A respectable, sincere film of Robert Bolt's literate play, with Scofield as Sir Thomas More, endorsing the divine right of the Pope over and above his King, Henry VIII, who wishes to divorce Katherine Of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn. Watch out for Orson Welles in a marvellous cameo as Cardinal Wolsey. The film won 6 Oscars.
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BARABBAS (1962)
CertificationPG Our Rating
One of the most stylish and successful epics to emerge from the Hollywood-on-the-Tiber phase of film history. Quinn plays Barabbas a man literally marked with the blood of Jesus, whose spiritual/physical journey begins at the Crucifixion and, after a period in the sulphur mines, ends in the Roman gladiator arena, where he tries to win his freedom and confront his inner demons.
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BECKET (1964)
CertificationPG Our Rating
In a move designed to subordinate the Catholic Church to the state, Henry II gave the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury to his close friend and ally Thomas Becket. With Becket now installed as his 'man on the inside' Henry could be forgiven for thinking that the church would more easily acquiesce to his bidding. Henry, however, had neither bargained on Becket's ecclesiastical fervour nor realized his zealous nature. Thus the stage was set for one of the greatest battles of supremacy between
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BEN HUR (1959)
CertificationPG Our Rating
One of the most spectacular epics of all time, even by the standards of Hollywood, the famous twenty minute chariot race alone took three months to shoot, and, along the way, Ben is given a helping hand and converted by Jesus. An unmissable slice of movie history. Won Best Picture at 1959 Academy Awards.
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BIGGER THAN LIFE (1956)
Certification12 Our Rating
When a friendly, successful suburban teacher and father (James Mason, in one of his most striking roles) is prescribed cortisone for a painful, possibly fatal, affliction he grows dangerously addicted to the experimental drug. His transition from loving father to homicidal despot is depicted on a scale more akin to operatic tragedy than melodrama and, on top of the inestimable pleasures of Mason's performance, a narrative that explores society's use of drugs provides an unexpectedly prophetic di
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BLACK NARCISSUS (1946)
CertificationU Our Rating
A classic piece of British cinema, set in the Himalayas, where a group of nuns are leading a tough and isolated existence. As outside influences gradually intrude on the group the sisters find themselves falling prey to human temptation and neurosis. Stunning, erotic and thought provoking.
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BROKEN BLOSSOMS / ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1919)
CertificationU Our Rating
Two works from the father of narrative cinema. In "Broken Blossoms" (1919); a Chinaman arrives in London to teach the locals the ideals of Buddhism but finds them most unreceptive and, instead, opens a shop which becomes the refuge for a xenophobic boxer's abused daughter. Lillian Gish is brilliant and Griffith poetic. "Abraham Lincoln", (1930), was Griffith's first talkie and is a straightforward biopic from childhood to his premature assassination.
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DEMETRIUS AND THE GLADIATORS (1954)
CertificationPG Our Rating
The sequel to The Robe continues the story of Demetrius, the Greek slave turned gladiator fighting for his faith against fellow swordsmen, wild beasts, an evil temptress, the infamous Caligula, Messalina and Claudius. Demetrius and the Gladiators has everything one could wish for in a biblical epic and at 96 minutes it won't take up too much of your weekend.
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