Becket (1964) on Netflix

PG-1319642h 28mBiography Drama History

King Henry II leans on his friend Thomas Becket, a Saxon commoner who runs the court. When the Archbishop of Canterbury dies, Henry names Becket to the post, expecting a loyal ally.

Netflix3.9/5
IMDb7.7/1017,253 votes
Rotten Tomatoes75%

Trailer

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Plot summary

Thomas Becket is the trusted advisor and companion of King Henry II of England. The king appoints him Lord Chancellor so that he has a confidant in a high office, someone he can control. Henry would rather spend his time hunting and pursuing peasant women than attend to royal business, and he relies on Becket, a Saxon commoner, to arrange these outings and manage the court. This dependence angers Henry's Norman barons, his wife Queen Eleanor and his mother Empress Matilda, who distrust Becket's influence. Henry also clashes with the Archbishop of Canterbury, who refuses to let Church property be taxed for the king's campaigns in France. When the archbishop dies, Henry chooses Becket as the next Archbishop of Canterbury, believing his friend will support him against the Church.

Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Becket (1964)

Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.

The film and Jean Anouilh's play show Thomas Becket as a Saxon who rose to power among the Normans, but the real Becket was a Norman. Anouilh knew of the error and refused to correct it because it would weaken a key conflict in the story.
In the film, Eleanor of Aquitaine says she will complain to her father about Henry's treatment of her, but her father William X, Duke of Aquitaine had died decades before, when Eleanor was 15 years old.
Julia Roberts said the film was a "turning point" for her and inspired her to become a serious actor, after a teacher showed it to her high school class.