Becket (1964 film)

"[to Becket, after appointing him Chancellor] I never did anything without your advice. No one knew it. Now everyone will. That's all. [puts a ring on Becket's finger] There. That's the Great Seal of England. Don't lose it. Without the Seal, there's no more England, and we'll all have to pack up and go back to Normandy."

"[laughing] It's funny. It's too funny. He's made mincemeat of them. I'm surrounded by FOOLS! Becket is the only intelligent man in my kingdom and he's against me!"

"I am the King, Thomas. And so long as we are on this Earth, you owe me the first move. I'm prepared to forget a lot of things, but not the fact that I am King. You yourself taught me that."

"Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?"

"Is the honor of God washed clean enough? Are you satisfied now, Thomas?"

"When you Normans invaded England, you seized our Saxon lands, burned our Saxon homes, raped our Saxon sisters. Naturally, you hate Saxons."

"[in response to Henry's idea to make him Archbishop of Canterbury] I beg of you,.... Do not do this."

"Dear Lord, I wish there were something I really regretted parting with, so that I might offer it to You. But forgive me, Lord, it's like going on a holiday. I've never enjoyed myself so much in my whole life. Lord? Are you sure you're not laughing at me? It all seems far too easy."

"You are a creature of extremes, aren't you, Brother John?"

"[final words] Poor Henry."

"The King of England and his Ambassadors can drown themselves in what they are impertinent enough to call their English channel."

"My dear man, crowned heads are free to play a little game of courtesy, but nations owe one another none."

"[to Becket] You're the ideal guest."

"I'm glad you weren't born on this side of the channel, Thomas. You'd've been a thorn in my side, too."

"[to aide] You know, it's a strange thing, but Becket's safety has become quite dear to me."

"A taste for wine and women made them friends. A sudden clash made them man and martyr...which led to murder!"

"An age of rampant lusts, abandon, runaway passions. An age brought bristling to life by two of the most exciting stars of our time!"

"Richard Burton — Thomas Becket"

"Peter O'Toole — King Henry II of England"

"John Gielgud — King Louis VII of France"

"w:John Gielgud: — Pope Alexander III"

"Donald Wolfit — Gilbert Foliot, Bishop of London"