The historical epic “Becket” is turning 60 this week. When it was released, “Becket” was considered Important. It was a huge and handsome production with sumptuous sets and costumes and a cast seemingly of thousands. And it featured two of the top and sexiest stars of the day – Peter O’Toole, fresh from his Oscar-nominated triumph in 1962’s “Lawrence of Arabia” and Richard Burton whose career had been overshadowed with his high-profile love affair with Elizabeth Taylor that began during the production of the infamous 1963 “Cleopatra.”
Set in the 12th century England, “Becket” revolves around the relationship between the hedonistic King Henry II (O’Toole), who never met a wench he didn’t bed, and Thomas Becket, his loyal friend and wingman for Henry’s sexual escapades. And because the Production Code was still in force, the film can only imply that Henry is in love with Becket. Henry makes Becket his...
Set in the 12th century England, “Becket” revolves around the relationship between the hedonistic King Henry II (O’Toole), who never met a wench he didn’t bed, and Thomas Becket, his loyal friend and wingman for Henry’s sexual escapades. And because the Production Code was still in force, the film can only imply that Henry is in love with Becket. Henry makes Becket his...
- 3/12/2024
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
There’s a good chance that “Mank,” David Fincher’s stylish black-and-white chronicle of veteran Hollywood screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz’ struggle to write the screenplay for Orson Welles’ 1941 masterpiece “Citizen Kane,” will dominate the Oscar nominations on March 15. Our Oscar experts are predicting the Netflix release could garner has many has 13 nominations including picture, director, screenplay for Fincher’s latest father Jack Fincher, actor for Gary Oldman and supporting actress for Amanda Seyfried.
Exactly 70 years ago Mank’s brother, writer/director Joseph L. Mankiewicz, dominated the Academy Awards. His “All About Eve,” a sophisticated and sharp drama starring Bette Davis as aging theater actress Margo Channing who mistakenly befriends and mentors an ambitious young actress Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter), earned 14 Oscar nominations. “All About Eve” actually broke all records for Oscar nominations besting 1939’s “Gone with the Wind” lucky 13 bids.
The younger Mank’s masterpiece went on to win six...
Exactly 70 years ago Mank’s brother, writer/director Joseph L. Mankiewicz, dominated the Academy Awards. His “All About Eve,” a sophisticated and sharp drama starring Bette Davis as aging theater actress Margo Channing who mistakenly befriends and mentors an ambitious young actress Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter), earned 14 Oscar nominations. “All About Eve” actually broke all records for Oscar nominations besting 1939’s “Gone with the Wind” lucky 13 bids.
The younger Mank’s masterpiece went on to win six...
- 3/12/2021
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
Beginning with The Andromeda Strain in 1971, disease movies quickly established themselves as a commonplace cinematic subgenre, usually within the science fiction umbrella. In the years that followed, we got the likes of Outbreak, Contagion, Virus, The Stand, 12 Monkeys, The Crazies, 28 Days Later, most post-Night of the Living Dead zombie movies, The Omega Man, Winds of Terror, and dozens of others.
It only made sense. Despite antibiotics and advances in medical research, new dread diseases continued to crop up on an annual basis, each one threatening (for a while there anyway) to become a pandemic that could wipe out millions. In recent decades, none of them had killed more than a few thousand people, but the threat and the fear were a constant presence. There was swine flu, various incarnations of bird flu, Sars, West Nile Virus, mad cow disease, Hantavirus ,superbugs, and Ebola. Add to that the...
It only made sense. Despite antibiotics and advances in medical research, new dread diseases continued to crop up on an annual basis, each one threatening (for a while there anyway) to become a pandemic that could wipe out millions. In recent decades, none of them had killed more than a few thousand people, but the threat and the fear were a constant presence. There was swine flu, various incarnations of bird flu, Sars, West Nile Virus, mad cow disease, Hantavirus ,superbugs, and Ebola. Add to that the...
- 3/10/2020
- by Mike Cecchini
- Den of Geek
In 1964, Variety reviewer Robert J. Landry was over the moon about the Paramount movie “Becket,” which Edward Anhalt scripted from Jean Anouilh’s play. Landry said the film was “invigorated by story substance, personality clash, bright dialogue and religious interest. Patrons and perhaps reviewers will tend to heap credit on the actors. They deserve it … but the film proves again that a great film is the harmoniously combined amalgam of many professional talents.” The result, he said, is “an intellectual as well as an emotional experience.”
