 OUTLINE AND COMMENTARY OF THE MOVIE
Becket portrays the life and times of King Henry II of England and of his friend then enemy, Thomas Becket. The large portion of the movie is sandwiched between a scene of King Henry offering public penance for Becket's murder. As the movie begins, Henry kneels by the saint's tomb and his talk about Becket fades theatrically into the main story. At the end of the movie, the scene returns to Henry as he is flogged by monks. Henry then goes out to greet the people gathered at Canterbury.
The major part portion of the movie outlines the convoluted relationship between Henry and Becket. They begin as buddies, drinking and wenching together. Becket always seems smarter and more in control of his life than does King Henry. Suddenly, in front of his court and gathered clerics, Henry appoints Becket as chancellor of his realm. He gives Becket the chancellor ring with three lions. The king continues to reign, but a chancellor, Becket rules England. The king attempts to take Beckets love interest as his mistress, but the broken hearted woman kills herself instead. The two friends then go off to fight in France. With Becket's skill, England regains some of its territory in France. During this part of the movie, the crown - embodied by King Henry II - is in constant conflict with the church - embodied by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Henry and Becket are constantly scheming to limit the powers of the church.
All this changes when the obstinate Archbishop Theobald dies. In a flash of inspiration, King Henry decides to make his good buddy Becket as the next Primate of England. Becket begs the king not to do this, but soon Becket is ordained and consecrated Archbishop. Soon afterward, Becket distances himself from Henry. One of the nasty English barons arrests then kills a criminal priest. This is an affront to the church which feels that church clergy should be tried in ecclesiastical courts and not in royal courts. When the baron refuses to repent, the new Archbishop of Canterbury excommunicates him. This makes Henry very unhappy, because an attack on the barons is an attack on the crown. With the help of the jealous Bishop of London, false charges are brought against Becket. He goes to London to face his accusers and with much a plume outmaneuvers his opponents. But now Becket sneaks out of England and sails to France. He is aided by the King of France who is not adverse to crisis in England. Becket finally arrives in Rome to see the Pope (Alexander III). The pope orders him to seek refuge at a monastery in France. Becket soon tires of monastery life and seeks an audience with King Henry. They meet on the coast of Normandy and make amends, although the mended friendship is fragile. King Henry next plans to crown his son, Henry, the prince through the bishop of York. After making these plans, he hears that Becket has landed in England and the common people are cheering him. That does it. Henry curses out Becket in front of his knights, muttering those fateful words, "will no man rid me of this meddlesome priest?" The four knights run of to Canterbury and kill Becket as he stands at the altar in his cathedral. Becket and his servant die and a martyr and saint is born.
INCIDENTS TO LOOK FOR IN BECKET
1. Language in the Saxon hut. Henry and Becket would be speaking French. The Saxons would be speaking Old English. The interaction between the two distinct groups is intriguing, but the language difference is missed.
2. Interplay between Henry and his mother and his wife. These were both famous and powerful women in their own right. Henry's wife was Eleanor of Aquitane. His mother, Empress Matilda, spent much of her early life battling to be queen of England.
3. Henry's treatment of his children. In that day and age, children of monarch's were often seen as rivals to the throne. Sometimes kings would kill their own children to secure their standing.
4. Keeping showered and clean. Henry showers early when he is out carousing with Becket, but later Henry comments that he "stinks". In those days in England, bathing was not considered healthy and most people even kings gave off a strong odor.
5. Action taking place in both England and France. This is glossed over. King Henry's realm included all of England and a large part to France (Normandy). Henry of England was French in language, culture and blood. Between 1066 and 1500, there were constant wars between England and France over disputed territory mostly in Normandy.
6. Becket was archdeacon of Canterbury. Again, this is glossed over. Archdeacon was an important position. Everyone would have been aware of it.
7. The symbolism of Becket wearing two rings. Becket first received the ring of chancellor of England. Next he received the ring of Archbishop. For a while he wore both. Finally he returned the chancellor ring and wore only the Archbishop ring. The rings are emblematic of loyalties.
PORTIONS OF BECKET THAT I ENJOYED MOST:
1. The excommunication ceremony. I liked the exhortation by Becket removing the baron from the holy mother church and consigning him to hell. This was emphasized by all the fellow priests throwing down their candlesticks.
2. The two times Becket was surprised. Becket was promoted twice in the movie, once as Chancellor and then Archbishop. Both times he was caught unaware.
3. When Henry schemes then chokes the Bishop of London. Much of the plot of the movie involves the love/hate relationship that Henry feels toward Becket. This is best displayed when Henry first praises the bishop and then chokes him after his comment about a "mitered hog".
4. The Gregorian chanting was nice. The movie included church music and chant of the era. This was enjoyable to listen to.
5. The private prayer of Becket. Becket prayed a prayer of humility asking for guidance. His recalcitrant aide overheard the prayer and now became a faithful aide.
OVERLOOKED OPPORTUNITIES IN BECKET:
1. Pope Adrian IV was the only English Pope. We saw Becket interact with Pope Alexander III. His successor was Adrian IV, the only English people. It would have been great to see Becket interact with him. Adrian IV allowed Becket back into England.
2. Henry's successor was Richard the Lionhearted. We may have seen him while playing with swords, but he was never singled out or mentioned. A comment like "Gee, little Richard you sure have the heart of a lion" would have been amusing.
NOTED HISTORICAL INACCURACIES IN BECKET:
1. Both of Becket's parents were Norman. Becket was a middle-class Norman not a Saxon. This was the major inaccuracy noted by many reviewers. His being Saxon may have enhanced the plot, but disappointed many with historical knowledge.
2. Henry first met Becket as he promoted him to chancellor. Henry was in France his entire life until he became king. The first meeting between Henry and Becket occurred when Becket became Chancellor in 1154. It wasn't until then that they became drinking buddies.
3. There was a significant age difference between Becket and Henry. Becket was born is 1118; Henry in 1133. The movie slighted that 15 year age difference.
4. Becket was worldly, but more into war and less into wenching. Becket was quite a worldly man, displaying his wealth and status conspicuously. He wasn't quite into wenches as much as portrayed. He wasn't the kind-hearted conqueror as portrayed, but he was a warrior of the era. In France he conquered cities with typical barbarism.
5. The use of the fork as an eating utensil did not yet occur. The movie made a big deal about a fork being used as an eating utensil, but forks for eating were still centuries away.
6. The source of Henry's final exasperation. The last straw for Henry was the excommunication of all clerics involved in the coronation of young Henry. The movie compressed this event. Becket was not killed because he landed in England and then became more popular than Henry, but because he excommunicated a bunch of bishops.
7. Becket's aide was only wounded in the attack upon Becket. Becket's aide, Edward Grim, went on to write the famed account about the death of Becket.
8. At his murder, the crown of Becket's head was severed. The movie portrayed Becket as being stabbed and a trickle of blood running from his mouth In fact, one knight struck Becket's head so hard that a part of his sword stuck in the stone floor. His brains spilled all over the pavement. His jewel encrusted skull cap became the central relic at Canterbury.
REFERENCES:
Anouilh, Jean. Becket or the Honor of God. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1996
Eliot, T.S. Murder in the Cathedral. Harvest Press, NY, 1964.
Hutton, William. Thomas Becket. University Press, Cambridge, 1926.
Catholic Encyclopedia (on line) www.newadvent.org
The internet movie database (on line) imdb.com
britannia.com (on line)
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