"The nobility of England would have snored through the Sermon on the Mount, but you'll labor like scholars over a bull-dog's pedigree". One of many excellent lines in this movie.
"... but YOU'LL labor like scholars over a bull-dogs pedigree." He was pointing out their hypocrisy towards the scriptures all the while boasting with pride over something as useless as a mean dog, for which they have placed their souls in peril.
Saddest part of the movie for me. Norfolk and Moore had real fraternal charity and care for each other. Sad how circumstances conspire to end friendships.
In my opinion, this is the best movie ever made; surely the dialogue is just that. I saw it in 1966. I was mesmerized then; I remain so in the 45 years since. Twenty years later, in a coincidence of epic proportions, I married a beautiful young woman, Nancy Zinnemann, who was a cousin of the movie's director, Fred Zinnemann. This fact remained unknown to me for fifteen years after our marriage. Life, at times is indeed stranger than fiction.
In addition to best movie ever made, I think Scofield's performance the best in movie history. And Robert Bolt was no slouch. As Mr. Zimmerman was also not.
Hear, hear, JRB. I saw the thang when it came out, in a theatre with my parents. At the time, I did not really appreciate the central theme of absolute personal integrity. Having lived over five decades since then, I appreciate it now. ... Nancy’s cousin was also responsible for “High Noon”, among other giants of film history (which was the first film I ever saw in a theatre, aged 5).
"In Austria, discrimination had been part of life since time immemorial. It was always there, oppressive, often snide, sometimes hostile, seldom violent. It was in the air and one sensed it at all levels, in school, at work and in society. A Jew was an outsider, a threat to the country's culture. Born in Austria-Hungary (now Poland), and raised as an Austrian, he would still never truly belong." -Fred Zinnemann
"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12
When I was in jail, I was losing to a DA that wanted to railroad me for something I didn't do. It was costing me my faith in God. After a particularly bad court case, I went back to my jail dorm and opened the Bible right to this page. It was the first verse that popped up to me. It really hit me. Besides that there were were a lot of other supernatural ways god was talking to me, but this I took to heart, and now I was completely exonerated when I stood my ground with faith in God. It's very true
@@infonut this is a movie written by a screenwriter based on the WINNERS of this trial writing the history in England while the Roman Catholics write their own version. Nothing here and no one here is true to life. In the narrative, true or false, the character of Norfolk is NOT at all a coward. He is a savvy, loyal "Frat Boy" who does not share his best friend Thomas'moral compass. Norfolk does not consider divorce a sin. Just a transaction to him. Like a business deal. No one gets hurt, everyone gets paid. He is not evil. He simply has a different norm and perspective then the ultra religious zealot Moore. Great writing. Great acting. 🎭
"The nobility of England would have snored through the Sermon on the Mount, but you'll labor like scholars over a bull-dog's pedigree". This is my favorite line from this movie. It still rings true in spirit about the oligarchs of today.
My favourite film - it is a powerful enactment of the corruption of the corridors of power and all its vanities. The script writer Robert Bolt used the English language so majestically and was so moving and profound as played by Paul Schofield. Truly a powerful film of man's weaknesses and strengths.
Regrettably I discovered this story in high school but was too dumb to read it. It is one of my all time favourite films and I use it to teach children about conviction and integrity under pressure from others.
A brilliant film which has stood the test of time. A stellar cast of actors and eloquent dialogue, depicting a monumental period of English history. On this subject, I have just rewatched the superb BBC 6-part drama Wolf Hall, based on Hilary Mantel’s trilogy. Another example of compelling and meticulously crafted filming and narrative. The focus is Thomas Cromwell and his relationship with More and the King. Mark Rylance’s Cromwell is as mesmerising as Paul Schofield’s More. Both are seen in a very different light.
Are you a pauper? I suspect that you are someone who wants to view this film without paying so much as one bloody cent. Wrong! Go out and purchase a DVD or Blu-ray at your local store.
This is my favorite scene alongside the trial. The more I watch it, the more I can see the traces of their friendship -- More's struggle before playing "bad cop" to extinguish Norfolk's sympathy for him, Norfolk hesitating long enough to let More duck his wide punch. And the diatribe cuts too deep to be just rhetoric -- More must be giving voice to some of his less charitable, but still true thoughts about the "nobility of England" and his own motives. He would've still been right if he had verbally thrashed his enemies and lukewarm friends like this the whole movie, but with God's grace he resisted the urge and was gentle and winsome instead, until extremity made harsh words necessary. This scene is loaded with subtext, the watcher has to keep up (and maybe review it a few times too).