He was talking about the Peter Glenville-directed movie, but those exact words also describe Netflix’s “The Two Popes.” The film scored three Oscar noms, for lead actor Jonathan Pryce, supporting for Anthony Hopkins and the script by Anthony McCarten (his fourth Oscar nomination in six years).
In conversation, McCarten cites “Becket” as one of the films that impressed him when he was young,...
He was talking about the Peter Glenville-directed movie, but those exact words also describe Netflix’s “The Two Popes.” The film scored three Oscar noms, for lead actor Jonathan Pryce, supporting for Anthony Hopkins and the script by Anthony McCarten (his fourth Oscar nomination in six years).
In conversation, McCarten cites “Becket” as one of the films that impressed him when he was young,...
- 2/3/2020
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
Montgomery Clift would’ve celebrated his 98th birthday on October 17, 2018. The iconic actor gave only a small number of onscreen performances before his untimely death in 1966 at the age of 45. Yet several of those titles remain classics. In honor of his birthday, let’s take a look back at 12 of his greatest films, ranked worst to best.
A product of the Actor’s Studio, where he studied under Lee Strasberg and Elia Kazan, Clift had a successful Broadway career before moving to Hollywood. Among his notable stage credits was the role of Henry in Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “The Skin of Our Teeth.” Like James Dean and Marlon Brando, he was one of the original method actors, calling upon past memories and experiences to inform his performances.
He came to the attention of movie audiences in 1948 with a pair of releases: Howard Hawks‘ western “Red River” and Fred Zinnemann‘s WWII drama “The Search.
A product of the Actor’s Studio, where he studied under Lee Strasberg and Elia Kazan, Clift had a successful Broadway career before moving to Hollywood. Among his notable stage credits was the role of Henry in Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “The Skin of Our Teeth.” Like James Dean and Marlon Brando, he was one of the original method actors, calling upon past memories and experiences to inform his performances.
He came to the attention of movie audiences in 1948 with a pair of releases: Howard Hawks‘ western “Red River” and Fred Zinnemann‘s WWII drama “The Search.
- 10/17/2018
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
What? Doctors aren’t perfect? And some practicing doctors are incompetent? Stanley Kramer’s All-Star medical soap opera takes two unlikely students (Robert Mitchum and Frank Sinatra) through med school and confronts them with a number of pat dramatic complications. But the movie belongs to top-billed Olivia de Havilland, who lends a touch of class to the entire iffy enterprise.
Not as a Stranger
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1955 / B&W / 1:85 widescreen / 135 min. / Street Date January 9, 2018 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Olivia de Havilland, Robert Mitchum, Frank Sinatra, Gloria Grahame, Broderick Crawford, Charles Bickford, Myron McCormick, Lon Chaney Jr., Jesse White, Harry Morgan, Lee Marvin, Virginia Christine, Whit Bissell, Jack Raine, Mae Clarke, John Dierkes, King Donovan, Franklyn Farnum, Paul Guilfoile, Nancy Kulp, Harry Lauter, Juanita Moore, Jerry Paris, Stafford Repp, Carl Switzer, Will Wright.
Cinematography: Franz Planer
Film Editor: Fred Knutson
Original Music: George Antheil
Written by Edna and Edward Anhalt,...
Not as a Stranger
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1955 / B&W / 1:85 widescreen / 135 min. / Street Date January 9, 2018 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Olivia de Havilland, Robert Mitchum, Frank Sinatra, Gloria Grahame, Broderick Crawford, Charles Bickford, Myron McCormick, Lon Chaney Jr., Jesse White, Harry Morgan, Lee Marvin, Virginia Christine, Whit Bissell, Jack Raine, Mae Clarke, John Dierkes, King Donovan, Franklyn Farnum, Paul Guilfoile, Nancy Kulp, Harry Lauter, Juanita Moore, Jerry Paris, Stafford Repp, Carl Switzer, Will Wright.
Cinematography: Franz Planer
Film Editor: Fred Knutson
Original Music: George Antheil
Written by Edna and Edward Anhalt,...
