Cromwell Museum Curator reviews the film 'Cromwell' 

*The only time when Obi Wan Kenobi and Albus Dumbledore faced off each other*

"The Devil's Whore," had some value and a superb Cromwell portrayal. A major film studio re-make would probably be a revisionist, woke effort and contain none of the splendid color, action, passion and superb acting of the 1970 film.

My 9 year old grandson loved this film he was asking lots of questions hopefully a visit soon

Worth mentioning the far more down to earth / even "Warty", portrayal of Cromwell by the late Bert Parnaby in "By the Sword Divided", the excellent BBC Civil War series of the 1980s.

I love the film, despite it's flaws. It's kinda authentic in the general telling of the story and as a starting point and drama it does very well. The last scenes of the life of Charles I are very moving. The sets are amazing. Performances are amazing. Absolutely right, Alex Guinness really does look like the late King.

I saw This Film when it came out , & It really sparked my interest in Cromwell & The English Civil Wars That I joined The Cromwell Association It Is A Great Organization to learn More about Cromwell & The Civil Wars as Well as the the Trial & execution of Charles I The Rump Parliament the Interregnum ect. Also, The Missing 🎞 Clips of the Cromwell Movie 🎬 Were These Clips Ever Restored to The Movie, In Perhaps Blu-ray or DVD 📀 ? The BBC came out with a mini series BY THE SWORD DIVIDED With the Civil Wars as a backdrop, & 2 families 1 royal & 1 parliamentarian. But 1970 Cromwell Movie is Still a Keeper ! 3 Huzzahs To The Lord Protector

"Albus Dumbledore and Old man 🧓 Ben Kenobi?" "Sir Richard Harris and Sir Alec Guiness?"

Thank you for this, Stuart. You gave a very interesting review of the film. It is, as you say, very good but with numerous historical inaccuracies. I didn't know that 45 minutes had been cut out. That's a shame. A new version, that sticks to facts and covers at least the period up to Cromwell's death in 1658, would be good. Thanks again. I look forward to your next film.

Thanks for an excellent review, despite its flaws it remains a firm favourite of mine, warts and all so to speak! I saw it in 1970 and it generated a lifelong interest in the ECW, or should it be BCW or WOTTK! I had no idea that 45 minutes had been omitted, although given the situation in Ulster at the time I can see why. It would be great to see the uncut version now though.To be fair films of that era, especially war films, did take certain liberties. You could been forgiven for thinking that the Americans fought and won Anzio single- handedly, or that the climactic tank battle in Battle of the Bulge was fought with M48 tanks, or for believing that Private Hook VC of Zulu fame was a complete reprobate. I am a bit of a Cromwell film nut and as well as the DVD I have the soundtrack on vinyl, the programme and the book. Interesting to see that your book has photos, mine doesn't. Something that I will remedy with some internet searching when I have finished writing this! Keep up the good work.

Never got the chance to see it on the cinema as I was too young, only later when I bought the VHS. Although I did see some of the actors at the time of making, as I was staying with relations in one of the gate lodges at Hatfield House, over the school holidays. Must admit, I did enjoy both, "A field in England", if a little surreal? "To Kill a King" as well, even though it was more about Fairfax. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on that one? Haven't been in the museum for years, however I do remember it being small but very interesting. We should visit again as we're normally in Huntingdon at least once a month! Such a shame really? I spoke to some friends in my local recently and they were unaware it existed, or the Norris in St Ives for that matter? Silly when you think we're only a dozen miles away!

A brilliant film and a great review. Thanks for mentioning Cromwell's infamous vacation in Ireland too. A local church in my vicinity has a stone cross which was apparently broken by Cromwell's army, so his memory lives on in all sorts of ways.

Loved your review Stuart, especially your appreciation of the film despite its many flaws. I was shocked to learn that the film was severely cut which would explain some of those flaws you mention. I've been trying to find further information online on whether the original edit still exists, but I cannot find anything. I have just found an obscure email address for sony pictures which i think is now responsible for Columbia Pictures. I have emailed them to see if they can sign post me or get some kind of response on whether the full film exists in the archives and if there would be an interest to release it if it does.

