A Man for All Seasons - witty remarks

[@zhongwa]

"The world must construe according to its wits. You must construe according to the law." - My favorite line ever.

[@fidenful]

As a young man of 19, I was an usher in a San Francisco theater that play one single movie for 6 months or a year, this one was one of those movies, I saw it hundreds of times, soon I knew the whole dialogue of the entire movie by heart. It always play to full house, especially on weekends, I still remember how well dress and educated the audience was. During the movie they sat in total silence and with an expression of great interest. At the very end they applauded, as if they have seen a live performance.

[@4Mr.Crowley2]

Robert Shaw will always be the perfect youngish Henry to me - he’s very believable as the golden king that was for a time very charismatic and impressive.

[@khtnsuwdih]

Yes, top notch casting - Shaw's acting is flawless here. And in the full scene, you see ominous flashes of the future tyrant he turns into.

[@gerardmackay8909]

@@khtnsuwdih Henry had a really bad jousting accident around 1533ish which resulted in a really serious head injury and resulted in a wound on his leg which didn’t heal properly (he was plagued by excruciating suppurating sores the rest of his life). He became inactive and obese and, his always capricious temperament, became spiteful and vindictive. The handsome, sophisticated, intelligent and charismatic young king morphed into a grotesque, ego maniacal, murderous brute. Truly tragic.

[@donnarichardson7214]

Mostly for other people. @@gerardmackay8909

[@blessOTMA]

"....but for Wales "

[@russellcampbell9198]

Yep.

[@dottore3870]

Damming, haunting, and humourous at the same time.

[@blessOTMA]

Indeed. The humorous part is the most killing

[@markkond8565]

​@@blessOTMA I caught an interview by Sir John that mentioned that particular line and how Scofield's delivery was not comic at all but one of profound sorrow. kzbin.info/www/bejne/in26qI2AetKClbM

[@blessOTMA]

@@markkond8565 I would agree with that. Many hear mockery in line. But a Saint would be very sorry for him

[@johnbertrand7185]

The reason this film one six Oscars, brilliant acting and writing by Robert Bolt who adapted his own play (a rarity nowadays). Scofield makes it look so easy. Shaw earned his only Oscar nomination and probably should have won. A masterclass on screenwriting, directing and acting.

[@romyarmada9580]

Fucking true mate. Films a piece of fucking true art standing above the absolute regurgitated swill of most films which hail from the industry. Try watching this high, fuck it’s good.

[@theresarokusek5677]

My all time favorite movie! Such lessons in integrity, ethics, dignity, and living one’s principles.

[@MrPicklerwoof]

The only weak spot was the performance from Duke of Norfolk's actor. Felt like an amateur-dramatics OTT panto character compared to all the rest, which were perfection. I wince every time he's on screen.

[@octaviancaesarhibernicus4447]

"the only judge since Cato who didn't accept bribes"...!

[@63Baggies]

A truly wonderful film - one of my favourites.

[@MichaelM-gp1xi]

Robert Shaw's 'discovered' and little laugh at 0:57 is so genuine. I rewind it every time. Just so charming. One of the best!

[@robertwilson123]

Fabulous acting of the first order...with wonderful memorable lines of great depth and intellect. A must view 5 star film.

[@johnnycharco]

This is one of my top five films.I'm glad you included one of my favourite lines of all time:" Why Richard,it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world...but for Wales?" Thanks for sharing!

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

William Roper: “So, now you give the Devil benefit of law!” - Sir Thomas Moore: “Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?” - William Roper: “Yes, I’d cut down every law in England to do that!” - Sir Thomas Moore: “Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned ‘round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Man’s laws, not God’s! And if you cut them all down - and you’re just the man to do it - do you really think you could stand upright against the winds that would blow then? Yes, I would give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety’s sake!” ADDENDUM (edit): This, ladies and gentlemen, is how it’s done. What superb writing, directing, and acting!...May they All Rest In Peace Eternal. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis - Requiescant Omnes In Pace. - Robert Bolt was a theatrical genius. I played the part of Thomas Moore for a high school play, and more than thirty years later, I still remember most of my lines...Thanks for uploading this gem: Greetings from Greece!

[@cameloty]

The film fascinated me (still does) when i first saw it as an 8 year old schoolboy- it brought History lessons to life....

[@mehitabel1290]

No cheap emotionalism, no chain-jerking, no clichés, no emotion-guiding mushak............... Just a moving story, intelligently told, which assumed the same intelligence of its audience.

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

Not like today, which (correctly) assumes that the audience reads comic books...

[@threethrushes]

I would rank this film between 2Fast2Furious and Avatar as one of the best pictures.