- 1/9/2018
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
It’s the one saga of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral that puts Western legend into proper perspective as to the nature of money, power and the law: Edward Anhalt’s vision is of a gangland turf war with sagebrush and whiskey bottles. James Garner is a humorless Wyatt Earp, matched by Jason Robards’ excellent Doc Holliday. It’s one of John Sturges’ best movies.
Hour of the Gun
Blu-ray
Twilight Time
1967 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 101 min. / Street Date September 19, 2017 / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store 29.95
Starring: James Garner, Jason Robards, Robert Ryan, Albert Salmi, Charles Aidman, Steve Ihnat, Michael Tolan, William Windom, Lonny Chapman, Larry Gates, William Schallert, Jon Voight.
Cinematography: Lucien Ballard
Art Direction: Alfred C. Ybarra
Film Editor: Ferris Webster
Original Music: Jerry Goldsmith
Written by Edward Anhalt
Produced and Directed by John Sturges
Producer-director John Sturges’ Hour of the Gun was a dismal non-performer in...
Hour of the Gun
Blu-ray
Twilight Time
1967 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 101 min. / Street Date September 19, 2017 / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store 29.95
Starring: James Garner, Jason Robards, Robert Ryan, Albert Salmi, Charles Aidman, Steve Ihnat, Michael Tolan, William Windom, Lonny Chapman, Larry Gates, William Schallert, Jon Voight.
Cinematography: Lucien Ballard
Art Direction: Alfred C. Ybarra
Film Editor: Ferris Webster
Original Music: Jerry Goldsmith
Written by Edward Anhalt
Produced and Directed by John Sturges
Producer-director John Sturges’ Hour of the Gun was a dismal non-performer in...
- 9/19/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
True-Crime Terror! Richard Fleischer and Edward Anhalt’s riveting serial killer makes extensive use of split- and multi-screen imagery. One of the most infamous murder sprees on record fudges some facts but still impresses as a novel approach.
The Boston Strangler
Blu-ray
Twilight Time
1968 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 116 min. / Street Date November 15, 2016 / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store 29.95
Starring Tony Curtis, Henry Fonda, George Kennedy, Mike Kellin, Hurd Hatfield, Murray Hamilton, Jeff Corey, Sally Kellerman, George Furth
Cinematography Richard H. Kline
Art Direction Richard Day, Jack Martin Smith
Film Editor Marion Rothman
Written by Edward Anhalt from the book by Gerold Frank
Produced by Robert Fryer
Directed by Richard Fleischer
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Twelve years ago i wasn’t all that impressed with The Boston Strangler. I thought it too slick and felt that its noted multi-screen sequences were a trick gimmick. I appreciate it more now — except for the name cast,...
The Boston Strangler
Blu-ray
Twilight Time
1968 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 116 min. / Street Date November 15, 2016 / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store 29.95
Starring Tony Curtis, Henry Fonda, George Kennedy, Mike Kellin, Hurd Hatfield, Murray Hamilton, Jeff Corey, Sally Kellerman, George Furth
Cinematography Richard H. Kline
Art Direction Richard Day, Jack Martin Smith
Film Editor Marion Rothman
Written by Edward Anhalt from the book by Gerold Frank
Produced by Robert Fryer
Directed by Richard Fleischer
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Twelve years ago i wasn’t all that impressed with The Boston Strangler. I thought it too slick and felt that its noted multi-screen sequences were a trick gimmick. I appreciate it more now — except for the name cast,...
- 11/26/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Surround three international stars with several thousand extras in Franco's Spain and you've got yourself an instant historical adventure epic. Unfunny Cary Grant has a Big Gun, Spanish peasant guerilla (!) Frank Sinatra looks totally lost, and Sophia Loren conquers Hollywood by making with the sultry eyes and body moves. The Pride and the Passion Blu-ray Olive Films 1957 / Color / 1:78 widescreen / 125 132 min. / Street Date August 16, 2016 / available through the Olive Films website / 29.95 Starring Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, Sophia Loren, Theodore Bikel, John Wengraf, Jay Novello Cinematography Franz Planer Production Designer Rudolph Sternad Art Direction Fernando Carrere, Gil Parrondo Film Editors Ellsworth Hoagland, Frederic Knudtson Original Music George Antheil Written by Edna Anhalt & Edward Anhalt from the novel The Gun by C.S. Forester Produced and Directed by Stanley Kramer
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Successful producer Stanley Kramer graduated to directing in 1955; two years later he was helming this giant, rather ill-conceived big-star epic in Spain.