Norfolk loved Thomas to the end. Even took delight at his clever answers to clumsy questions by Cromwell. There is not a bad scene in this movie. It could have gone for hours more and been worth the time
For those who rave about F. Murray Abraham as Salieri, I urge them to see the clip of Scofield as Salieri at the National theafre and you will see the difference between a competent performance by Abraham and a brilliant performance by scofield.
Sorry, I disagree. I love Scofield and he played More to absolute perfection but I didn't like his performance as Salieri in that clip. I thought Abraham was far better.
Mikelheron, there are different ways of being saintly, and the word doesn't mean "perfect." More might have done some bad things in his life (certainly things a modern Protestant would consider bad), but he died for a very Christian principle, that of choosing God over Man. That's martyrdom, and it's saintly.
I'd be interested in a source for the Bilney story other than Foxe, who was decidedly not an objective chronicler. More made it clear in his own writings that he had no personal animus against any of the people he prosecuted and tried to keep punishment as lenient as he could. It seems unlikely that he would gloat at Bilney's execution.
Yes, some bad things. If we judge him ex post facto, according to the rules of a society he never lived to see, I dare say those things are horrifying. (I find them so, being a 21st-century American.) But in his time and place, they were the norm. The law at the time equated heresy with treason, and he carried out that law impartially and honestly, rather than with an eye to his own benefit. A just jurist is not entitled to change the laws to suit his own sensitivities.
Is there one poor scene, one badly written line, one out of place character or anything less than the powerful, the memorable and showing both the amazing weaknesses and strength of the fallen human?
Thomas More thought he heard God speak to his ear. That's why he died. He was almost clever enough to get out of it by being quiet, but not clever enough to expose the liar who supplied false testimony against him.
And what happens? Norfolk ends up in the Tower and coming thisclose to being executed. His son, the Earl of Surrey, IS executed. Wolsey dies, out of Henry's favor and stripped of all of his court offices. Tis a dangerous thing to fall afoul of Henry VIII.
I thought Thomas More was rather selfish. Full of himself and couldn’t take criticism. Do all those schools named after him realise they’re named after a traitor?
Nigel Davenport is the one weak link in the cast. All growl and no heart. I don't believe they could've possibly been friends. But Scofield is brilliant.
Actually you are right, but it is the only weak link in Bolt's script, not in Davenport's performance. If Norfolk is to be set up as More's best friend he should have been much smarter and wittier. For example that scene where Cromwell has to explain to him why More is keeping silent is not credible because a close friend of Thomas More - famous Europe-wide as a lawyer and scholar - would not need it explained.
This is a great film which I own and have watched many times. Paul Scofield deserved all the accolades. However, it is largely fiction and a distortion of the real Thomas More who persecuted "heretics" (which term included men whose crime was to translate the Bible into the vernacular) with zeal and cruelty. His distaste for heresy is given a mention in the movie but not his passion for the removal of heretics.
My point is that the way More is portrayed in this film is very misleading. There was a dark, discreditable side to his character that one would not guess from the "saintly" man of this movie..
@@LetsSufferTogether Dude, i mean my dude, come on now, he carried out Henry VIII edicts, context , it was the 1500s my guy. XD I know taking things in era they occurred, radical stuff, right?! XD
More did far more than his duty as Chancellor. He carried out his "duty" with sadistic zeal. You may like to do a little research. A good place to start would be with the case of Thomas Bilney, the Cambridge scholar who was seized while distributing New Testaments written in the vernacular. More gleefully sent Bilney to the flames for his "crime" joking that the proper course would have been to "burn him first and procure a writ afterwards" More's own end was mercifully and undeservedly quick.
@@marvelharris9540 Probably Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. Not the same thing. Also, More did burn at least six heretics, whether he took glee in it or not. That was the punishment for heresy, and he was the Lord Chancellor. That’s just an indisputable historical fact. A Man For All Seasons whitewashes him a lot.
@@professorbutters There were 4... and yes, those were the heresy laws at that time. Ive read that it was used as a last resort. History should be understood within the particular context in which it exists- without a critique based on our modern day standards,
"The nobility of England would have snored through the Sermon on the Mount, but you'll labor like scholars over a bull-dog's pedigree".
