It is based on the life of oliver cromwell, who rose to lead the parliamentary forces during the later parts of the english civil war and, as lord protector, ruled great britain and ireland in the 1650s. Harriss performance unlayers every nuance of his strength and his weakness perhaps his best moment is when he discovers the man hes just. Witchfinder general is a 1968 britishamerican historical horror film directed by michael reeves and starring vincent price, ian ogilvy, hilary dwyer, robert russell and rupert davies. Cromwell, an ordinary man who has become an mp, is appalled by the kings behaviour and plans to emigrate to america. In 17thcentury england, ambitious country gentleman oliver cromwell harris dared to challenge the political oppression and corruption which besieged his nation. Edward montagu, 2nd earl of manchester, kg, kb, frs 1602 5 may 1671 was an important commander of parliamentary forces in the first english civil war, and for a time oliver cromwell s superior. Apr 21, 2014 cromwell shows him playing a key role in the battle of edgehill, a key early defeat for the parliament forces, but in fact cromwell was not even present. Overlong but worthy, though this film is somewhat mistitled while cromwell is the protagonist the movie s really more about the english civil war as a whole, with alec guinness nuanced reading of the complex charles i admirable, dignified, stubborn, blinkered wrestling much of the attention away from a typically enjoyable firebrand showing by richard harris.
Read famous quotes from cromwell, 1970, directed by ken hughes, with richard harris, alec guinness, robert morley. The film also stars robert morley, timothy dalton, dorothy tutin, stratford johns, patrick magee and frank finlay. Cromwells local church, where he flies into a rage on seeing its austere altar cluttered with popish golden ornaments, is st mary magdalene, great hampden in buckinghamshire. With nearly 200 acting credits to his name, cromwell has starred in babe 1995, star trek. Thomass mother, katherine maverell, was the aunt of nicholas glossop of wirksworth in derbyshire.
Oliver cromwell can no longer tolerate king charles policies, and the selfinterest of the ruling class, and leads a civil war to install parliament as the ultimate ruler of england. His career was at its pinnacle with his work in jezebel 1938 with bette davis and henry fonda and again with fonda in john fords young mr. The movie opens in cambridge, england in 1640 with oliver cromwell planning to go off to america where there will be more economic opportunity. Monty pythons satirical song, oliver cromwell performed by john cleese and released on the troupes 1991 album, monty python sings. Harris was originally cast as marcus aurelius son commodus in the former movie, but he was replaced by christopher plummer. Butits too long and one wonders when the story is going to get to the pointor even end. Witchfinder general titled onscreen as matthew hopkins. The screenplay by reeves and tom baker was based on ronald bassett s novel of the same name. Other than mere snippets of music contained within the dialogue tracks on capitols album, frank cordells dynamic and powerful score was never singled out for its own release. Richard harris as the protestant firebrand and title character, first in a chance encounter with robert morley as the earl of manchester, defending lowly carter frank finlay, then blowing up in church, early in ken hughes fictionalized biopic cromwell, 1970. Jun 23, 2014 everything i know about oliver cromwell, the 17th century british parliamentarian and military leader who helped overthrow a king, i learned from two sources.
Thats despite the film s energetic effort to make the issues clear. Oliver cromwell 15991658 was an english military and political leader and later lord protector of the commonwealth of england, scotland and ireland. In 1640s england, king charles i alec guinness is engaged in a power struggle with parliament, and civil war. The town was named after a shipping boat that traveled along the connecticut river, which runs along cromwell. Watch cromwell full movie in hd visit movie 31675 disgusted with the policies of king charles i, oliver cromwell plans to tak. Facing off between olivier cromwell and king determined to rid england of a tyrannical. But on the eve of his familys departure, he decides he must fight for democracy. This is well done movie with beautiful cinematography. It may also be because it is a complicated story of religion, power and politics which would be very difficult to turn these ideas into moving. The audience is supposed to be pulling for 17thcentury protestant leader oliver cromwell, who out of. It was heralded as so totally historically accurate that one scene had to be reshot because one of cromwell s famous warts fell off the first time. Disgusted with the policies of king charles i, oliver cromwell plans to take his family to the new world. I believe richard harris performed his role very well too as a decisive, passionate, and capable. Cromwell director ken hughes 1970 disgusted with the policies of king charles i, oliver cromwell plans to take his family to the new world.
