Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalHispanic Heritage MonthIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

A Man for All Seasons

  • TV Movie
  • 1988
  • 2h 30m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
781
YOUR RATING
A Man for All Seasons (1988)
BiographyDrama

King Henry VIII wants to divorce his wife, and seeks the approval of the aristocracy. Sir Thomas More is a man of principle and reason, and is thus placed in a difficult position: should he ... Read allKing Henry VIII wants to divorce his wife, and seeks the approval of the aristocracy. Sir Thomas More is a man of principle and reason, and is thus placed in a difficult position: should he stand up for his principles, risking the wrath of a corrupt King fond of executing people ... Read allKing Henry VIII wants to divorce his wife, and seeks the approval of the aristocracy. Sir Thomas More is a man of principle and reason, and is thus placed in a difficult position: should he stand up for his principles, risking the wrath of a corrupt King fond of executing people for treason? Or should he bow to the seemingly unstoppable corruption of King Henry VIII, ... Read all

  • Director
    • Charlton Heston
  • Writer
    • Robert Bolt
  • Stars
    • Charlton Heston
    • Vanessa Redgrave
    • John Gielgud
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    781
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Charlton Heston
    • Writer
      • Robert Bolt
    • Stars
      • Charlton Heston
      • Vanessa Redgrave
      • John Gielgud
    • 18User reviews
    • 12Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Photos2

    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast15

    Edit
    Charlton Heston
    Charlton Heston
    • Sir Thomas More
    Vanessa Redgrave
    Vanessa Redgrave
    • Lady Alice More
    John Gielgud
    John Gielgud
    • Cardinal Wolsey
    • (as Sir John Gielgud)
    Richard Johnson
    Richard Johnson
    • Duke of Norfolk
    Roy Kinnear
    Roy Kinnear
    • The Common Man
    Benjamin Whitrow
    Benjamin Whitrow
    • Thomas Cromwell
    Adrienne Thomas
    • Margaret More
    Martin Chamberlain
    • King Henry VIII
    John Hudson
    • William Roper
    Jonathan Hackett
    • Richard Rich
    • (as Jonathon Hackett)
    Nicholas Amer
    Nicholas Amer
    • Chapuys
    Milton Cadman
    • Cranmer
    Valerie Minifie
    • Woman Litigant
    Geoff Owen
    • Chapuys' Assistant
    Brian Badcoe
    • Chamberlain
    • Director
      • Charlton Heston
    • Writer
      • Robert Bolt
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews18

    7.0781
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    8bpolhemus

    Couldn't Disagree More

    The 1966 film starring Scofield was a throwback to film-making of ten or fifteen years earlier.

    Heston was brilliant as More and Redgrave was outstanding as Mistress More. The teleplay had much more of the sense of the original stage play than the hacked-up Hollywood flick the OP speaks of.

    Guess it's a matter of taste, but Heston has NEVER been wooden, EVER. One of the greatest actors of our age. In my opinion only Richard Burton could probably have been a better casting choice than Heston--and he was dead by this time.

    Heston was also remarkably gracious and effusive about Miss Redgrave's talent, even though they would never see eye-to-eye politically. He is a gracious man, a talented actor, and a wonderful husband and father. Would there were many more like him out of the dreck of Hollywood.
    Tom-464

    A version that is faithful to the stage play's script

    This made-for-TV version of "A Man for All Seasons" both wins and loses when compared to the more famous movie version of the show, which stars Paul Scofield as Thomas More. It wins, because it stays faithful to Mr. Bolt's original theatrical script, and so keeps much of the play's impact that was lost to "production values" in the big-budget movie release. It loses, in that the main characters, especially Mr. Heston's Thomas More, are weaker than those of the movie version. For example, Mr. Heston completely misses nuances of language that Mr. Scofield caught and used to great advantage; but the supporting actors in this version (Vanessa Redgrave as More's wife comes especially to mind) are far stronger than in the movie version. On the whole, though, I highly recommend that you see this version, mainly to watch Mr. Bolt's craftsmanship that was totally lost in the movie version.
    9fellowmelad

    Be fair: this is a great film!

    I think most of the comments on IMDb (or Amazon) for this film are rather unfair. Unfair to the actor Charlton Heston and unfair to the film itself. Please let me explain:

    It seems to me a sort of "England, England!" thing is standing in the way of a fair and objective comment on this film (as if I could give one...). Even though Charlton Heston has sunk very much in my esteem since "Bowling for Columbine" I feel I need to set the record straight (for my own peace of mind): This film is great, and believe you me, I am a Scofield fan (I simply adored him in the 1966 version of this film as well as in the 1994 Martin Chuzzlewit television film/mini-series).