One of many excellent lines in this movie.
"....somewhere along your pedigree, a bitch got over the wall!"
Henry VIII's paternal grandfather was a commoner from Wales.
Spicy!
"... but YOU'LL labor like scholars over a bull-dogs pedigree." He was pointing out their hypocrisy towards the scriptures all the while boasting with pride over something as useless as a mean dog, for which they have placed their souls in peril.
@@infonut Got it.
Saddest part of the movie for me. Norfolk and Moore had real fraternal charity and care for each other. Sad how circumstances conspire to end friendships.
Thomas ended their friendship for love of his friend. Sad irony.
I went to this movie almost 50 years ago and have never forgotten it.
Neither have I.
I wish I could watch this in theaters.
This is one of the most powerful scenes in one of the greatest movies of all time.
In my opinion, this is the best movie ever made; surely the dialogue is just that. I saw it in 1966. I was mesmerized then; I remain so in the 45 years since.
Twenty years later, in a coincidence of epic proportions, I married a beautiful young woman, Nancy Zinnemann, who was a cousin of the movie's director, Fred Zinnemann. This fact remained unknown to me for fifteen years after our marriage.
Life, at times is indeed stranger than fiction.
This great film deserved -- and more -- all of the Oscar® nominations, which it ultimately won.
In addition to best movie ever made, I think Scofield's performance the best in movie history. And Robert Bolt was no slouch. As Mr. Zimmerman was also not.
Hear, hear, JRB. I saw the thang when it came out, in a theatre with my parents. At the time, I did not really appreciate the central theme of absolute personal integrity. Having lived over five decades since then, I appreciate it now. ... Nancy’s cousin was also responsible for “High Noon”, among other giants of film history (which was the first film I ever saw in a theatre, aged 5).
what a joyful coincidence.
And yes, IMO this is one of the best movies ever made. It's certainly my favorite of all time.
"In Austria, discrimination had been part of life since time immemorial. It was always there, oppressive, often snide, sometimes hostile, seldom violent. It was in the air and one sensed it at all levels, in school, at work and in society. A Jew was an outsider, a threat to the country's culture. Born in Austria-Hungary (now Poland), and raised as an Austrian, he would still never truly belong."
-Fred Zinnemann
"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12
When I was in jail, I was losing to a DA that wanted to railroad me for something I didn't do. It was costing me my faith in God. After a particularly bad court case, I went back to my jail dorm and opened the Bible right to this page. It was the first verse that popped up to me. It really hit me. Besides that there were were a lot of other supernatural ways god was talking to me, but this I took to heart, and now I was completely exonerated when I stood my ground with faith in God. It's very true
@@Comeasyouare77
Wow. What did they accuse u of ?
God Bless
@@PInk77W1 accused of.. "not being literate enough to tell us in one sentence"... But does it really matter?
@@Kitiwake I never heard of that before
One of the most powerful films ever made, and based on the most excellent play of the same name.
Not only is the script very close to the play, but many of the actors (including the two here) are reprising their stage performance.
"We'll end our friendship now."
"For friendship's sake?"
"Yes."
"DAFT!"
That is a true friend.
Norfolk is a complicated man. Watching this, my heart breaks for him as much as for Moore.
He was a traitor whose only ambition was remaining in the kings favor. A coward.
@@infonut - It’s a shame you can’t show him the same pity Thomas did.
@@florbfnarb7099 ... what is worse is Norfolk couldn't show Thomas the same pity bestowed upon himself.
@@infonut Not at all a traitor. His loyalty towards the king - and England - was quite sincere. But he couldn't understand More's reasons.
@@infonut this is a movie written by a screenwriter based on the WINNERS of this trial writing the history in England while the Roman Catholics write their own version.
Nothing here and no one here is true to life.
In the narrative, true or false, the character of Norfolk is NOT at all a coward.
He is a savvy, loyal "Frat Boy" who does not share his best friend Thomas'moral compass.
Norfolk does not consider divorce a sin.
Just a transaction to him.
Like a business deal. No one gets hurt, everyone gets paid.
He is not evil. He simply has a different norm and perspective then the ultra religious zealot Moore.
Great writing. Great acting. 🎭
I think this is the best acting I have ever seen.
My favorite movie of all time! St. Thomas Moore!
Mine too!
