Beautifully written and scripted by Robert Bolt, beautifully acted by Paul Scofield and others, beautifully costumed to match the age and filmed in beautiful surroundings. This movie deserves all the accolades it received in the year it was made. But beyond that, it will last as one of filmdom's finest for the ethical and moral issues it raises.
We are raised as children to understand there are three things for which we should be prepared to sacrifice our lives: Family, Nation and Religious Belief. What we are NOT told is: When weighed against each other, which takes precedence? This movie examines precisely that issue.
King Henry VIII pleads with Thomas More to grant the annulment of his marriage because his wife is barren. If it is not granted, and there is no heir, Henry fears civil war upon his death with tens or hundreds of thousands of deaths. An appeal to patriotism.
When More refuses he is sentenced to death, but given a final opportunity to sign the annulment and be granted a remission. His wife (Catholic priests could marry at that time) visits him in prison and pleads that he sign, fearing that her life and the life of her daughter will also become forfeit upon More's death. An appeal to save the life of his family.
More's decision was to give his life for his religious convictions. One comes out of the movie with much to digest as to which of the 3 choices each of us would make in similar circumstances.
We are raised as children to understand there are three things for which we should be prepared to sacrifice our lives: Family, Nation and Religious Belief. What we are NOT told is: When weighed against each other, which takes precedence? This movie examines precisely that issue.
King Henry VIII pleads with Thomas More to grant the annulment of his marriage because his wife is barren. If it is not granted, and there is no heir, Henry fears civil war upon his death with tens or hundreds of thousands of deaths. An appeal to patriotism.
When More refuses he is sentenced to death, but given a final opportunity to sign the annulment and be granted a remission. His wife (Catholic priests could marry at that time) visits him in prison and pleads that he sign, fearing that her life and the life of her daughter will also become forfeit upon More's death. An appeal to save the life of his family.
More's decision was to give his life for his religious convictions. One comes out of the movie with much to digest as to which of the 3 choices each of us would make in similar circumstances.
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