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Successful producer Stanley Kramer graduated to directing in 1955; two years later he was helming this giant, rather ill-conceived big-star epic in Spain.
- 8/26/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Techno-thriller fans have been waiting a long time for a good disc of action ace John Sturges' sci-fi espionage suspenser. George Maharis, Richard Basehart, Anne Francis and Dana Andrews must stop a madman who has snatched a full battery of deadly bio-warfare viruses from a super-secret government lab. Each flask can wipe out an entire city, and one of them will kill every living thing on the planet. The Satan Bug Blu-ray Kl Studio Classics 1965 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 114 min. / Street Date September 22, 2015 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95 Starring George Maharis, Richard Basehart, Anne Francis, Dana Andrews, John Larkin, Richard Bull, Frank Sutton, Edward Asner, Simon Oakland, John Anderson, James Hong, Hari Rhodes, Henry Beckman, Harry Lauter, Tol Avery, Russ Bender, James Doohan, Harold Gould, Carey Loftin. Cinematography Robert Surtees Film Editor Ferris Webster Original Music Jerry Goldsmith Written by Edward Anhalt, James Clavell from the novel by Ian Stuart (Alistair MacLean...
- 9/22/2015
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Teresa Wright and Matt Damon in 'The Rainmaker' Teresa Wright: From Marlon Brando to Matt Damon (See preceding post: "Teresa Wright vs. Samuel Goldwyn: Nasty Falling Out.") "I'd rather have luck than brains!" Teresa Wright was quoted as saying in the early 1950s. That's understandable, considering her post-Samuel Goldwyn choice of movie roles, some of which may have seemed promising on paper.[1] Wright was Marlon Brando's first Hollywood leading lady, but that didn't help her to bounce back following the very public spat with her former boss. After all, The Men was released before Elia Kazan's film version of A Streetcar Named Desire turned Brando into a major international star. Chances are that good film offers were scarce. After Wright's brief 1950 comeback, for the third time in less than a decade she would be gone from the big screen for more than a year.
- 3/11/2015
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Robert Redford movies: TCM shows 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,' 'The Sting' They don't make movie stars like they used to, back in the days of Louis B. Mayer, Jack Warner, and Harry Cohn. That's what nostalgists have been bitching about for the last four or five decades; never mind the fact that movie stars have remained as big as ever despite the demise of the old studio system and the spectacular rise of television more than sixty years ago. This month of January 2015, Turner Classic Movies will be honoring one such post-studio era superstar: Robert Redford. Beginning this Monday evening, January 6, TCM will be presenting 15 Robert Redford movies. Tonight's entries include Redford's two biggest blockbusters, both directed by George Roy Hill and co-starring Paul Newman: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which turned Redford, already in his early 30s, into a major film star to rival Rudolph Valentino,...
- 1/7/2015
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Peter O’Toole movies and Best Actor Oscar nominations (photo: young Peter O’Toole in the early ’60s) (See previous post: "Peter O’Toole ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ Actor: Eight-Time Oscar Nominee Dead at 81.") At the 2003 Academy Awards ceremony, Meryl Streep handed Peter O’Toole an Honorary Oscar. That remained O’Toole’s sole Academy Award "victory." In fact, with eight Best Actor Oscar nominations to his credit, Peter O’Toole held — or rather, holds — the Oscars’ record for the most nods in any of the acting categories without a single (competitive) win. He was shortlisted for the following films: ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ "I can’t imagine anyone whom I’m less like than T.E. Lawrence," Peter O’Toole himself admitted, but his characterization in David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia (1962) was widely admired all the same. The movie itself, however historically inaccurate, also received enthusiastic praise, and was perceived as...
