Historian Dr. Joanne Paul explains howA Man for All Seasonsis one of the strongest onscreen depictions of the reign of Henry VIII and the Tudor period.Adapted from Robert Bolt’s 1954 play of the same name, the 1966period piece movieexplored the career of Lord Chancellor Robert More (Paul Schofield), as he was challenged by the crisis brought about by King Henry VIII’s (Robert Shaw) first divorce. The fifth-highest-grossing movie of 1966,A Man for All Seasonsis acclaimed for its cast and production values, and celebrated as an influential example of filmmaking.
With YouTube channelHistory Hitturning its sights to Tudor England in their latestHistorian Answers Google’s Most Popular Questions, Dr. Paul tackled the question of which movie represents the period best.
PraisingA Man for All Seasons, Paul stated thatthe movie offered “the best representation” of Henry VIII ever put on screen. The historian also celebrated more recent features for their production design accuracy, sighting 2023’s Firebrand as being “visually accurate.”
Many Productions Have Shone A Light On The Period
There is no shortage of Hollywood productions exploring the Tudor era beyondA Man for All Seasons, not only depicting the lives of Henry VIII, but figures both royal and not. Cate Blanchett earned acclaim for her portrayal of Elizabeth I inElizabethand its sequel, theshort-lived 2024 seriesMy Lady Janeexplored the brief reign of the titular queen, and movies such asShakespeare in Lovehave explored the life of William Shakespeare.Even famed fictional worlds were inspired by the period.
The Tudors: 5 Things That Are Historically Accurate (And 5 Things That Are Aren’t)
The Tudors embellishes a bit of the history it’s based on to amp up the drama but there are a handful of storylines that are historically accurate.
Though it is set in a world with dragons and undead forces,Game of Thrones' Westeros and its world-changing battles between ruling families were inspired by the War of the Roses, the conflict that ushered in the Tudor family’s position on the throne of England. From historical figuresinspiring certain key players inGame of Thronesto plot beats paralleling notable events,George R.R. Martin’s real-world inspirations are clear. While it may not haveA Man for All Seasons' accuracy, the connections are noticeable.
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The Tudor era is one of the most widely-known periods of English history, withits notable role in reshaping religion, its artistic contributions, and the key figures behind it. As such, it is unsurprising to see how many productions have explored the period. However, with Paul specifically celebratingA Man for All Seasons' on-screen exploration, those interested in the era might want to start there when checking out its various stories.
A Man for All Seasons
Cast
A Man for All Seasons, directed by Fred Zinnemann, explores the moral and political conflict between King Henry VIII and Sir Thomas More. The 1966 film portrays More’s steadfast refusal to endorse Henry’s establishment of the Church of England, highlighting themes of integrity and conscience.
