Sir Thomas More (Paul Scofield) loves his family and his country, but most of all loves his Roman Catholic faith. He is a respected judge and philosopher, and for his reputation and wisdom, his friend King Henry VIII (Robert Shaw) makes him Chancellor of England. But a friendship with Henry is a perilous friendship. When Henry seeks legal approval for his divorce and remarriage, forbidden by Catholic teaching, More, trying to balance loyalty to King and country with loyalty to his faith, refuses to comment. Hoping to save his wife Alice (Wendy Hiller) and daughter Margaret (Susannah York) from the consequences of his refusal, he retires as Chancellor. But Henry, advised by political player Thomas Cromwell (Leo McKern), the keeper of the Tower of London, sees More's refusal as a refusal to approve, and orders More imprisoned in the Tower. Despite being imprisoned, Sir Thomas refuses to break his silence. Finally, based on the perjured testimony of the ambitious Richard Rich (John Hurt), he is convicted of treason and condemned to death. In front of the court, Sir Thomas More finally gives them the full measure of everything he had previously refused to say.