A Man for All Seasons (1966)

Directed by: Fred Zinnemann | 120 minutes | biography, drama | Actors: Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller, Leo McKern, Robert Shaw, Orson Welles, Susannah York, Nigel Davenport, John Hurt, Corin Redgrave, Colin Blakely, Cyril Luckham, Jack Gwillim, Thomas Heathcote, Yootha Joyce, Anthony Nicholls

The Oscar ceremony almost every year has its big winner. In 1985 it was ‘Amadeus’ (8 pieces), in 2009 ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ (also 8) and in 1998 ‘Titanic’ (11). The year 1967 also had such a big winner, in the form of historical drama ‘A Man for All Seasons’. The film took home 6 Oscars, almost all of the toughest categories (direction, film, male lead and script). The question then is whether this film was really that good or the competition that bad.

‘A Man for All Seasons’ tells a familiar story. Around 1530, King Henry VIII (known for seven wedding feasts) decides it is time for a divorce from his barren wife Catherine. Because infertility is not a reason for divorce according to the Church of Rome, the Pope refuses permission. Henry then breaks with Rome and establishes his own church with himself as its head. Then he can divorce and remarry to his heart’s content.

This story comes to us through a man who became involved himself: the philosopher, lawyer and politician Thomas More. More was involved in the whole divorce spectacle as Henry’s chancellor and counselor. Thomas is presented with the choice by Henry to take an oath that goes completely against his religious beliefs. Should he deny himself, he loses his soul. Should he not deny himself, he will lose his head.

Screenwriter Robert Bolt based ‘A Man for All Seasons’ on his own play of the same name. That must be a great piece, because the dialogues are of a superior quality. At the same time realistic and profound, intelligent and accessible, sharp and putting things into perspective. A complete masterclass dialogues. It earned Bolt one of many Oscars.

Despite the heavy themes, this is not a difficult or dark film. The story unfolds at a leisurely pace, in beautiful atmospheric sets and with the occasional appropriate music, working towards a crackling court scene. Played by great actors including the legendary Orson Welles, a young John Hurt and the charming Susannah York. Paul Scofield won an Oscar for his role as Thomas More, but Robert Shaw steals the show (and didn’t win an Oscar) as the charming and terrifying Henry VIII.

We still don’t know whether the competition was bad, but the Oscars for ‘A Man for All Seasons’ are all deserved in our opinion. A timeless film full of timeless characters and timeless dialogues. A film for all years and all seasons.