"The nobility of England would have snored through the Sermon on the Mount, but you'll labor like scholars over a bull-dog's pedigree". This is my favorite line from this movie. It still rings true in spirit about the oligarchs of today.
My favourite film - it is a powerful enactment of the corruption of the corridors of power and all its vanities. The script writer Robert Bolt used the English language so majestically and was so moving and profound as played by Paul Schofield. Truly a powerful film of man's weaknesses and strengths.
Bolt had the wisdom to use the actual court records in the trial segments too.
Regrettably I discovered this story in high school but was too dumb to read it. It is one of my all time favourite films and I use it to teach children about conviction and integrity under pressure from others.
the dialogue about the bulldog was great!
A brilliant film which has stood the test of time. A stellar cast of actors and eloquent dialogue, depicting a monumental period of English history. On this subject, I have just rewatched the superb BBC 6-part drama Wolf Hall, based on Hilary Mantel’s trilogy. Another example of compelling and meticulously crafted filming and narrative. The focus is Thomas Cromwell and his relationship with More and the King. Mark Rylance’s Cromwell is as mesmerising as Paul Schofield’s More. Both are seen in a very different light.
Such a great scene, in a movie/play loaded with great scenes.
Paul Scofield, the finest actor of his generation, refused a knighthood three times.
No kidding. I didn't know that.
I wonder why. (Of course, I know why. He played Thomas More in one of the most powerful movies ever made.)
Some of the best all time acting any person is ever likely to see.
one of the best scenes.. !!!!
I am having an EXTREMELY DIFFICULT time trying to find this movie in its entirety. Why am I having this difficulty? I love this movie!!!
Are you a pauper? I suspect that you are someone who wants to view this film without paying so much as one bloody cent. Wrong! Go out and purchase a DVD or Blu-ray at your local store.
One of the all time great films which has stayed so relevant in these current times……..
This is my favorite scene alongside the trial. The more I watch it, the more I can see the traces of their friendship -- More's struggle before playing "bad cop" to extinguish Norfolk's sympathy for him, Norfolk hesitating long enough to let More duck his wide punch. And the diatribe cuts too deep to be just rhetoric -- More must be giving voice to some of his less charitable, but still true thoughts about the "nobility of England" and his own motives. He would've still been right if he had verbally thrashed his enemies and lukewarm friends like this the whole movie, but with God's grace he resisted the urge and was gentle and winsome instead, until extremity made harsh words necessary. This scene is loaded with subtext, the watcher has to keep up (and maybe review it a few times too).
Norfolk loved Thomas to the end. Even took delight at his clever answers to clumsy questions by Cromwell. There is not a bad scene in this movie. It could have gone for hours more and been worth the time
A damn fine film.
One of the ten best films of the sound era. Never fails to impress.
20 Catholic bishops in England
When Henry Vlll took over the church
Only 1 stood up for the pope.
St John Fisher • pray for us
1:44 Cracks me up
But simultaneously in the context of the story is heartbreaking.
For those who rave about F. Murray Abraham as Salieri, I urge them to see the clip of Scofield as Salieri at the National theafre and you will see the difference between a competent performance by Abraham and a brilliant performance by scofield.
Sorry, I disagree.
I love Scofield and he played More to absolute perfection but I didn't like his performance as Salieri in that clip.
I thought Abraham was far better.
This is friendship Incarnate!!!
"Whats the name of that distorted breed you're all fighting about at the moment? Marsh mastiffs? Bog beagles?"
one of the best scenes
I'm hoping every citizen of the U.S.A. comes here to watch and study this scene . They could learn a lot from it right at this juncture .
Mikelheron, there are different ways of being saintly, and the word doesn't mean "perfect." More might have done some bad things in his life (certainly things a modern Protestant would consider bad), but he died for a very Christian principle, that of choosing God over Man. That's martyrdom, and it's saintly.
Indeed. Read about St. Paul if anyone has an argument to this.
Excellent!
I'd be interested in a source for the Bilney story other than Foxe, who was decidedly not an objective chronicler. More made it clear in his own writings that he had no personal animus against any of the people he prosecuted and tried to keep punishment as lenient as he could. It seems unlikely that he would gloat at Bilney's execution.
Keir Starmer would've made a fine Thomas Cromwell. They both are cut from the same cloth, villains down to their toenails.
