Final Round of Applause for Paul Scofield
“Be not afraid of your office, you are sending me to God. . . He could not refuse one so blithe to go to Him.”
So spoke St. Thomas More to his executioner. At least he did in A Man for All Seasons. I’ve seen this film at least a dozen times, and I can’t watch the ending without crying . . . and feeling exalted. If those weren’t More’s actual last words, they should have been. And the way Paul Scofield performed that final scene with immense dignity and tranquility . . .
I wish for Mr. Scofield, who died today, the same merry meeting with his Maker as the real Thomas More must have had.
I first saw him oh, thirty years ago or so in A Man for All Seasons, and was mesmerized. He was the first (and as far as I can remember, really, the only) actor to bring fully to life on screen what a saint is — not a sanctimonious phony, or a totally out-of-it dreamer, but a fully successful human being, who realizes God’s hopes for the kind of person he should be, and lets no power on earth tear him from Him. He was a man who did his work, loved his family, and never sought the spotlight. Scofield was apparently much like that in real life. Perhaps that’s why he was able to portray that role with all the power, authority, compassion, humor and determination you could ever imagine.
This is a truly great scene from that film.
Scofield made very few films, and I wasn’t privileged to see any of his stage work, so every performance by him is a treat. I remember him in a TV production of Anna Karenina back in the 80’s where he played Anna’s cold and domineering husband — and made you forget everyone else onscreen, even the beautiful young adulterers.
He won a second Oscar nomination for Quiz Show, playing the crabby academic father of Charles van Doren. He had a couple of stupendous scenes with Ralph Fiennes, one in the kitchen with some chocolate cake and cold milk, and Charles’ first realization that his father really loves him and is proud of him. And then later in the empty classroom, where Charlie has to confess to his uncomprehending father that he is a cheat and a liar.
I just found out today that Scofield actually originated the role of Salieri in Amadeus on the London stage. For those who weren’t able to see it (I’m among them), he fortunately did a radio version for the BBC. Here’s an excerpt of his performance, that shows his magnificent range.
Truly one of the great actors of all time. A final round of applause and Bravo to you, sir. And say hello to Sir Thomas for me.