Galileo (1975 film)

Galileo is a 1975 British biographical film directed by Joseph Losey, about the 16th- and 17th-century scientist Galileo Galilei, whose astronomical observations with the newly invented telescope led to a profound conflict with the Roman Catholic Church. The film stars an ensemble cast, led by Topol, Georgia Brown, Edward Fox, John Gielgud, and Margaret Leighton.

Adapted from Bertolt Brecht's 1943 play of the same name, the film was produced by Ely Landau for the American Film Theatre, which presented thirteen adaptations of plays in the United States from 1973 to 1975. Brecht's play was then-recently called a "masterpiece" by veteran theater critic Michael Billington, as Martin Esslin had in 1960. Losey had also directed the first performances of the play in 1947 in the US — with Brecht's active participation. The film is fairly true to those first performances, and is thus of historical significance as well.