Cromwell (film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cromwell
Cromwell poster.jpg
Theatrical poster by Howard Terpning
Directed byKen Hughes
Written byKen Hughes
Produced byIrving Allen
StarringRichard Harris
Alec Guinness
Robert Morley
Nigel Stock
Geoffrey Keen
Michael Jayston
CinematographyGeoffrey Unsworth
Edited byBill Lenny
Music byFrank Cordell
Production
company
Irving Allen Productions
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • 16 July 1970 (1970-07-16)
Running time
140 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$8 million[1] or £9 million[2]

Cromwell is a 1970 British historical drama film written and directed by Ken Hughes. 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. It features an ensemble cast, led by Richard Harris as Cromwell and Alec Guinness as King Charles I, with Robert Morley as Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester and Timothy Dalton as Prince Rupert of the Rhine.

The film received two Oscar nominations during the 43rd Academy Awards held in 1971, winning one for Best Costume Design by Vittorio Nino Novarese, but losing another for Best Original Score, composed by Frank Cordell. It was also nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score. At the 7th Moscow International Film Festival in 1971 it won the award for Best Actor (Richard Harris), and was nominated for the Golden Prize as Best Picture (Ken Hughes).[3] The film received negative reviews for its many historical inaccuracies; however, much praise went to the acting (particularly Harris and Guinness), the score, and the costume design.

Plot[]

Oliver Cromwell is a devout Puritan, a country squire, magistrate and former member of Parliament. King Charles I's policies, including the enclosing of common land for the use of wealthy landowners and the introduction of "Popish" and "Romish" rituals into the Church of England have become increasingly grating to many, including Cromwell. In fact, Charles regards himself as a devout Anglican, permitting his French Queen to practice Roman Catholicism in private but forbidding her to bring up the young Prince of Wales in that faith. Cromwell plans to take his family to the New World, but, on the eve of their departure, he is persuaded by his friends to stay and resume a role in politics.

Charles has unenthusiastically summoned Parliament for the first time in twelve years, as he needs money to fight wars against both the Scots and the Irish. Although to appease the Commons he reluctantly agrees to execute his hated adviser the Earl of Strafford, the Parliament of England will still not grant him his requests unless he agrees to reforms that could lead to a constitutional monarchy. Committed to the divine right of kings, and under pressure from his queen to stand firm, Charles refuses. When he attempts to arrest five members of Parliament (in reality Cromwell was not one of them), war breaks out in England itself, Parliament against the king, both sides convinced that God is on their side.

When the Parliamentary forces in which Cromwell is a cavalry officer proved ineffective, he, along with Sir Thomas Fairfax, sets up the New Model Army and soon turns the tide against the king. The army's discipline, training, and numbers secure victory and Cromwell's cavalry proves to be the deciding factor, though his son is killed in battle. With his army defeated, Charles goes so far as to call on help from Catholic nations, which disgusts his Protestant supporters. He is finally defeated but, a brave man in his own way, he still refuses to give in to the demands of Cromwell and his associates for a system of government in which Parliament will have as much say in the running of the country as the king.

Cromwell later hears from Sir Edward Hyde, the king's once-loyal adviser, that Charles has secretly been raising a Catholic army to resume the war against Parliament. He and his supporters thus have Charles put on trial for treason. Charles, found guilty and sentenced to death, faces execution bravely and even his most ardent critics are moved by his dignity and the fact that he has forgiven his captors. There is little celebration or satisfaction over his death, even on Cromwell's part.

Parliament soon proves itself just as useless in governing the country and, like the late king, Cromwell is forced to undertake a coup d'etat. But where Charles failed, Cromwell succeeds: his troops remove the MPs from the House of Commons, leaving Cromwell sitting symbolically alone in the Chamber as virtual dictator where he outlines to the viewer his vision for The Protectorate. The film ends with a voice-over stating that Cromwell served very successfully for five years as Lord Protector before Charles I's son, Charles II, returned as king of an England "never to be the same again".

Cast[]

The final version of Cromwell at one stage was 180 minutes long, but it was cut down to 141 minutes, deleting a number of featured roles in the process including Felix Aylmer (in his final film) as an archbishop, and Bryan Pringle. Tony Caunter, George A. Cooper and Peter Bennett, three prominent English actors, were also cut out of the film following production.