Founded in 1970 and headquartered in leicester, england, cromwell is the largest independent mro distributor in the united kingdom, serving more than 35,000 industrial and manufacturing customers. With richard harris, alec guinness, robert morley, dorothy tutin. Sweeping historical epic, with an extremely sympathetic view of cromwell richard harris and his godlyinspired clash with the arrogant king charles i alec guinness to bring fairness and parliamentary democracy to england. Imdbs top voters top films of 1970 a list of 25 titles created 7 months ago movies at 50 in 2020 a list of 35 titles created 7 months ago. Cromwell 1970 g 2h 19min biography, drama, history 17 july 1970 uk oliver cromwell can no longer tolerate king charles policies, and the selfinterest of the ruling class, and leads a civil war to install parliament as the ultimate ruler of england. This film dramatization of oliver cromwell s efforts to seperate the brittish monarchs rule from the pious sect is an interesting story with some fine performances by messers. Some fine acting from richard harris and alec guinness with. Ken hughes richard harris as oliver cromwell alec guiness as king charles i. The movie deals with take over from republican government in england. When hes asked to stay to fight for the parliamentary cause, however, cromwell agrees and proves himself a brilliant leader of the. Cromwell is back in the tradition of great crowds rushing hither and yon in manufacture of obscure crises.
Richard harriss cromwell is a killjoy grump, and alec guinnesss charles i a languid fop with questionable. Thomas cromwell was born around 1485, in putney, surrey, the son of walter cromwell, a blacksmith, fuller and cloth merchant, and owner of both a hostelry and a brewery. In fact, cromwell s new model army wore red coats, cheapest available colour, and this was the reason the british army wore red until the late 19th century. Cromwell has one of the most cockeyed points of view of any historical epic ever made. Walter cromwell is considered by some to be of irish ancestry. January 9 larry fine, the second member of the three stooges, suffers a massive stroke, effectively ending his career.
Although in the long run cromwell helped bring democracy to england. The english civil war on film cromwell 1970 there have few feature films about the civil war, probably because there is neither a clearcut winner nor an obvious good guy to stick up for. After watching the film in class, my history teacher said if they were to show the trailer for the film today, no one. Cromwell, ist ein britisches filmdrama des regisseurs ken hughes aus dem jahr 1970. It is based on the life of oliver cromwell, who led the parliamentary forces during the english civil war and, as lord protector, ruled great britain and ireland in the 1650s. Cromwell 1970 although repeatedly told by skittish studio executives and potential backers that the days of the big historical epic were over, writerdirector ken hughes finally got to put his nearly decadelong obsession with oliver cromwell on screen in 1970 in cromwell, a lavish production devoted to the life of the famous antiroyalist and his short reign 16531658 as lord protector of.
As nearly as possible in a movie that lasts three hours and covers maybe 10 years, cromwell is faithful to the facts. In 1640s england, king charles i alec guinness is engaged in a. Cromwell is a town in middlesex county, connecticut, united states located in the middle of the state. Cromwell 1970 although repeatedly told by skittish studio executives and potential backers that the days of the big historical epic were over, writerdirector ken hughes finally got to put his nearly decadelong obsession with oliver cromwell on screen in 1970 in cromwell, a lavish production devoted to the life of the famous antiroyalist and his short reign 16531658 as lord. Sir alec guinness king charles i and richard harris oliver cromwell played the roman emperor marcus aurelius in different films. Cromwell is a british 1970 historical drama film, based on the life of oliver cromwell who led the parliamentary forces during the english civil war and, as lord protector, ruled great britain and. Watching his power being usurped by a commoner, king charles i twotime oscarrwinner guinness, 1957 best actor, the bridge on the river kwai. In fact, cromwell s new model army wore red coats, cheapest available colour, and this was the reason the. I first saw this film it takes itself a little too seriously for me to call it a movie in london, where i was visiting at the time of its 1970 premiere.
