Cromwell (1970)

June 6, 2024 7:29 PM

Disgusted with the policies of King Charles I, Oliver Cromwell plans to take his family to the New World. But on the eve of their departure, Cromwell is drawn into the tangled web of religion and politics that will result in the English Civil War.
posted by bunderful (6 comments total)

Okay the music caught me by surprise. It seemed like something I should be able to identify, but I couldn’t - because it was written for the film.

Frank Cordell was nominated for an Oscar for his score.

Am also confused about the Scottish threat - I thought since James was king of both England and Scotland, Charles would have inherited - but clearly I have a knowledge gap. Will have to do more research.
posted by bunderful at 7:40 PM on June 6

It's a complex story (not sure how it's depicted in the movie). Charles I did inherit both crowns ("personal union"). There was a separate Church of Scotland and Scottish Parliament. The rebelling Scots first handed Charles over to Parliamentary forces at the end of the first English Civil War and then cooperated with him in the Second Civil War. His (and their) defeat led to the emergence of a 'godly' regime in Scotland. When Charles was executed after being convicted by a rump English Parliament coerced by armed soldiers, the Scots rose again in support of his Stuart successor (Charles II), but were conquered by English forces.
posted by praemunire at 8:23 PM on June 6 [4 favorites]

OK, I have learned that Wars of the Three Kingdoms is a thing and I have realized that this is not something I am going to grasp in a 5 minute pause from the movie.
posted by bunderful at 8:23 PM on June 6 [1 favorite]

Thank you, praemunire - I didn't see your comment before I posted.

The director seems to think he's showing Cromwell as a hero but he's really coming across as a giant self-righteous ass.
posted by bunderful at 8:37 PM on June 6 [2 favorites]

Delightfully, Wikipedia has an entire section devoted to the historical inaccuracies.
posted by bunderful at 8:43 PM on June 6 [1 favorite]

IIRC As Alec Guiness walks to his execution, he makes these little hand gestures that seem like the predecessors to his Jedi movements. That was a fun little touch.
posted by Saxon Kane at 9:14 PM on June 6