    But to do away with this 1988 version of Heston as a failed attempt to improve on Fred Zinneman is not only an unfair comparison but also a foolish one. To begin with: Heston's version is far closer and more true to Robert Bolt's play than is the Fred Zinneman version. In addition, Heston's performance, although more obviously dramatical than that of Scofield, is more passionate. The scene in which he thrashes Roper and stands for his daughter Meg is simply the greatest ("They put about too nimbly!!!"), as is his performance with the Duke of Norfolk when they discuss water spaniels. Next to Heston, the performance of his fellow actors should not be discarded.

    Roy Kinnear, bless his soul, is brilliant as the common man (a Robert Bolt invention that stayed alive in this version but was left out of the 1966 Zinneman production)

    In addition, the role of the king is played simply brilliantly by Martin Chamberlain. The scene in More's garden is a scene that will never be mastered.

    Vanessa Redgrave gives one of her finest performances as More's wife. The scene in the Tower where they part for the last time is always tearing me apart! (Oh God, all these plain simple men!)

    And of course the roles of the "two ugly ladies" Benjamin Withrow and Jonathan Hackett are delicious and not to be found anywhere so great in the 1966 Zinneman version.

    So I beg you: Please be fair, enjoy the Zinneman version, but also take the time to (learn to) appreciate Heston's version. The man has his faults, but just appreciate that what he has done right!
    7peacham

    There can be no "Man For All Seasons' without a Thomas More".

    While this television remake of "A Man For All Seasons' is closer to the script of the play,it falls far below the masterpiece original film version. The main problem is the miscasting of Charlton Heston as Thomas More. His performace ranges from Bombast to boredom. Never a strong actor all his flaws show here,especially when compared to Paul Scofield's masterfully poignant performance in the original film.Roy Kinear as Common Man holds best of show honors. He is a delightfully sly narrator and covers the role of Matthew with ease. Vanessa Redgrave is as strong as Wendy Hiller as More's wife Alice but Adrianne Thomas' Lady Margaret falls far short of Susanna York's memorable portayal.Even the great Sir John Gielgud is miscast here. As Cardinal Wolsey his voice is indeed imposing but his slight frame in no way conveys the "full fed prince of the church" that Wolsey was. Over all it is a good effort at preserving the play, but for emotional power,well developed relationships and emotional passion...see the original film.
    8TudorLady

    A Pleasant Surprise

    I watched this film with some trepidation as the 1966 version has long been a favourite of mine. I could not imagine an American actor portraying my hero, Thomas More. However, I enjoyed it very much. Charlton Heston's performance was a revelation. I thought he did a really good job of showing More's famous wit but at times, his anguish too. Vanessa Redgrave's Dame Alice seemed at times almost a caricature ('A printed boook!') Yes I know Alice was from Yorkshire but Redgrave's 'common touch' was a bit overdone! Ben Whitrow as Cromwell was wonderful. Genial yet sinister, loved it! As for Roy Kinnear, he was just perfect as the common man, I always thought it a shame that this part was left out of the 1966 film. Having seen the play a few times, this is truer to the stage version but I wouldn't compare the two films, they are both very good.

    More like this

    A Man for All Seasons
    7.7
    A Man for All Seasons
    The Whole Town's Talking
    7.3
    The Whole Town's Talking
    Henry VIII and His Six Wives
    6.8
    Henry VIII and His Six Wives
    The Prisoner of Shark Island
    7.2
    The Prisoner of Shark Island
    Jamaica Inn
    6.3
    Jamaica Inn
    The Wreck of the Mary Deare
    6.7
    The Wreck of the Mary Deare
    Seance on a Wet Afternoon
    7.6
    Seance on a Wet Afternoon
    Desk Set
    7.2
    Desk Set
    The Paradine Case
    6.5
    The Paradine Case
    The Pickwick Papers
    6.9
    The Pickwick Papers
    Meet John Doe
    7.6
    Meet John Doe
    The Picture of Dorian Gray
    7.5
    The Picture of Dorian Gray

    Related interests

    Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
    Biography
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      More was tried for High Treason for opposing the King's desire to be named head of the Church in England. Charges of treason were used to silence opposition to the King. When the Founding Fathers drafted the U.S. Constitution, cases such as More's led them to define treason in narrow terms, that is, "Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court."
    • Goofs
      In all the scenes which are supposed to take place on or near the River Thames, the waterbody is clearly a narrow lake, not a river.
    • Connections
      Version of A Man for All Seasons (1966)
    • Soundtracks
      Original Tudor Music
      Composed by Henry VIII (as H.R.H. Henry VIII)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 7, 1988 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Un hombre de dos reinos
    • Filming locations
      • Dorney Court, Dorney, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Agamemnon Films
      • British Lion Film Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 30m(150 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.