Production[]

In 1960, Hughes read John Buchan's biography, Oliver Cromwell and more books before touring England and researching from historic sites to museums and archives.[4] In September 1960, Warwick purchased the screen rights to Buchan's book and Hughes was announced as writer and director.[5] During the next few years, it was reported Peter Finch and Tony Hancock were under consideration for the title role before Richard Harris was finally cast in 1968.[4]

Hughes originally wrote the script in 1961. Richard Harris liked it and wanted to star but financiers did not consider him a big enough star at the time to finance the film. They wanted Charlton Heston but Hughes did not think he was appropriate.[6] (Heston wrote in his diaries on 2 November 1961 that he turned down "Warwick's Cromwell script."[7])

Hughes tried to get Richard Burton to read the script but Burton was not interested. [6]

In April 1967, Irwin Allen announced that John Briley had rewritten Ken Hughes' script and that Peter Hall was going to direct. Allen hoped to get Paul Scofield to play Charles I and Albert Finney to play Cromwell. Columbia were going to finance with filming to take place the following year. (Hughes was making Chitty Chitty Bang Bang around this time.)[8]

Hughes later said he almost succeeded in making the film in 1968 but finance fell through at the last minute.[6] In 1969, London's Parliament Square was constructed at Shepperton Studios.[4]

In February 1969, it was announced Hughes would write and direct for Irving Allen.[9]

In April 1969, it was reported Ronald Harwood was working on the script with Ken Hughes. (And that Hughes and Harwood would then make a film a about Leon Trotsky for Joseph Sahftel.)[10] Hughes eventually succeeded in raising the money from Columbia in the US. After $600,000 had been spent they were tempted to pull out but changed their mind. The budget started at $6 million and blew out to $9 million.[11]

Most of the film was shot in England but the battle scenes were shot in Spain.[12]

The original cut went for three hours fifteen minutes but Hughes cut it down to two hours twenty four minutes.[6]

"I think it's the best thing I've ever done," said Hughes in 1970.[6]

Reception[]

Critical[]

The film received generally unfavourable reception, with criticism to the historical inaccuracies; however praise was given for the performances of its two leads, production values and score.[citation needed]

FilmInk said the film "does have some good things about it: Alec Guinness is superb as Charles I, and the production design is amazing. But it’s dull. So dull. Every time Richard Harris walks on screen he looks as though he’s about to give a speech and he does."[13]

Box-office[]

The film was one of the most popular movies in 1970 at the British box-office.[14]

Awards and nominations[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Alexander Walker, Hollywood, England, Stein and Day, 1974 p443
  2. ^ Making it Jordan, C. New Society; London Vol. 16, (Jul 2, 1970): 420.
  3. ^ "7th Moscow International Film Festival (1971)". MIFF. Archived from the original on 3 April 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c Niemi, Robert (2013). Inspired by True Events: An Illustrated Guide to More Than 500 History-Based Films. p. 5. ISBN 9781610691987. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  5. ^ "London". Variety. 14 September 1960.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Cromwell knocked about a bit" The Guardian 16 July 1970: 8.
  7. ^ Heston, Charlton (1979). The actor's life : journals, 1956-1976. Pocket Books. p. 166.
  8. ^ 'Millie' Begets 'Babies': More About Movie Matters By A.H. WEILER. New York Times 2 Apr 1967: 107.
  9. ^ MOVIE CALL SHEET: Madcap Role for Rosalind Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 27 Feb 1969: g20.
  10. ^ MISCELLANY: Trouble in store The Guardian (1959-2003); London (UK) [London (UK)]05 Apr 1969: 9.
  11. ^ Epic Whiff of Counter–revolution Date: Monday, July 13, 1970 Publication: Financial Times (London, England) Issue: 25,199 p 10
  12. ^ English Revolution Being Shot in Spain Pearson, Kenneth. Los Angeles Times (7 Aug 1969: c16.
  13. ^ Vagg, Stephen (14 November 2020). "Ken Hughes Forgotten Auteur". FilmInk.
  14. ^ Harper, Sue (2011). British Film Culture in the 1970s: The Boundaries of Pleasure: The Boundaries of Pleasure. Edinburgh University Press. p. 269. ISBN 9780748654260.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""