A depiction of the conflict between King Henry VIII of England and his Lord Chancellor, Sir Thomas More, who refuses to swear the Oath of Supremacy declaring Henry Supreme Head of the Church in England.
"...a motion picture for all times!"
Top Billed Cast
Paul Scofield
Thomas More
Wendy Hiller
Alice More
Leo McKern
Thomas Cromwell
Robert Shaw
King Henry VIII
Orson Welles
Cardinal Wolsey
Susannah York
Margaret More
Nigel Davenport
The Duke of Norfolk
John Hurt
Richard Rich
Detailed Critic & Audience Reviews
J John ChardVerified TMDB Critic
2016-05-08
The agony of the moral high ground.
Fred Zinnemann directs and Robert Bolt adapts the screenplay from his own play. It stars Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller, Leo McKern, Robert Shaw, Orson Welles, Susannah York, Nigel Davenport and John Hurt. Music is by Georges Delerue and cinematography by Ted Moore. Plot has Scofield as Sir Thomas More, the man who refused to cede to the mighty machinations of King Henry VIII (Shaw).
It's very much an actors movie, beautifully literate and costumed and photographed up to the nines. So not one for those more keen on the action orientated historical epic, t...
C CinemaSerfVerified TMDB Critic
2024-09-02
Paul Scofield is superb as the Lord Chancellor of England ultimately torn between his loyalty to his king and to his conscience. As Henry VIII (Robert Shaw) becomes more and more infatuated by Anne Boleyn (Vanessa Redgrave) he insists that all of his subjects acknowledge his absolute supremacy over the church. Most, fearful for their lives and property, acquiesce but Sir Thomas More (Scofield) cannot. The King has long relied on the honest counsel of his friend as so initially is content to allow him to retire, but soon those conspiring against More use everything at their disposal to bring hi...