Excellent - a very balanced and insightful review of this iconic picture's highs and lows.

Absolutely fantastic film and a great review from yourself.

Thanks for making this review. I think that some of the inaccuracies that you point out in the film would pale in comparison to the deliberate inaccuracies that would be part of a film made today. What's worse is that you wouldn't even be able to point out those inaccuracies without suffering professionally.

Went to see the film with my school, gave me a passion for the English civil war.

Thank you for a learned look at this movie. Recently saw it and was wondering specifically if Cromwell really did pull of such a stunning victory with so few men. Turns out there was a great deal of dramatisation. Still, a fantastic movie! Thank you!

very interesting and thoughly enjoyable explanation. I love the film and its precisely as you say the reason for my interest. To hear the rights and wrongs of it only furthers my curiosity so thanks for doing this. Id love to know more about when Ollie shouts at his allies who refused to sign the death warrant, was it accuate that after all they went through the final signing was a reluctant affair?

we did miss out. image seeing roaring meg on the silver screen!

excellent thanks

Excellent review!

i just saw this movie a few days ago. Quite enjoyable

Definitely one of my favorite period piece movies

Making a separate post here to ask Mr Orme, in case he does answer comments: if there is an announcement of a new Cromwell movie/TV series, do you have any actor you want to see play Cromwell, and maybe other important roles like Charles Stuart, Henry Ireton, etc? I myself was impressed by the actor who played *Thomas* Cromwell on "Wolf Hall", (forgot his name, Mark something?) would enjoy seeing him play Oliver Cromwell. Though I suppose it depends at what point of his life Cromwell is depicted.

Maybe a new film, but, but but, who could possibly play Charles 1 better than Sir Alec Guinness?

Yes, this story is more relevant than ever

I’ve always liked this film but still grind my teeth over two points. Why are there ‘Lords’ (Essex, Manchester) sitting in the House of Commons? And why does the Speaker keep switching the procedure standard vote by voice (still practiced today). When a question is put to the House the Speaker asks for all those in favour and then all those against and then declares who he believes was successful. He doesn’t switch the order for dramatic effect.

Thanks to this movie, I'll just blurt out "Away with this popish idolatry!" for random, sometimes totally unrelated things. All the more ironic coming being from a Catholic family. Also, saying "In the name of GOD!" like Richard Harris during times of mild inconvenience is quite enjoyable. Lovely movie, this.

Is it true that Cromwell was ofor Yeoman stock and not of the gentry ?

My ancestry seems to come from the Scottish prisoners who were deported by Cromwell. How they made there way back to England like don't know.

if cromwell was second in command in the NMA, why did he rise to power, and not thomas fairfax?

I thought Fairfax provided the practical experience to train the army and Cromwell worked in Parliament on the legislation to make it happen

Even as a Texan with a more limited knowledge of the wars in question, this movie made me cringe. The best I can say about it is that it was produced in the UK and not Hollywood, so we were spared the illicit love affair between Cromwell and the Queen, and the big climatic duel at the end between Cromwell and Charles II.

is it possible to get hold of the missing 45mins?

Nobody deserves to die of disease in Newport Pagnell 😁

I can't decide what my problem with Harris' portrayal of Cromwell. He just seems so "one note", the so called intensity is always there, making him so boring. By contrast, Guiness makes an absolute bufoon like Charles Stuart seem so human, I remember having to blink back tears when the king talked to his two young children about his imminent execution. I suspect it boils down to the mediocre script that gave Harris nothing to work on, the director being focused more on epic spectacle rather than actually telling the story of Cromwell and Harris himself just going through the motions for a paycheck (can't blame him, if I was an Irishman asked to portray Oliver Cromwell I'd do the same). TLDR: Cromwell and the time period in general deserves a better movie.

No doubt any new film about these events would be "woke," with Cromwell portrayed as a black, disabled, transgendered, Muslim lesbian.