Thomas Becket became legendary to the English people after his heroic martyrdom. His greatest virtue, as designated by the characters in the Canterbury Tales, was his defiance in the face of insurmountable odds. Becket stood for the Catholic Church when threatened by the most powerful force in England, which was his best friend King Henry II. Even though he knew the consequences of his actions, he stood for what he believed to be right and challenged the authority of his majesty in England. As well, that defiance was rooted in his deep belief in God, thus his piety resonated strongly with the pilgrims who were on their way to revere him. However, Thomas Becket was not all sainthood and blessing the poor. According to the movie, Becket met King Henry II through days of whoring and debauchery. Becket, initially
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O’Toole’s portrayal of Henry II was built upon the emotions necessary for the part. When Henry II (O’Toole) felt the pain of heartbreak when he realized in his mind that Thomas Becket (Burton) had betrayed him, it was a pain that was felt by the audience. O’Toole’s feelings on the screen transcended time and it was in that moment that I felt the disdain for Henry II’s wife and mother, Thomas Becket, the French King and the other foes his majesty through his magical performance. O’Toole’s dramatic timing is the making of legend and his ability to convey the simplest of lines is a true work of art. His facial expressions could have said all that is needed for the emotion to be conveyed and endured. However, Henry II was a character that was more dynamic than Thomas Becket, thus it was easy for O’Toole to fit the mold and make it a beautiful and extraordinary character. To be fair to Burton, the character of Becket simply did not go through the emotional roller coaster that the character of Henry II
O’Toole’s portrayal of Henry II was built upon the emotions necessary for the part. When Henry II (O’Toole) felt the pain of heartbreak when he realized in his mind that Thomas Becket (Burton) had betrayed him, it was a pain that was felt by the audience. O’Toole’s feelings on the screen transcended time and it was in that moment that I felt the disdain for Henry II’s wife and mother, Thomas Becket, the French King and the other foes his majesty through his magical performance. O’Toole’s dramatic timing is the making of legend and his ability to convey the simplest of lines is a true work of art. His facial expressions could have said all that is needed for the emotion to be conveyed and endured. However, Henry II was a character that was more dynamic than Thomas Becket, thus it was easy for O’Toole to fit the mold and make it a beautiful and extraordinary character. To be fair to Burton, the character of Becket simply did not go through the emotional roller coaster that the character of Henry II