
I am apparently a masochist because one of my favorite pastimes is to go through all the “Oh the Bad Movies & TV You’ll Watch” entries and pick out films and shows that both Trystan and Kendra have panned for various reasons and watch them. And they’re probably right about their assessments of said films and TV shows … But I’m a team player, and I’m not going to let an opportunity for experiencing some really TEDIOUS media pass me up. Even better is if I’ve had approximately 1.72 cocktails in the process of watching the show and trying to write a post. I’m amused, so whatever.
Anywayyyyy…
I decided to sit down and watch Becket (1964), which was featured in the sixth installment of the “Oh the Bad Movies, etc” series. I made an attempt at watching this film several years ago because I love Richard Burton, but I quit after an embarrassingly short amount of time because of undiagnosed ADHD. Tonight, I decided to attempt it again. Friends, I am, if nothing else, ready to take one for the team. And this time, I made it 2 hours in before I had to tap out because I needed write this post or else Trystan would kill me. I feel pretty confident that the last 30 minutes aren’t going to reveal an amazing costuming.
So, let’s talk about the costuming. They were designed by Margaret Furse, the genius behind A Lion in Winter (1968) and Anne of the Thousand Days (1969), among many, many others.

Becket predates A Lion in Winter by about 15-ish years, and Peter O’Toole reprises … I mean … pre-prises? his role as Henry II as the King of England. Richard Burton fills out the role of Thomas Becket, the namesake and doomed Archbishop of Canterbury. This film is basically watching bros be bros in the middle ages, but before you write the whole thing off, I will say that the ecclesiastical costumes and sets are FABULOUS. While that is not our niche, one must still give props where props are due for some SERIOUSLY. GOOD. COSTUMING.

Everything else in this film, after you set aside the clerical outfits and the sets, is pretty much par for the course medievaloid.





I feel like crapping on the costuming in this film would diminish the other amazing aspects of it (seriously? THOSE SETS), but it is very much a product of its time as far as the costumes go. That said, it’s a Very Good Film and it’s worth watching, so definitely check it out if you’re in the mood for some old school angsty bromance.
Have you seen Becket (1964)? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!Â
is she wearing a gilded toilet seat on her head?
Fellow member of Club ADHD! Congratulations on getting your diagnosis!
I love this film but the queens’ costuming just pulls me out of the story!
And portraying Eleanor as a simpering needlewoman — ?
Read the original French play by Anouilh back in the day. Really can’t blame the movie for what he wrote.
Good film, very, very bad costumes. The history is less than accurate too but Peter O’Toole! Richard Burton! The man candy makes it worth it.
I’d wear that cape though.
It’s a great film, but I’m sure if I rewatched it I’d be raising an eyebrow at some of these things now too. I do appreciate the ecclesial costuming. Outside of, say, Shoes of the Fisherman (which has a reporter character walk through a papal election like a news item), it’s rare for that much care and attention to be paid to such things, even when the main character is, as in this case, a saint. It’s an interesting and compelling story to be sure. I quite like Eliot’s take on it in Murder in the Cathedral as well but I don’t think that would translate particularly well to screen.
Peter O’Toole is one of I believe only 3 actors* to be Oscar nominated for playing the same character in 2 different films, along with Bing Crosby (Fr. O’Malley from Going My Way and Bells of St. Mary’s) and Paul Newman (Fast Eddie Felson in The Hustler and The Color of Money). Neat that he has basically 2 great but totally separate historical plays behind his roles and nominations.
*This factoid is based on my googling based on a Final Jeopardy! clue from quite a few years ago now.
*Oscar nominated for best actor that is. :-)