Review of Cromwell (1970) by Jeff B — 29 Dec 2010

Made towards the end of the era that bought us loads of worthy historical biopics, this feels like a proper rainy Sunday afternoon movie. Whilst the subject of the English Civil War and the personalities of Oliver Cromwell and Charles I should produce a tense and engaging backdrop, the pace is lethargic and the battles poorly realised making for a somewhat leaden tale, riddled with historical inaccuracies.

The cast is made up of the great and the good from the British movie industry of the time but the acting seems detached and lacking in passion, especially from Richard Harris as Cromwell who seems to lack the zeal and conviction that the role called for, perhaps he was a secret Royalist? Alec Guinness is charming rather than regal and I've seen the Sealed Knot give far more convincing reenactments of Civil War confrontations down the local park on a summer Bank Holiday than are on display here.

Never the less, this movie passes the time and serves a purpose, if only to send the viewer scuttling away to the history books to find out what battles are missing and which bits are wrong. This is a story much in need of a modern remake in order to giver a truer, dare I say, 'warts and all' portrait of Cromwell and his times but sadly, I don't think that there is an audience for such a venture.