[@HrHaakon]

There are intelligent comic books! It's worse!

[@marvinc999]

Mehitabel - And no 'token'............ (fill in as appropriate), to satisfy the edicts of Cultural Marxism.

@@marvinc999 Shut the fuck up you ridiculous illiterate moron.

[@davy_K]

What a monster of a cast. Dripping with class and talent.

[@alrightythen84]

"The only judge since Cato who didn't accept bribes." They just don't write movies as intelligent where they don't need to explain historical references anymore.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

Thats what happens when the globalists with all the money decide that a broad education isn't necessary for an unquestioning, compliant population.

[@mirko7587]

And today More wold be black, and Henry a transformist, and Anne Bolayn a trasvesti.

[@jpathak6227]

Why can’t they make movies like these anymore? Have we become so shallow in our writing? I believe we have.

[@AishaVonFossen]

Indeed. And don't even get me started on lack of facial expression. LOL

[@IExposeMormonism]

Spy Who Came in From The Cold is almost as good

[@kissmyasthma3155]

People have short attention spans these days, which is why mainstream Hollywood would never green-light a movie this intellectual.

[@johnnygalvan845]

PBS

[@porcospino289]

Yes, shallow. Nowadecades, a film needs superheroes and/or car chases and FX, not dialogue of the sort that graced dozens of masterpieces, 1934-2000 or so.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

I'm in my 50's and have made my way fairly well through the world over that time from fairly unpromising beginnings, but I sit and watch "A man for all seasons" and feel small, inadequate & humbled by the display of sheer excellence in the writing, casting, directing and acting of this masterpiece. I'm in two minds.... should I watch this classic for the umpteenth time? Or maybe wait to take in the splendour of the upcoming "minecraft" movie? Hmmmm decisions decisions.....

[@RobCCTV]

Still one of my all-time most liked films. Magnificent in every detail.

[@Muzzly1234]

You forgot the best one at the very end! "Richard Rich became chancellor of England... *... and died in his bed."*

[@limptoazt]

One of my favorite opening credits scenes ever. Just a beautiful sequence on film

[@RoverenderAlligator]

I concur, wonderful. I'm searching for the soundtrack & will find it after this.

[@jamiebergamasco5140]

This film truly strengthened my Catholic Faith.

[@Cardifftoyboy1]

@RedLiver I see the Catholic delight at burning things has not been dulled by the passing of time. You Catholics love a good fire. When you run out of books perhaps you might start on people again....

[@Cardifftoyboy1]

The 4000 who died during the St Bartholomew's Day massacre of protestants would rejoice at your new found strength.

[@goodday2760]

@RedLiver Catholics translated the Bible to English. Multiple times.

[@TheNabOwnzz]

Not surprising that the scant faith of Catholics is dependent on a film (written by a communist, i might add).

[@eternalasquith]

@@Cardifftoyboy1 not sure they will have time to rejoice from hell

[@AssinnippiJack]

Indeed it is one of my favorite movies. What a cast! Well deserving of the 6 Academy Awards it won. Based on Robert Bolts play, so accuracy was not a priority. What a musical score!

[@jimmy2k4o]

Yeah I remember watching this think it’s a shame for sir Thomas to share a name with that nasty fellow who burned all those Lutherans….

[@eriklindhurst5793]

This is one of the best films of all time!

[@wpaladin48]

The greatest movie ever made.

[@AllenbysEyes]

>What? Goddammit, he was the only judge since Cato who didn't accept bribes! I love Davenport's delivery of that line. It makes me laugh every time.

[@JimmyMcCbob]

it is as you imply common practice, but a practice can be common and remain an offence, this offence could send a man to the towa. so much good delivery in this movie

[@tremainecornish2977]

A Man for All Seasons is, IMO one of the best films I've ever seen. I have remained of that opinion since I first watched it soon after it came out. It speaks to my very being.

[@tomhamilton5261]

Perfect filmmaking in every way. Tremendous cast, acting, cinematography, music and directed by the great Fred Zinnemann. Wonderful performances by Paul Scofield and co.and written by the great Robert Bolt.Continues to be moving and brilliant to this day.

[@redsquirrel1086]

Wonderful film. The acting is on another level. A bit like More's intelligence.

[@tedthesailor172]

Paul Scofield was born to play this role. What a contrast with his Col Von Waldheim of `The Train', another driven man, but whose motivation was malevolence rather than law.

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

@Ted thesailor I don't think Von Waldheim was motivated by malevolence. His sole motivation was his love of the paintings that he had removed from the museum.

