Becket (1963)

Peter O'Toole is great as King Henry II, who ruled England from 1154 to 1189.

When the Archbishop of Canterbury dies, he appoints his old drinking buddy, Thomas Becket (Richard Burton) to the post.

This is an intense, emotional drama that probes the changing relationship between two young men - between two close friends bound together by similar pride of flesh and spirit who become deadly enemies as they pursue their separate destinies: that of king, and that of saint.

Nominated for 12 Academy Awards.

In High School, I had to write a report about this film and play for extra credit.

- A post about Becket here at the Critcaretro blog 

Roman Holiday (1953)

I love this movie, and the scenes in Rome. It's fun and cheery and always puts me in a better mood.

Newsman Gregory Peck is after a hot story and one falls into his path as a princess, played by Audrey Hepburn, who escapes from her royal entourage while on a state visit to Rome. She's simply fed up with all the rituals and pageantry. 

Audrey won a Best Actress Oscar for her cute performance. Eddie Albert co-stars as Peck's photographer, and he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. 

The movie's depiction of a newspaper office with desks and typewriters is so old-fashioned and I can only imagine what it would be like in that office and living in one of those apartments that Gregory Peck lives in.