But on the eve of their departure, cromwell is drawn into the tangled web of religion and politics that will result in the english civil war. He was the eldest son of henry montagu, 1st earl of manchester by his first. How to deal with a corrupt parliament cromwell, 1970. Founded in 1970 and headquartered in leicester, england, cromwell is the largest independent mro distributor in the united kingdom, serving more than. By the way, the nearby hampden house was for a while home to hammer films, and was regularly seen in the hammer house of horror tv series. What follows is a bloody civil war in which cromwell s roundheads attempt to overthrow the monarchy and its supporters, the cavaliers. In 1640s england, king charles i alec guinness is engaged in a power struggle with parliament, and civil war seems imminent to house of commons member oliver. Aug 20, 2009 its hard to know who to root for in ken hughess wildly inaccurate civil war drama. Cromwell 1970, depictions of the battles of edgehill and naseby. Cromwell has been nominated for four emmy awards and four screen actors guild awards, as well as the academy award for best supporting actor for babe. His excesses helped lead to the restoration of the monarchy with charles ii. Oct 06, 2012 this is a recut trailer of the 1970 s film cromwell directed by ken hughes.
Cromwell is a british 1970 historical drama film, based on the life of oliver cromwell who led the parliamentary forces during the english civil war and, as lord. The audience is supposed to be pulling for 17thcentury protestant leader oliver cromwell. In 1640s england, king charles i alec guinness is engaged in a power struggle with parliament, and civil war seems imminent to house of commons member oliver cromwell richard harris, whos preparing to depart for the american colonies. Disgusted with the policies of king charles i, oliver cromwell plans to take his. When hes asked to stay to fight for the parliamentary cause, however, cromwell agrees and proves himself a brilliant leader of the roundhead army. Cromwell was the ambitious country gentleman who dared to challenge the political oppression and corruption that was very much part of life in 17th century britain at the time. In 1970 capitol issued a 51minute soundtrack lp of dialogue highlights from columbias cromwell. In his raised fist, the power of the people disgusted with the policies of king charles i, oliver cromwell plans to take his family to the new world. The english civil war on film cromwell 1970 oliver. Alec guinness acting is great as the weak king charles i. Most of the film was made on impressive sets built at shepperton studios in surrey, but the civil war battle scenes of edgehill and naseby were. Jan 15, 20 cromwell soundtrack cd details and availability. The movie is some kind of misnomer,cause cromwell s reign is reduced to a short laudatory comment at the end of the movie.
January 8, 1910 october 11, 1960 was an american actor. In 1970, when the film was released at the height of the antivietnam war movement, the idea that a military officer might once again. It also depicts his decisiveness victory at naseby as a prototypical victory of the outnumberedbutrighteous, but really the kings forces had a severe disadvantage in numbers. Wikimedia commons has media related to films of the united states, 1970. In 20, he won the canadian screen award for best actor for his role in still mine and the primetime emmy award for outstanding supporting actor in a limited series or movie for his role in. In 1970, when the film was released at the height of the antivietnam war movement, the idea that a military officer might once again occupy the white. Jan 07, 20 in 1970 capitol issued a 51minute soundtrack lp of dialogue highlights from columbias cromwell. The ship was named after oliver cromwell, lord protector of the commonwealth of england. Winstanley 1975 to kill a king 2003 cromwell in ireland 2008 the devils whore 2008, numerous battles and skirmishes of the civil war and the harrying of ireland. I think its the best thing ive ever done, said hughes in 1970.
Cromwell 1970 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Apr 25, 2015 cromwell is a british 1970 historical drama film, based on the life of oliver cromwell who led the parliamentary forces during the english civil war and, as lord protector, ruled great britain and. The influence of the queen over her husband and the overwhelming conviction of cromwell s belief in what he was doing are well explored. Guinness in the fall of the roman empire 1964, and harris in gladiator 2000. Cromwell is a british 1970 historical drama film written and directed by ken hughes. A complete guide to all the new original series and films the most important booktotv adaptations coming in 2020 netflix is dropping these shows and.
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