Century political and religious controversy. The controversy was the power struggles over King Henry the VIII’s insistence on divorcing Catherine of Aragon and marrying his mistress, Anne Boleyn. The Pope of the Catholic Church had the power to grant Henry the VIII’s divorce. However, the Pope was not so inclined. As a result of the Pope’s refusal, King Henry the VIII declared himself head of the Church of England. Henry dissolved the monasteries, prohibited and persecuted Roman Catholic clergy and parishioners in England.

Sir Thomas More was the 16th-century Lord Chancellor of England who refused to sign a letter asking the Pope to annul the King's marriage and resigned rather than take an “Oath of Supremacy” declaring the King the Supreme Head of the Church of England. The King is Henry VIII of England and his wife is Catherine of Aragon. The film portrays Thomas More as a man of principle, motivated by his devout Roman Catholic faith and envied by rivals such as Thomas Cromwell for his ethics and discipline to truth both within himself and outside towards others.

Richard Rich was a social climber, who was responsible the demise and death of Sir Thomas More. Richard Rich in a Faustian Bargain, sold his soul to the devil for the accumulation of wealth and power. Rich was a former acquaintance of Sir Thomas Moore, who told a lie regarding Thomas More’s attitude toward Henry the VIII’s divorce. Rich's lie condemned More to death through beheading. Richand Rich later became Chancellor of England.

In the film, More was portrayed as a Renaissance Humanist. The main emphasis of Renaissance Humanism is on human dignity and potential, and an elevated status of mankind in nature. Despite Sir Thomas More’s silence, the British government did not treat him with dignity, and circumvented their own laws in order to grant King Henry the VIII a divorce. More’s refusal to speak or sign the oath was not a denouncement of Henry, but rather as a matter of law, his silence represents acquiescence. Thomas More was devoted to his love of books and education including his own daughter’s impressive learning.

“A Man for All Seasons” was nominated for eight Academy Awards including Best Supporting Actor for Robert Shaw, and Best Supporting Actress for Wendy Hiller. The film won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Paul Scofield. The film won Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay by Robert Bolte, Cinematography by Ted Moore, Costume Design, and Best Director for Fred Zinneman. Although this film was nominated and won many academy awards, it is not to be viewed solely for entertainment purposes. This film is best when viewed in the interest of the historical subject matter of Sir Thomas More.

Work Cited

Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. 28 November 2009 at 22:25. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Man_for_All_Seasons_(1966_film)

Catholic Education Resources: http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/politics/pg0078.html

          [1] Marvin O'Connell. "A Man for all Seasons: an Historian's Demur." Catholic Dossier 8 no. 2 (March-April, 2002): 16-19.