[@JimC]

"Like yourself, Your Grace?" Heh. Wolsey can't quite decide if he's been burned or not! (That entire scene is absolutely brilliant, too.)

[@dashcammer4322]

Pressure...

[@HrHaakon]

He knows he has been burned, but he also knows he can't protest.

[@RoverenderAlligator]

I just watched the complete film for the first time so hadn't seen Orson Wells' Wolsey. Excellent, of course.

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

Wolsey 100% knows he's been burned!!

[@blessOTMA]

Wells's performance is mind blowing." Pressure "

[@nobodynowhere7163]

The face Norfolk makes when More explains the issue, priceless!

[@terrystephens1102]

A superb production - Henry was a despot.

[@dvsd01]

Excellent screenplay and terrific acting. Not necessarily historically accurate, but hey, it tells an important story.

[@aliguibril234]

“The nobility of England-“ “The nobility of England, my lord, would have snored through the Sermon on the Mount. But you’ll labour like Thomas Aquinas over a rat-dog’s peidgree.”

[@ivoe1574]

I love Leo McKern”s “Cromwell” impish expression. Lol!

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

Check out LM's bravura performance(s) as "Rumpole of the Bailey": kzbin.info/www/bejne/apaygK1pbs50lbs

[@AishaVonFossen]

@@CLASSICALFAN100 OMG I'm 28 now and I grew up on this show, my dad showed it to me! This is what introduced me to Leo McKern, and then I saw him as Cromwell in A Man For All Seasons. I was so used to seeing McKern being the wise and witty sleuth Rumpole in pursuit of true justice and then was somewhat surprised to see this corrupt, aggressive, wily lawyer aiming to take down an innocent man like Sir Thomas More. And of course being Rumpole, I expected McKern to get in a witty remark or two in this movie, that did get a laugh out of me, like at 3:05 with that comical face making fun of how dense Norfolk was. XD But either way, great performance(s), and great actor Leo McKern was! :D

[@tedthesailor172]

@@AishaVonFossen You might like to check him out as the cynical but insightful journalist in `The Day the Earth Caught Fire' and the sly government investigator in `X - The Unknown'...If you haven't already.

[@WolfGratz]

I miss his echoing of "This isn't Spain" to Norfolk. Chilling.

[@adteioseph4237]

"Why Richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world... but for Wales?"

[@janehenderson1284]

I agree. That scene is truly fantastic. The music makes me go cold ! Love it..

[@enscroggs]

Henry VIII did not die of syphilis, scholars generally agree upon that. The prevailing opinion regarding the cause of death is septicemia followed by septic shock and organ failure. Henry received a deep wound in his leg during a jousting tournament which was incompetently treated and never healed. The wound became infected, resulting in a system-wide infection that made it impossible for the king to walk and later to even stand.

[@billhaywood3503]

I saw Paul Scofield on stage once--I never saw a greater actor

[@hypercomms2001]

I think about this film a lot, it has been an inspiration to me, in particular Sir Thomas more. Now the United Kingdom is planning to break international treaties that will impact the good Friday agreement. Now we see Attorney General find excuses to justify an unjustifiable Breach of international law. So the challenge a good man has, did they follow their conscience a stand against this action that most likely will bring violence to North Ireland, And the return of The Troubles.Once again we are facing a similar choices that St. Thomas Moore faced Do we follow the political whim, of our government, Or do we act according to our conscience, even in the case as Sir Thomas more it led to his death. I know where I stand, I will always act according to my conscience even if that leads to the same outcome as Sir Thomas more.

[@cclewes7373]

One of my favourite films

[@two-moonz2953]

Robert Bolt RIP Great writer.

[@Ruda-n4h]

One of my two favourite films - Scofield, York and Hurt all superb.

[@KenR208]

Magnificent movie-making - of the intelligent sort we rarely see made now.

[@bombonalvarez3802]

It was the best times, it was the worst of times...

[@toyman9642]

. Magnificent movie.

[@Tengobaila3]

My favorite movie! Thanks for posting!

[@johnbertrand7185]

Well deserved Oscar for Scofield, and Shaw should have one as well, he was nominated, lost to Walter Matthau that year.

[@robertthomson1587]

'But for Wales?'......what a line.

[@helloschoales]

A rare view at greatness what Actor Paul Schofield was not many come close

[@robertlehnert4148]

Robert Bolt, the playwright, immersed himself into the history of the events, far more than Hillary Mantel. While there is if course dramatic liscence in this play, most us extremely true to the documented character of the actual people ( Scoffield was excellent, but both Shaw and McKern respectively nail Henry Tudor and Thomas Cromwell).

