A Man for All Seasons(1988 film)

A Man for All Seasons
VHS cover
Genre	Drama
Based on	A Man for All SeasonsbyRobert Bolt
Written by	Robert Bolt
Directed by	Charlton Heston
Starring	Charlton Heston Vanessa Redgrave Sir John Gielgud
Music by	Julia Downes
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Executive producer	Peter Snell
Producer	Fraser C. Heston
Cinematography	Dennis Lewiston
Editor	Eric Boyd-Perkins
Running time	150 minutes
Production companies	Agamemnon Films British Lion
Original release
Network	TNT
Release	December 21, 1988(1988-12-21)

A Man for All Seasonsis a 1988 Americanmade-for-televisiondrama filmabout St.Thomas More,directed by and starringCharlton Heston.It is based on the playof the same namebyRobert Bolt,which was previously adapted in theAcademy Awardwinning 1966 filmA Man for All Seasons.It was the first made-for-television film produced on behalf of theTNT(Turner Network Television) television network.

The film stars Heston as More,Vanessa Redgrave(who had a small cameo in the version from 1966) as his wifeAlice More,Sir John GielgudasCardinal Thomas Wolsey,Martin Chamberlain asKing Henry VIII,Richard Johnsonas theDuke of Norfolk(historically, Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk), andRoy Kinnearas the narrator, "The Common Man", who was cut from the previous film. (The "Common Man' functions in the manner of aGreek chorusthroughout the play, appearing at crucial moments and seeming to comment on the action.)

The film follows the original stage play more literally and runs half an hour longer than the 1966 film, and could be considered "stagier" than that film, which divided the Common Man into several more realistic characters and omitted portions of the play.

Plot

King Henry VIII wants to divorce his wife, and seeks the approval of the aristocracy. Sir Thomas More is a man of principle and reason, and is thus placed in a difficult position: should he stand up for his principles, risking the wrath of a corrupt King fond of executing people for treason? Or should he bow to the seemingly unstoppable corruption of King Henry VIII, who has no qualms about bending the law to suit his own needs?

Cast

• Charlton HestonasSir Thomas More
• Vanessa RedgraveasAlice More
• Richard Johnsonas theDuke of Norfolk
• John GielgudasThomas Wolsey
• Roy Kinnearas The Common Man
• Benjamin WhitrowasThomas Cromwell
• Adrienne Thomas asMargaret Roper
• Martin Chamberlain asHenry VIII
• John Hudson asWilliam Roper
• Jonathan Hackett asRichard Rich
• Milton Cadman asThomas Cranmer
• Nicholas AmerasEustace Chapuys

Reception

The film received generally positive critic reviews.

Home media

Warner Bros. released a DVD in 2011.

External links

• A Man for All SeasonsatIMDb
• A Man for All SeasonsatAllMovie