- 12/16/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Paul Henreid: From lighting two cigarettes and blowing smoke onto Bette Davis’ face to lighting two cigarettes while directing twin Bette Davises Paul Henreid is back as Turner Classic Movies’ Star of the Month of July 2013. TCM will be showing four movies featuring Henreid (Now, Voyager; Deception; The Madwoman of Chaillot; The Spanish Main) and one directed by him (Dead Ringer). (Photo: Paul Henreid lights two cigarettes on the set of Dead Ringer, while Bette Davis remembers the good old days.) (See also: “Paul Henreid Actor.”) Irving Rapper’s Now, Voyager (1942) was one of Bette Davis’ biggest hits, and it remains one of the best-remembered romantic movies of the studio era — a favorite among numerous women and some gay men. But why? Personally, I find Now, Voyager a major bore, made (barely) watchable only by a few of the supporting performances (Claude Rains, Best Supporting Actress Academy Award nominee...
- 7/10/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Jeremiah Johnson
Directed by Sydney Pollack
Written by Edward Anhalt and John Milius
1972,
The Western, at its creative and commercial peak – the late 1960s-early 1970s – proved itself an astoundingly pliable genre. It could be molded to deal with topical subject matter like racism (Skin Game, 1971), feminism (The Ballad of Josie, 1967), the excesses of capitalism (Oklahoma Crude, 1973). It could be bent into religious allegories (High Plains Drifter, 1973), or an equally allegorical address of the country’s most controversial war (Ulzana’s Raid, 1972). Westerns could be used to deconstruct America’s most self-congratulatory myths (Doc, 1971), and address historical slights and omissions (Little Big Man, 1970). They could provide heady social commentary (Hombre, 1967), or simple adventure and excitement (The Professionals, 1966). They could be funny (The Hallelujah Trail, 1965), unremittingly grim (Hour of the Gun, 1967), surreal (Greaser’s Palace, 1972), even be stretched into the shape of rock musical (Zachariah, 1971) or monster movie (Valley of Gwangi, 1969).
But...
Directed by Sydney Pollack
Written by Edward Anhalt and John Milius
1972,
The Western, at its creative and commercial peak – the late 1960s-early 1970s – proved itself an astoundingly pliable genre. It could be molded to deal with topical subject matter like racism (Skin Game, 1971), feminism (The Ballad of Josie, 1967), the excesses of capitalism (Oklahoma Crude, 1973). It could be bent into religious allegories (High Plains Drifter, 1973), or an equally allegorical address of the country’s most controversial war (Ulzana’s Raid, 1972). Westerns could be used to deconstruct America’s most self-congratulatory myths (Doc, 1971), and address historical slights and omissions (Little Big Man, 1970). They could provide heady social commentary (Hombre, 1967), or simple adventure and excitement (The Professionals, 1966). They could be funny (The Hallelujah Trail, 1965), unremittingly grim (Hour of the Gun, 1967), surreal (Greaser’s Palace, 1972), even be stretched into the shape of rock musical (Zachariah, 1971) or monster movie (Valley of Gwangi, 1969).
But...
- 1/6/2013
- by Bill Mesce
- SoundOnSight
Out of circulation for decades, Peter Glenville’s acclaimed film of Jean Anouilh’s 1959 play was recently restored by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Martin Scorsese’s Film Foundation. Friendly rivals Richard Burton and Peter O’Toole once again don regal robes as Archbishop Thomas Becket and King Henry II, whose emotional relationship sours over matters of faith. Edward Anhalt’s eloquent, endlessly quotable screenplay won the only one of the 12 Oscars this film was nominated for. Five years later O’Toole played an older Henry II in The Lion in Winter.
- 5/25/2012
- by Danny
- Trailers from Hell
Scribe William Monahan ("The Departed," "Kingdom of Heaven") is set to pen and direct a new adaptation of Jean Anouilh's 1959 French play "Becket" reports Deadline.
The story is a fictional spin on the friendship between 12th century ruler King Henry II and the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket.
Starting out as good friends who lived a hedonistic lifestyle together, Becket became a reformed devout who tried to preserve the rights of the church against the king and is ultimately murdered.
The play was previously turned into a 1964 film starring Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton which won that film's scribe Edward Anhalt an Oscar.
Monahan is re-adapting the play and plans to change the scope of the story. He tells the site "The world of the Plantagenets was very rich and we'll open the play up into that world and go into the relationships of the Angevin court more than...
The story is a fictional spin on the friendship between 12th century ruler King Henry II and the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket.