[@thanhmansour3490]

Sir Thomas More got the last laugh. He knew he would be welcomed into Heaven. I can't say the same for Henry VIII or Anne Boleyn or Elizabeth I.

[@TheNabOwnzz]

Quite an assumption for someone who tried to enforce a heretical church and who suppressed those practicing the scriptural one.

[@JohnFromAccounting]

@@TheNabOwnzz Every protestant faction in history used violence or the threat of violence to gain influence. No different to the Muslims.

[@TheNabOwnzz]

@@JohnFromAccounting Another rather ridiculous assumption, which seems not to take into account that even amongst a "faction", divergent and heretical views oft arise. Unless you mean righteous punishment by "violence", but that is inherently biblical (see Romans 13:4). Besides, it's not punishment i am rebuking, but the sort of people a man like Moore punished, who are innocent.

[@lamprinila]

well it's a masterpiece, the movie the play Saint Thomas More, i did a study on all while i was giving my exams in English... excellent work

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

In the trial scenes, notice TM's pale complexion, "5-o'clock shadow" and shaky voice, which hint at his deprivation while in the Tower of London. (In actuality, TM had a long "homeless person"-type beard by that time). By taking away all comforts, they hoped to force his capitulation...

[@aaronc4899]

Just like they will try to do to all those who resist Big Pharma welfare, aka "the vaccine".

[@DAngelo136]

Sir John Hurt was the last, if not on of the last surviving major cast member of this movie.

[@WolfGratz]

I think that must be right given that Vanessa Redgrave hasn't actually got any lines.

[@Dragblacker]

@@WolfGratz Redgrave played Alice in the 1988 TV movie with Charlton Heston as More.

[@RJY4356]

I just did a 40-minute presentation on this in a graduate class last night...LOVE this movie! The screenwriters added to the original play in a few spaces.

[@enochpowell2]

Fantastic movie, but you missed many of the wittiest comments. "Thank God there is only one fool on the Council."

[@Albukhshi]

He also cut out the line after Norfolk asks why he doesn't join, for fellowship's sake: "And if you go to heaven for following your conscience, and I go to Hell for not following mine, then will you follow me, for fellowship?"

[@wpaladin48]

More: "Mind your house, woman!" Lady Alice: "I AM minding my house!"

[@javiermorales6174]

And you duplicated some others: "this is not Spain, this is England!" 😡 ... 😉

[@TheKenPrescott]

"It seemed . . . delightful." "I should in fairness add my taste in music is reputedly deplorable."

[@donalddade5643]

It cut off one of the best parts: When Norfolk asks him to sign for Kinship's sake, Thomas replied that he wouldn't because it would be equivalent to going to Hell along with the lot of them for "Kinship"'s sake...

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis - Requiescant Omnes In Pace.

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

3:21 A very strange place to choose to cut to another example, considering that the wittiest remark in that scene came immediately afterwards.

[@Ugandangirl]

Delightful

[@TrevorMoses312]

"The King died of syphilis the night before......" 😝

[@gilmer3718]

I don't know if Thomas More was the one who said these things, but if it is he or the write of the script then he is a genius. The king died of syphilis? I have never heard that story before. IIf it is Henry VIII I have always heard it was due to the ravages of diabetes.

[@conniecarroll7222]

Excellent film

[@abrahamlincoln9758]

very few here expected the spanish inquisition

[@ivoe1574]

This is not personal for Cromwell. He has no axe to grind with Moore. I bet Cromwell would love to say “Sir Thomas just sign the dam thing!” “The king will be happy, you’ll be happy and I can move on to bigger & better things.”

[@guharup]

bigger and better things, you mean lunch

[@feslerae]

Richard Rich died in his bed...damn. After all that, nobody would remember him.

[@papagee100]

My dear Norfolk, This isn't Spain....this is England 😉

[@stephenchristian5739]

ITS RUMPEL! damn I loved that show

[@karenryder6317]

Rumpole of the Bailey--less earnest than Cromwell, but much more rumpled, witty and relatable.

[@jimmy2k4o]

Farewell and adieu, queen Katherine of Aragon.

[@71superbee39]

Each character had complete command of the language .... unlike the vulgar, gutter filth that spews from today's Hollywierd .... be it on television, the stage or the cinema....

[@the-Albino-Rhino]

Game of Thrones was waaaaaay better than this film. The Lion in Winter is a much better example of witty remarks, intrigue and politics anyways.

[@goodday2760]

@@the-Albino-Rhino ye bruh this karen don't know a brappin banger when he sees one lel im a massive g0t stan no homo

[@goodday2760]

@@the-Albino-Rhino g0t more like #GOAT

[@willitauber7545]

A superb film, not to be bettered. If this is not a just case against royal feudalism then I don't know what is! Vive le republic!

