MovieChat Forums > Becket (1964) Discussion > Were they just good friends?

Were they just good friends?

posted 12 years ago by Hythlodaeus
8 replies | jump to latest

Okay, so were Becket and Henry just good friends?

Does there have to be some sort of overtone or could they just have been close friends and Henry just got a little over the top about it?

What are good friendships supposed to look like?

Why do we assume that a friend feeling as betrayed as Henry did had mean there was something else going on, other than friendship?

What hump?

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Hythlodaeus 12 years ago

I don't think the friendship was homosexual - I think the writer intended to bring the point into question.

I watched the movie thinking all was heterosexual until Henry's mom gave her little speech calling the friendship unnatural and Henry acted like he was having a heart attack after he sent his family out.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] SteveH2002 11 years ago

I don't believe there was anything more than friendship here, but I agree with your main point - the movie is implying there was something more going on, at least with Henry. For one thing Henry, more than once, bemoans the fact that Becket does not 'love' anyone - most notably after

Gwendolyn's suicide

. The king's family disapproves of his 'unnatural' attraction to Becket and get snarky about it more than once.

I'm American so I can't speak to this with a native's knowledge, but O'Toole's Henry is larger than life, and his loves and hates seem extreme. His emotions are larger than life, more dramatic than those of a commoner. I think it's fair to say over the top, but it was an over the top life. I can understand a king, who has a king's sense of himself, extending his emotions to a commoner and not having his affection - platonic or otherwise - returned would get a little obsessed about it.

[–] eatmorecoffee 9 years ago

Good point. King's thought they were divinely appointed so they would expect to have what they want. Partly also, there is generally a battle of wills - church vs state, which came to a head during Henry VIII.

[–] LordManhammer 10 years ago

Are you talking in the movie, or real life?

__ __ __
Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!"--Pres. Merkin Muffley

[–] Hythlodaeus 10 years ago

Either the movie or real life.

Btw - love that line from strangelove

[–] Techto (1388) 2 months ago

I don’t think there was any suggestion their relationship was sexual, though I thought it was odd that the movie began with Becket in the bedroom of the woman Henry was bedding. I guess he was keeping watch.