A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS is a timeless movie which I would certainly include in any "ten best of" list. It was released in 1966, but it deals with the story of a man who lived several centuries ago in England,; a man who stands like a giant statue over time itself as an inspiring example of courage in the face of tyranny.

The motion picture garnered 6 Oscars including "Best Screenplay" (Bolt), "Best Actor" (Paul Scofield), Best Director (Fred Zinneman), and finally "Best Picture".

The story is cast against King Henry VIII's great argument and eventual split with the Roman Catholic pope of his time , made (in his view, anyway) necessary by his desire to divorce the Spanish lady Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn. His rationalization: he needed a son an heir. And he believed a king could break even the laws of God to get what he wanted.

Sir Thomas More, a man of great integrity, had been a close friend and probably in many earlier ventures, a supporter of Henry's, but he did not let friendship sway him from his sense of honor when it came to this matter of morality. When Thomas refused to sign the Act of Supremacy, he was brought to trial (by the king's rage) on trumped-up charges of treason and ultimately his head was cut off by the king's henchmen.

Sir Thomas had sought refuge in the letter of the law, but he was required to state his approval of the Act of Supremacy in an oath --an oath which would have required him to state something that he did not believe. So he put everything on the line- his career, his reputation, his closest friendships, even the fate of his family, all because of what he believed in with all his heart and might. Hence the title: "A Man For All Seasons"-- in good weather or foul here was a man of his word and a man who stood up for what he believed was right in the face of king and crowd. His good friends urged him to compromise but he would not waver.
He put honor before loyalty; a trait seldom seen in human beings but a trait which is strong in ways only the honorable understand.

For Sir Thomas, an oath was an invitation to God to act as witness and judge. In philosophical terms, the oath would have shattered his integrity, his humanity, that "...something within himself without which life is meaningless."

Contrast Sir Thomas More with a thousand modern movie characters who find fewer and fewer things that they are unwilling to do. With so many films today we walk out of the theater knowing that something was wrong there, but we just can't put our finger on it. The "something" that is too often wrong is that those characters have lost part or all of what it means to be at their best as a human because they have compromised away the real values of life. Truth and honor have become valueless, therefore living has become pain. Integrity is peace, according to this man's life.

Thus More's story deserved every Academy Award it received. A great story, superb acting, and a great education all are a part of this film. It is for mature audiences--- in the best sense of what that phrase means.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: None of the Above
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older