A fine story and movie
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Cromwell
VartanD — 13 years ago(November 17, 2012 02:37 AM)
This is the only Richard Harris movie I have ever really liked. I've seen a dozen or more but this one is the only truly great one, in my opinion. The writing, acting, directing is simply perfect for telling a story from real history, not for being a stage for just one actor. Harris was simply one of the most overbearing actors there ever were and he was such a large personality, he literally sucked the life out of anything he played in during that period of his life. The Horse movies, the westerns etc, all of those could have been fine movies and been remembered as such. As it is, however, those movies are remembered for nothing but Harris overacting through them. In this one, Cromwell, he's kept in check and he's balanced out by a cast of real characters from history. This isn't simply another Harris vehicle.it's a movie that Harris had the privilege of being a part of.
I've seen this movie probably a half a dozen times over the years and I still enjoy it immensely. I based one of my SCA characters, many years ago, on this movie. My one complaint, and it's a tiny one that wouldn't even be noticed by anyone else, is how sneaky and guilty Cromwell/Harris appears throughout this one. It seems every time he's seen individually, he's lurking in a corner or he's trying to hide in a chair or a crowd. Half the time, he appears like a schoolboy who's not done his homework and he's hoping the teacher won't notice him and call on him.
In all, this is a fine flick! One I think all schoolkids should be required to see. It's a far more important lesson than most of the junk they're taught these days. -
JacintoCupboard — 13 years ago(February 11, 2013 07:09 PM)
Given the number of historical mistakes in the film, probably not something I'd recommend to schoolkids.
This a film that could have been a great film.
Should
have been a great film given the resources that went into it and the power of the original events.
What really bugs me is the pointlessness of some of the departures from history.
As engaging as Harris is in
Cromwell,
I don't imagine he was anything like the real man. And a good deal of the other characters are either complete fictions, composites or otherwise played with no regard to history at all. Compared to the accuracy in casting of the contemporaneous
Elizabeth R
it really does look dumbed down.
The sets and costumes are first rate however, and it deserved an Oscar for the latter.
I'm not a fan of remakes, but the way this film failed to reach the heights it should have, screams out to be done again.