A Man For All Seasons

A "Man for All Seasons" is about a man so subtle and saintly that an actor

who takes on the role must be able to project an almost superhuman presence. As is evident, the

story is based on the life of Sir Thomas More, man of God and chancellor to the court of Henry

VIII. The year is 1530 and from what I know, actors in this movie typically wear transparent

half-masks and double up on roles.

More was the only member of Henry VIII's government who would not be

seduced or corrupted by Henry's threats. When the king asked More to sign an oath establishing

the monarchy as head of the Church of England, More refused. He could not alter the law, he

said. As the play progresses and More loses his wealth and even his freedom, he becomes almost

self-righteous in his strict adherence to the law. Exasperating, but he must remain sympathetic as

his family goes down with him into grief and poverty. The man who plays him must show both

his affectionate disposition and his unshakable piety or the script would be just an exercise in

mouthing lines.

What I saw from the story was how the wheels turn in More's mind, the glow

of warmth and the bleakness of despair that flicker across his face. It is not enough to paint him

as a man. He must be a man among grovelers and syncophants, a towering presence. A man for

all seasons, in other words.

In most cases, I am compelled to say that one probably would not be able to

successfully preserve their integrity in a situation such as Thomas More's. But in response to the

question of whether or