Becket is a 1964 movie by English director Peter Glenville, based on Becket ou l'honneur de Dieu (Becket or the Honour of God), a theater play by French author Jean Anouilh.

The film tells a story of two extraordinary individuals, King Henry II of England (Peter O'Toole), and Thomas a Becket (Richard Burton), and their close friendship which comes to test when the King appoints Becket as Archbishop of Canterbury. The conflict escalates as Becket finds it increasingly more difficult to reconcile his newly found faith, and power that comes with his position, with Henry's less divine, secular interests.

Both lead actors, Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole, were nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award. The movie received 12 nominations in total, including Best Picture and Best Director. Edward Anhalt's screenplay won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Restored copies of Becket were re-released in 30 theaters in the U.S. in 2007.

In order to gain control over the Church, King Henry II of England appoints his drinking buddy Thomas Becket as Archbishop of Canterbury. However, Becket soon discovers new faith, and a source of power, in his position as the head of Church.

At first, Becket's transformation is met with disbelief and ridicule by King Henry. However, as time goes by, and both, Archbishop's devotion to God, and his taste for power grow, Henry realizes that placing Becket to Canterbury was a mistake. Instead of having a friend and an ally in a key position, he has created a formidable enemy, a rival and a challenger to his claim to absolute power. Henry spends some time wasting himself in a series of drunken revels, trying to postpone the inevitable - a final clash with his former best friend and mate, now archenemy, the Archbishop Becket.

A conflict inherent to the institutions that these two individuals represent - the King and the Church - with their respective vested interests, is played out in a story of personal friendship, betrayal and revenge, culminating in Becket's death - a murder ordered by the King Henry during one of his sprees - "Who will rid me of this turbulent priest?", he utters in front of his Barons, sealing Becket's faith.

"While major stars thrust together on screen often end up undercutting each other, one of the pleasures of Becket is how easily and generously these two commanding actors play off each other, each allowing the other the space to make the most of their individual roles." — Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times [2]