Starting out as good friends who lived a hedonistic lifestyle together, Becket became a reformed devout who tried to preserve the rights of the church against the king and is ultimately murdered.
The play was previously turned into a 1964 film starring Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton which won that film's scribe Edward Anhalt an Oscar.
Monahan is re-adapting the play and plans to change the scope of the story. He tells the site "The world of the Plantagenets was very rich and we'll open the play up into that world and go into the relationships of the Angevin court more than...
- 11/15/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
He has Colin Farrell/Keira Knightley/Colin Farrell gangster romance London Boulevard about to hit cinemas, but writer William Monahan has already targeted his next directing job. He’s planning to adapt and shoot a fresh take on Jean Anouilh’s play Becket.The stage work charts the disintegration of the friendship between King Henry II and Thomas Becket, who served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until 1170. While the pair initially agreed about the King’s reach with regards to religion in England, their disagreement flared into conflict and Becket was brutally murdered by followers of the monarch.Monahan’s script won’t be the first version of the play to hit the big screen – Peter Glenville’s 1964 film starred Richard Burton as the titular holy man and Peter O’Toole as the king, and went on to score 12 Oscar nominations, winning the Best Adapted screenplay award for Edward Anhalt’s script.
- 11/14/2010
- EmpireOnline
Exclusive: William Monahan, the Oscar-winning The Departed scribe who made his directing debut on the upcoming London Boulevard, has found his next film. He'll write and direct Becket, a new adaptation of the Jean Anouilh play that was previously turned into a 1964 film that starred Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton. That film, about the friendship and estrangement between King Henry II and the Archbishop of Canterbury, won an Oscar for scribe for Edward Anhalt and was nominated in 11 other categories. Monahan is basing his film on the original text of the 1959 French play. He'll produce with Smuggler Films' Patrick Milling Smith, John Hart and Brian Carmody. They are raising the production financing and plan to start pre-production in the UK early next year. London Boulevard, which stars Colin Farrell and Keira Knightley, opens in the UK November 26 and opens in the Us in February. "It's an adaptation, or re-invigoration,...
- 11/12/2010
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
The conflict between King Henry II and Thomas Becket is planning a return to the stage, with a potential new film version in the wings.
Smuggler Films has acquired live stage and film rights to Jean Anouilh's 1960 play "Becket" and enlisted translator and playwright Ranjit Bolt to pen a new adaptation.
The play centers on Becket, who was appointed by his friend Henry II as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162 then ultimately sided with the church against the crown.
The play's original Broadway production in 1960 won four Tonys, including best play. Its 1964 film adaptation, starring Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole, went on to earn 12 Academy Award nominations, winning Edward Anhalt the Oscar for best adapted screenplay.
Bolt, nephew of screenwriter Robert Bolt, has translated a number of French plays for productions at Britain's Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. He described "Becket" as "the tragedy of a great...
Smuggler Films has acquired live stage and film rights to Jean Anouilh's 1960 play "Becket" and enlisted translator and playwright Ranjit Bolt to pen a new adaptation.
The play centers on Becket, who was appointed by his friend Henry II as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162 then ultimately sided with the church against the crown.
The play's original Broadway production in 1960 won four Tonys, including best play. Its 1964 film adaptation, starring Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole, went on to earn 12 Academy Award nominations, winning Edward Anhalt the Oscar for best adapted screenplay.
Bolt, nephew of screenwriter Robert Bolt, has translated a number of French plays for productions at Britain's Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. He described "Becket" as "the tragedy of a great...
- 3/31/2010
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Two people penned the screenplays to the most best-picture champs at the Academy Awards: three. One of them was Francis Ford Coppola: "Patton" (1970), "The Godfather" (1972), "The Godfather, Part II" (1974). Who was the other? To see the answer, click here! Answer: C.) Alan Jay Lerner wrote the screenplays to three Oscar best-picture winners: "An American in Paris" (1952), "Gigi" (1958) and "My Fair Lady" (1964). He only won Oscars for two of those scripts: "An American in Paris" and "Gigi." "My Fair Lady" lost the race for best adapted screenplay to "Becket" by Edward Anhalt. More Gold Derby Oscars Quizzes! What movie nabbed the most Oscars without winning best picture? Can you spot...
- 11/15/2009
- by tomoneil
- Gold Derby
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.