Great for film buffs of English and military history, general audience, not so much. Exhaustive (and sometimes exhausting) account of the English civil war between Oliver Cromwell (Richard Harris) and the Puritan Roundheads against King Charles I (Alec Guinness). If Cromwell lived singlemindedly to protect the rights of his countrymen and he had no time or energy for a personal life, which is probably required of men destined to change history, then Harris's excellent portrayal is accurate, but makes this movie all about challenges to abuse of power and all the political conundrums that come with it, with the fervent pursuit of lofty ideals, certainly nothing warm and cuddly or down to earth bout it.
The tedious first half hour of relatively petty squabbles between parliament and the crown are necessary to set the stage for military conflict, when the film really breaks out, with some of the best filmed battle scenes I've ever seen, all real actors, ranks not filled out by cgi soldier cartoons, and continues thus thru most of the picture till a final coda tying up post-war loose ends. Great cinematography in general, composition of shots like old masters or epic battle paintings, original choral music of the score evoking the stark sober hymns of Puritan religious services in the 17th century. Perfect rhythm of script and editing.
The tedious first half hour of relatively petty squabbles between parliament and the crown are necessary to set the stage for military conflict, when the film really breaks out, with some of the best filmed battle scenes I've ever seen, all real actors, ranks not filled out by cgi soldier cartoons, and continues thus thru most of the picture till a final coda tying up post-war loose ends. Great cinematography in general, composition of shots like old masters or epic battle paintings, original choral music of the score evoking the stark sober hymns of Puritan religious services in the 17th century. Perfect rhythm of script and editing.