A Man for All Seasons (1966 film)

A Man for All Seasons
Original film poster by Howard Terpning
Directed by	Fred Zinnemann
Produced by	Fred Zinnemann
Screenplay by	Robert Bolt
Based on	A Man for All Seasons 1960 play by Robert Bolt
Starring	Paul Scofield Wendy Hiller Leo McKern Orson Welles Robert Shaw Susannah York
Music by	Georges Delerue
Cinematography	Ted Moore
Edited by	Ralph Kemplen
Production company	Highland Films
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	12 December 1966 (USA) March 1967 (UK)
Running time	120 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	$2 million
Box office	$28.4 million

A Man for All Seasons is a 1966 British biographical drama film in Technicolor based on Robert Bolt's play of the same name and adapted for the big screen by Bolt himself. It was released on 12 December 1966. It was directed by Fred Zinnemann, who had previously directed the films High Noon and From Here to Eternity. The film won six Oscars at the 39th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor.

The film and play both depict the final years of Sir Thomas More, the 16th-century Lord Chancellor of England who refused to sign a letter asking Pope Clement VII to annul King Henry VIII of England's marriage to Catherine of Aragon and resigned rather than take an Oath of Supremacy declaring Henry VIII Supreme Head of the Church of England. Both the play and the film portray More as a tragic hero, motivated by his devout Roman Catholic faith and envied by rivals, such as Thomas Cromwell. He is also deeply loved by his family and respected by the common people. The film's story is set between 1529 and 1535, at the high point of the reign of Henry VIII of England. Paul Scofield, who had played More in the West End stage premiere, also took the role in the film, with Wendy Hiller, Robert Shaw, Orson Welles and Susannah York. Also appearing were Nigel Davenport, Leo McKern, Corin Redgrave and, in one of his earliest screen roles, John Hurt.