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Rating:  - Superbly Done Historical Drama
For a period piece about the English Civil War and the role that Oliver Cromwell and King Charles I played in it, this film is excellent. Both Richard Harris and Alec Guiness are perfectly cast as Cromwell and the King respectively and are surrounded by a fine supporting cast. Guiness at times is absolutely spellbinding as a King who slowly realizes that power is slipping from him and his performance is one of the greatest film representations of a Monarch I've ever seen. His trial scene is one of the film's highlights.
The sets and costuming are accurate and beautiful depicting 17th century England realistically. The battles and military scenes may lack absolute historical accuracy as some below have noted but nevertheless they are well done and brief enough not to distract from the overall value of this film.
The only negative aspect of this for me was the musical score which I found at times distracting and even annoying. The opening theme is brutal but don't let it discourage you, it does get better.
Rating: - Little known but a fantastic period piece
One of my favorite movies of all time. I show it to my 8th grade class in order to explain the foundations of our Revolution and democracy. Movie has terrific acting, costumes and worth battle scenes. AG and RH are beyond good. Makes Cromwell out to be a better man than he probably was but it is before he takes over as "Lord Protector."
Rating: - cromwell
Very good movie about the English civil war between parliament and the king.Both Richard Harris(Cromwell) and Alec Guiness(Charles) are excellent representing two different views of government.While the king lost the war and his head, the political situation which started the war was never really resolved. Cromwell became "Lord Protector" a king in all but name, until his death and the restoration
Rating:  - The History is completely wrong...but it's still a good movie
I cannot imagine why anyone would even dare to show this movie to their history class...especially if it's a MILITARY history class...BUT if you have a teacher who does make this mistake...you will get an A if you remember the following points (which will also show you the drastic flaws with "history" in this movie.) First BIG flaw...Cromwell is shown as a main player at the battle of Edgehill. In the movie, he actually starts the battle because he looses his temper. FACT: Cromwell was NOT at Edgehill. He came AFTER the battle had ended (yep...English Civil War 101.) In the movie Cromwell utters the famous Edgehill prayer (Oh Lord, thou knowest how busy I will be this day...) FACT: Not only did Cromwell NOT say this prayer but it was actually said by a ROYALIST commander at Edgehill, Sir Jacob Lord Astley. So, as you can see, this movie simply goes down hill historically from here. True, Cromwell was a great commander, true, he did (sort of) lay the foundations for the modern British Army (i.e the New Model Army.) HOWEVER...virtually everything in this movie attributed to Cromwell he didn't do. So why the hype to make him a hero? "Cromwell" came out the same time as "Patton" (which slammed the British very unfairly.) It was a response to "Patton" and the British producers wanted to make Cromwell into a sort of Parliamentarian version of Georgie P. In fact, when I was in London, "Cromwell" came out and the logo was a mailed fist holding aloft a Lobster-pot helmet. So, is this movie worth buying? A guarded yes...the Naseby battle scene is decent (one of the best musket-pike battles I've seen on the screen.) And..the best scene with Cromwell throwing out the Long Parliament makes this movie worth owning. This scene is awesome, and is the BEST coup d'etat scene I've ever seen in a movie. It's also fairly accurate and is actually toned down from what really happened (In real life, Cromwell began cursing and swearing...in the movie he doesn't do this.) So remember...Cromwell had nothing to do with Edgehill or the Edgehill prayer, BUT despite historical flaws the scene with Cromwell throwing the Long Parliament out makes the movie worth owing. Face it...how many of us have dreamed someone would do this to our stupid congress?...think about that and you'll see realize how awesome this movie is despite the flaws. "Cromwell" also has decent costumes to boot. The film originally had some scenes of Cromwell in Northern Ireland. When the movie came to America, these scenes disappeared (politically incorrect maybe?) One final point with historical glitches, Prince Rupert is depicted as a dolt in the movie. He was in reality quite a good commander and ended up returning to England during the Restoration to become a fairly successful admiral (yep...talk about a radical job change...he went from being a cavalry general to an admiral...and a pretty good admiral at that!)
Rating: - History the way it should be taught in schools
In my opinion this is one of the best things Richard Harris ever did, and that is saying a lot. This area of English history is not as well known by Americans as Queen Elizabeth R, Henry the VIII, and others, but it is a part of English history that is taught well in this masterpiece of acting and storytelling. Alex Guinness is excellent as the King who just didn't get it. Don't miss this.
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