History Theatre / AManForAllSeasons

* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: For understandable reasons, no mention is made of the fact that prior to the events of the play Thomas More supported ruthless persecution of Protestants as heretics.

* OneSteveLimit: Cromell, Wolsey, Cranmer and Norfolk are referred to only by their surnames or titles to avoid confusion; in real life, they were all, along with More, named Thomas.

''A Man For All Seasons'' is an award-winning play and film by Robert Bolt. After successful runs in London (1960) and New York (1962), it was adapted to film in 1966. The play and film made a star of Paul Scofield, who won both a Tony Award and an Oscar for his performance. The movie picked up five additional Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director (Fred Zinneman). InspiredBy actual historic events.

!!Tropes associated with the play ''A Man For All Seasons'' include:

!!Tropes associated with ''A Man For All Seasons'' include:

* AndStarring / BillingDisplacement: In the 1966 film, Paul Scofield is in the "and..." position, appearing well after first-billed stars Wendy Hiller, Leo [=McKern=], and OneSceneWonder Orson Welles.

* AuthorTract: The film makes it very clear that More is the fella we're supposed to be cheering for.

* BreakingTheFourthWall: In the play, the Common Man addresses the audience directly.
** Also in the 1988 film version, where the character is played by Roy Kinnear. And dedicated to him.

* GorgeousPeriodDress
* GreekChorus: In the play, the Common Man, who also takes on multiple roles (including More's executioner). Both the Common Man and most of his function disappear from the film, but Sir Thomas' servant, Matthew, takes over a little of the commentary.
* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: For understandable reasons, no mention is made of the fact that prior to the events of the film Thomas More supported ruthless persecution of Protestants as heretics.

* HotConsort: Anne Boleyn (in the five seconds we see her, anyway).

* KarmaHoudini: As the 1966 film informs us:
-->Richard Rich became Chancellor of England...and died in his bed.
* LargeHam: King Henry. During his attempt to get More's endorsement, he's basically shouting the entire time. Even the other characters notice it, and are listening at the window. Or away from the window, given the volume.

* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: at the end of the film, a voiceover explains what happens in the next few years (for most of the characters, things get worse).

** Somewhat justified, in that Bolt was responding to More's canonization.
*** Bolt was an agnostic and socialist; he was responding to More as a person of integrity.
*** Possibly because More was something of an early anti-capitalist himself.

* ChristianityIsCatholic: Subverted here. It isn't after a certain point, but More thinks it ''should'' be.
* TheCorruptible: Richard Rich. And how!

* DidNotDoTheBloodyResearch: More is made to say that "When I was at law, it was the custom to ask the prisoner if he had anything to say before sentence was passed upon him." This is the garbled US version. In England, it is "Do you know of any reason why sentence should NOT be passed upon you?", in the unlikely event that there is cause for the defense to "move in arrest of judgement". (As HenryCecil points out from HIS days on the bench, most criminals in the dock have no idea of this, and judges find it easier to just let them ramble when they take it as an invitation to rant about whatever is eating them than to try and shut them up.)
* DoomedMoralVictor: And how!

** In the 1988 film version Roy Kinnear plays the role to perfection.

** To be fair, he was quite a humanitarian considering the times. He disapproved of the whipping or torture of what he considered Protestant heretics. (A total of six Protestants were executed during More's time as Chancellor). Some historians believe that the chief reason he was such a strong opponent of Protestantism was because he was worried that it would lead to social upheaval in England. And, if so, he was right...
* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: At More's actual trial, it is highly unlikely that Richard Rich committed perjury, as his own written account of his conversation with More would contradict him.

* LargeHam: King Henry in spades. During his attempt to get More's endorsement, he's basically shouting the entire time. Even the other characters notice it, and are listening at the window. Or away from the window, given the volume.

* [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem Screw the Rules -- I Make Them]]

'''''A Man For All Seasons''''' is an award-winning play and film by Robert Bolt. After successful runs in London (1960) and New York (1962), it was adapted to film in 1966. The play and film made a star of Paul Scofield, who won both a Tony Award and an Oscar for his performance. The movie picked up five additional Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director (Fred Zinneman). InspiredBy actual historic events.

Once upon a time, Thomas More was a barrister who became the most trusted adviser of {{Henry VIII}}. More was a Catholic with a keen moral focus,[[hottip:*:EvilLawyerJoke Ghasp! A moral lawyer? How did the world not end right then and there?]] and his advice was good.

!!Tropes Associated With ''A Man For All Seasons'' Include:

--> '''More''': Why, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world...But for ''[[ComicallySmallBribe Wales]]'', Richard?

--> '''More''': (dry) I'm very sure the King needs no advice from me on what to do about it.

** To be fair, he was quite a humanitarian considering the times. He disapproved of the whipping or torture of what he considered Protestant heretics. (A total of six Protestants were executed during More's time as Chancellor). Some historians believe that the chief reason he was such a strong opponent of Protestantism was because he was worried that it would lead to social upheaval in England. And if so, he was right...

* TheCorruptible: Richard Rich. And how!

* TakeAThirdOption: King Henry choosing to split from the Catholic Church, of course. But also Sir Thomas' decision to side publicly neither with the Reformers nor the Catholics and to remain silent about King Henry's choice.

* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: Historically, More burned people for heresy. Not violent people, just people who believed in different forms of peaceful worship than he did.

* OneSceneWonder: In the 1966 film, OrsonWelles as Cardinal Wolsey.

* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: at the end of the film, a voiceover explains what happens in the next few years (for most of the characters, ItGetsWorse).

* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: Historically, More burned people for heresy. Not violent people, just people who believed in different forms of peaceful worship than he did.

Once upon a time, Thomas More was a barrister who became the most trusted adviser of {{Henry VIII}}. More was a Catholic with a keen moral focus,[[hottip:*:EvilLawyerJoke Ghasp! A moral lawyer? How did the world not end right then and there?]]]] and his advice was good.

Once upon a time, Thomas More was a barrister who became the most trusted adviser of {{Henry VIII}}. More was a Catholic with a keen moral focus,[[hottip:*:[[EvilLawyerJoke Ghasp! A moral lawyer? How did the world not end right then and there?]]]] and his advice was good.

Once upon a time, Thomas More was a barrister who became the most trusted adviser of Henry VIII. More was a Catholic with a keen moral focus,[[hottip:*:[[EvilLawyerJoke Ghasp! A moral lawyer? How did the world not end right then and there?]]]] and his advice was good.

Then Henry wanted to divorce wife CatherineOfAragon, who'd failed to produce a living son, so he could marry the fertile AnneBoleyn. More refused to support this plan; he considered it immoral, and against his religion. The fact that the original marriage had been arranged to help foster peace with another Catholic country (Spain) didn't help.

* AndStarring / BillingDisplacement: In the 1966 film, Paul Scofield is in the "and..." position, appearing well after first-billed stars Wendy Hiller, Leo McKern, and OneSceneWonder Orson Welles.

** Also in the 1988 film version, where the character is played by RoyKinnear. And dedicated to him.

** In the 1988 film version RoyKinnear plays the role to perfection.