16世紀のイギリスを舞台に、権力に屈しなかったトーマス・モアの半生を描いた歴史ドラマ。時の国王ヘンリー8世は、王妃と離婚して別の女性と結婚しようとしていた。だが、トーマス・モアは、断固としてこれに反対、ついに国王の怒りを買ってしまう……。重厚なキャストと、絵画のような映像に支えられた堂々たる作品で、アカデミー作品・監督・主演男優（P・スコフィールド）・脚色・撮影・衣装デザインなど主要なオスカーを総嘗めにした秀作。
製作費: $3,900,000 (6億円)
興行収入: $28,350,000 (43億円)
推定収支: $24,450,000 (37億円)
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FindKeyのエディトリアルチームがこの作品の深層や歴史を解説しています。
監督: Fred Zinnemann
脚本: Robert Bolt
音楽: Georges Delerue
制作: Fred Zinnemann / William N. Graf
撮影監督: Ted Moore
制作会社: Highland Films
The agony of the moral high ground. Fred Zinnemann directs and Robert Bolt adapts the screenplay from his own play. It stars Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller, Leo McKern, Robert Shaw, Orson Welles, Susannah York, Nigel Davenport and John Hurt. Music is by Georges Delerue and cinematography by Ted Moore. Plot has Scofield as Sir Thomas More, the man who refused to cede to the mighty machinations of King Henry VIII (Shaw). It's very much an actors movie, beautifully literate and costumed and photographed up to the nines. So not one for those more keen on the action orientated historical epic, then! The story is thriving on the anguish of Thomas More, who is torn between loyalty to his King and his own moral beliefs, the beliefs of his religion system and the potential damning of his soul. The political and religious machinations positively pulse throughout, vividly brought to life by a cast of great thespians (Scofield is as great as you have heard). Great credit has to go to Zinneman, one of the deserved recipients of the 6 Oscars the film garnered. He never lets the cast run away with things, no chewing the scenery or smell the fart acting, he keeps them in check and they respond by providing an utterly fascinating and compelling historical saga. But most of all, with all the royal pomp on show, it's the intelligence of the writing that shines brightest. The dialogue via the sharp script throws cloaks of suspicion over everything being played out. Religion and politics, huh, it's for the birds. Top film making. 8/10
Paul Scofield is superb as the Lord Chancellor of England ultimately torn between his loyalty to his king and to his conscience. As Henry VIII (Robert Shaw) becomes more and more infatuated by Anne Boleyn (Vanessa Redgrave) he insists that all of his subjects acknowledge his absolute supremacy over the church. Most, fearful for their lives and property, acquiesce but Sir Thomas More (Scofield) cannot. The King has long relied on the honest counsel of his friend as so initially is content to allow him to retire, but soon those conspiring against More use everything at their disposal to bring him to ruin. Wendy Hiller sensitively portrays his stoic wife desperate to save her husband from the scaffold but cognisant of his overwhelming sense of right and wrong. Leo McKern also stands out as his scheming successor Thomas Cromwell and there is a cameo from Orson Welles as the clearly out-of-favour Cardinal Wolsey. Robert Bolt adapts his own stage play without compromising the genuine sentiment of his original work - fear, honesty, integrity and power - making this a thought-provoking watch from Fred Zinnemann.