[@ahcokris]

Henry died of syphillis....there was a prophecy that he would rot alive. I think that is mentioned in this movie as well. St Thomas More. Pray for us.

[@missnorthumbria3658]

Which prphechy? Please can you share a link? Thank you.

[@ds1868]

There is no contemporary evidence that the King died of syphilis (please note the spelling). Please provide the contemporaneous evidence the King suffered from this illness.

[@JosephFrazier-ps2hb]

1:51 “This isn’t Spain yknow, this is England” 😂 “This isn’t Spain” then became one of our in-jokes for our history class

[@simonmountford4291]

First seen this movie 🎥 aged 10ish…now 52 and just look around at the utter crap 💩 churned out by the movie 🍿 industry. We’ll never see films like that…ever again…😔

[@rosienorton665]

Oh Scofield. How I miss you...

[@itamhoe]

is there a chance to have the video of the beginning with the score and the scene of the birds and dawn in the lake. That music and scene is pure art...

[@ajacqx]

missed opportunities.... good stuff... and the aforementioned m/o's... the obscurity scene needed more to give its true relevance. The 'sign-it for fellow-ship sake' scene lead into the perfect witticism.... and you didn't include it. And since you included some closing narration at the end... then why not "Ricard Rich became Chancellor of England... and died in his bed!"

[@BigDon62]

Although out of lip sync these lines from the film could be called witty, indeed some even educational. Even for a 21st. Century audience.

[@adrianpickford98]

Yes beautiful film. A lot of new films lack the sublets of the great directions of the 20th century. Unfortunately there was a point were things went South in Hollywood and a pretty face became more important than a great actor with classical training. Sad

[@2serveand2protect]

Brilliant. :)

[@onceamusician5408]

Not syphilis. henry was a hypochondriac who kept meticulous records of all his ailments and treatment, were he syphilitic he would have recorded the use of MERCURY. he did not. such obesity as his did wreck his heart and lungs. he was likely also a type 2 diabetic. his ulcer may have been osteo myelitis his madness IMO was a life of utterly indulged selfishness also given absolute power as absolute power corrupts absolutely ther is no need IMO to see k a medical explanation for it, as if he were a victim of an illness rather than a tyrant corrupted by his power

[@carolynellis387]

A very clever man, it was a great film

[@PittOriole]

Robert Bolt was a genius

[@paulwalsh7134]

John Hurt was once young looking? What a world.

[@micktulk]

I give Heston 10 Scofield 10

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

@mick tulk Heston's performance doesn't come close to Scofield's.

[@john-paulgies4313]

"Richard Rich was made Chancellor of England... and died in his bed."

[@phtevlin]

Henry 8th likely had diabetes at the close of his life which would have vastly complicated all the other things he acquired then.

[@kirinalandikasober4570]

What happened to Orson Welles in this movie? Did not recognize him; he was so heavy. What a pity!!

[@alberto2287]

Shame that in the end they cut off the “Sir Richard Rich died in his bed”

[@surajratti1329]

1000 years from 1066 to 2066

[@Milordvega]

4:56 So Norfolk was not saved by the bell, but saved by the syphilis.

[@abcbatman1966]

"Very witty....very, very witty.."

[@Bklyn93]

This fellow gets it.

[@Serby665]

Thomas Moore is the reason why we had to invent the quote: "Like a motherf****ng boss"

[@crabbieappleton]

Love Leo McKern, but a very different Cromwell than what Hilary Mantel is giving us.

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

Hilary Mantel "apologized" for Cromwell, in effect stating "OK, he was a bad guy, but he wasn't THAT BAD!" Well, he certainly WAS! Finally, his cronies ganged-up on him and got his head chopped-off, thereby making the world a better place...

[@timothycorbitt5149]

Well, Hilary Mantel lies.

[@e1ay3dme12]

Brilliant. A libertarian's gold mine.

[@janehenderson1284]

And of course it would help if my phone didn't type in what it liked!

[@fromMSUwithlove]

Anybody else come here after watching "The Tudors"?

[@Bitemis]

Watch Wolf Hall too; a bit slower than the Tudors, but great.

[@JudgeJulieLit]

"Tudors" for entertainment, but not history. which Its conflation of Henry 8's two sisters balderdashes, mainly all after dynastic issues.

[@timothycorbitt5149]

@@Bitemis wolf hall is a lie from beginning to end.

[@garundip.mcgrundy8311]

Check the sound effect on that table pound! (2:05) A little early.

[@seikibrian8641]

The entire video's sound and picture are out of sync.