Yes, some bad things. If we judge him ex post facto, according to the rules of a society he never lived to see, I dare say those things are horrifying. (I find them so, being a 21st-century American.) But in his time and place, they were the norm. The law at the time equated heresy with treason, and he carried out that law impartially and honestly, rather than with an eye to his own benefit. A just jurist is not entitled to change the laws to suit his own sensitivities.
Is there one poor scene, one badly written line, one out of place character or anything less than the powerful, the memorable and showing both the amazing weaknesses and strength of the fallen human?
No, you're spot on.
Did they show Thomas Moore racking a so called heretic in his home in this film.
Word....
Dude also burnt 5 of them...
right?
Thomas More thought he heard God speak to his ear. That's why he died. He was almost clever enough to get out of it by being quiet, but not clever enough to expose the liar who supplied false testimony against him.
Go watch Leonardo again. He did a GREAT job on Titanic! /sarc
Soeaking the truth will set you free. But it won't make you popular.
And what happens? Norfolk ends up in the Tower and coming thisclose to being executed. His son, the Earl of Surrey, IS executed.
Wolsey dies, out of Henry's favor and stripped of all of his court offices.
Tis a dangerous thing to fall afoul of Henry VIII.
For once, the correct use of the word bitch.
I thought Thomas More was rather selfish. Full of himself and couldn’t take criticism. Do all those schools named after him realise they’re named after a traitor?
Goddamit man it's....DISPROPORTIONATE!
Nigel Davenport's acting looks pretty poor compared to Scofield's.
Nigel Davenport is the one weak link in the cast. All growl and no heart. I don't believe they could've possibly been friends. But Scofield is brilliant.
Actually you are right, but it is the only weak link in Bolt's script, not in Davenport's performance. If Norfolk is to be set up as More's best friend he should have been much smarter and wittier. For example that scene where Cromwell has to explain to him why More is keeping silent is not credible because a close friend of Thomas More - famous Europe-wide as a lawyer and scholar - would not need it explained.
This is a great film which I own and have watched many times. Paul Scofield deserved all the accolades. However, it is largely fiction and a distortion of the real Thomas More who persecuted "heretics" (which term included men whose crime was to translate the Bible into the vernacular) with zeal and cruelty. His distaste for heresy is given a mention in the movie but not his passion for the removal of heretics.
My point is that the way More is portrayed in this film is very misleading. There was a dark, discreditable side to his character that one would not guess from the "saintly" man of this movie..
BS, his books and notes from distinguished friends of his write a different picture than your view
A Escoto Translations into the, "vernacular" is a misnomer
They were translated to express the novel doctrines of the protestors.
@@aescoto1523 The dude literally racked and burnt people he disagreed with,,, thats a bit of a stain mate XD
@@LetsSufferTogether Dude, i mean my dude, come on now, he carried out Henry VIII edicts, context , it was the 1500s my guy. XD I know taking things in era they occurred, radical stuff, right?! XD
More did far more than his duty as Chancellor. He carried out his "duty" with sadistic zeal. You may like to do a little research. A good place to start would be with the case of Thomas Bilney, the Cambridge scholar who was seized while distributing New Testaments written in the vernacular. More gleefully sent Bilney to the flames for his "crime" joking that the proper course would have been to "burn him first and procure a writ afterwards" More's own end was mercifully and undeservedly quick.
oh anti-catholic tripe, written down and alleged by protestant zealots
Protestant ramblings..... from a Chick track I assume. pitiful
@@marvelharris9540 Probably Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. Not the same thing. Also, More did burn at least six heretics, whether he took glee in it or not. That was the punishment for heresy, and he was the Lord Chancellor. That’s just an indisputable historical fact. A Man For All Seasons whitewashes him a lot.
@@professorbutters There were 4... and yes, those were the heresy laws at that time. Ive read that it was used as a last resort. History should be understood within the particular context in which it exists- without a critique based on our modern day standards,
Be careful of Protestant propaganda.
"Some bad things"? So he loved God and murdered and tortured human beings. Glad he got his priorities right.
Paul did the same. God managed to forgive that.
@@florbfnarb7099 Did the dead men?
@@loriannwhite8384 - No idea. Does that matter compared to God’s forgiveness?
He was convicted of murdering 0 humans
“ The nobility of England would have snored through the Sermon on the Mount,”
The Trumpers and the Evangelicals would have too.
Scofield is a great boring actor, like Jeremy Irons and Nicol Williamson.