Becket 1964

Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune: Ripe with homoerotic undercurrents -- which O'Toole mines with relish in his great hysterical performance, full of cunning, eloquence and mad outbursts. Read more

Bosley Crowther, New York Times: Becket shows us a conflict that has more meaning for the heart than for the head. It is not a conflict to stand as a tempest violent and unforgettable, after 800 years. Read more

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The picture is being re-released in 30 cities around the country before finally appearing on DVD after years of online foment from fans.The DVD is due in May, but try to catch it in theaters first. It's worth it. Read more

Mark Feeney, Boston Globe: Everything that Doctor Strangelove is -- daring and inspired, vibrant and brilliantly staged -- Becket is not. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: While peripheral elements of Becket do show their age, the core of the film's appeal remains incandescent, and that is the on-screen collaboration between Burton and O'Toole. Read more

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: Burton is extraordinary in one of his rare good movie roles and O'Toole is regally madcap and larger than life. Read more

Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: The pleasure of these two extravagantly gifted actors at the top of their game -- their diction! their conviction! their beauty! -- is enormous. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: How could you hope for better casting than Peter O'Toole and his acting rival/drinking buddy Richard Burton playing opposite each other? Read more

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Read more

Variety: Read more

Ed Gonzalez, Village Voice: In 1964, the film's innuendo might have seemed daring; today it's close to ridiculous. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: Becket may seem like a movie of yesteryear, but its timeliness brims over with rousing, meditative discourses between Henry and the church leaders on the separation of church and state. Read more