Paul Scofield and Wendy Hiller in the 1966 movie version of "A Man for All Seasons" (IMDB/ Michael Ochs)
“A Man For All Seasons” was a rare combination. It was the story of a saint that was also a Tony-winning play and an Oscar-winning film for Best Picture in 1966. This portrait of Thomas More as a worldly politician was also something of an event in Catholic culture. It provided a road map for a Catholic in modern life by tracing—in stunning language—the choices of a saint-to-be in Henry VIII’s corrupt court.
“A Man For All Seasons” had a profound effect on me when I was in high school. It was the first non-musical play I saw on Broadway. I saw the brilliant original production—sitting close enough to see the sweat—third row, off to the right. My freshman mind assumed that all plays would be as inspiring and theatrically inventive.