Becket

Becket (1964) is a British-American historical drama you can watch online on iFILM. Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole play out the central confrontation of medieval English politics: Thomas Becket and Henry II — longtime companions, drinking partners, and eventually adversaries who cannot afford to let the other one live.

Henry appoints Becket Archbishop of Canterbury expecting a loyal instrument inside the Church. The plan backfires. The man who once laughed at Church law begins defending it with iron conviction, and each meeting between the two men grows colder than the last. Director Peter Glenville adapted the stage play by Jean Anouilh and gave both leads room to make their scenes feel like prize fights in court robes.

The film landed twelve Oscar nominations and took home the prize for Best Adapted Screenplay. O'Toole later said Becket was the finest work he ever did on screen. Watch Becket (1964) online on iFILM.