MovieChat Forums > Becket (1964) Discussion > Fuuny story about this film

Fuuny story about this film


I've heard this story several times and read about it once, so I suspect it's fairly accurate. Both Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton were notorious drinkers. That, of course, is well know. But when they were making this film, they were relatively young. In this film, there were many older actors, which Burton and O'Toole had great respect for. There was, of course, John Gielgud, but also many others. These were the actors which Burton and O'Toole grew up admiring, and they were determined to be on their best behavior, which they were for the shooting of the film. But shortly after the film, the director wanted them back for a re-shoot of several different scenes. This time, the elder statesmen were gone, and Burton and O'Toole were no longer constrained in any way. They came to the set roaring drunk. They kept falling off their horses and laughing hystericallty. And in the scene in which O'toole puts the ring on Burton's finger, they had to keep re-shooting it because he kept missing Burton's finger. And off camera, there were two extras trying desperately to hold Burton and O'Tool's bodies steady. There were other incidents I've heard of. But these are the ones I remember

reply

I'm sorry, I don't think this is funny.

It may be an excuse why the film is so badly assembled.

Fuuny perhaps?

reply

I read the book "Hellraisers", and it actually tells this anecdote about the ring-on-the-finger scene. Yes, they were totally plastered when they shot it.

reply

I agree that is very funny when you consider how serious they were meant to be. I may have to re read the Hellraisers book once I've watched some more of their films in order to appreciate it better.

I think it can help the enjoyment of a film when you know what great mates the main actors were in real life.

I like to think that the scene with them near the beginning where they had to jump out of the window after they'd been getting up to know good is similar to what they were like out on the town together lol

reply