MovieChat Forums > Cromwell (1970) Discussion > Kudos for the Casting Director

Kudos for the Casting Director

posted 13 years ago by HijodelCid
1 reply | jump to latest

I like to watch biopics, which means that I'm very picky about the actors who play historical characters. The NIXON of Oliver Stoned-Out-Of-His-Gourd is a particularly ineffective example of biopic; not only does that movie abound with the demented fantasies for which that director is famous, but also Anthony Hopkins is a very poor choice to play Nixon; Hopkins' resemblance to RMN is limited to having a head with two ears, two eyes, a nose and a mouth. Alec Guinness as Charles I, on the other hand, is a truly superb example of excellent casting; indeed, Guinness resembles Charles I so much that it makes me wonder whether the two might be related.

God is subtle, but He is not malicious. (Albert Einstein)

[–] tplast 10 years ago

I agree. Guinness as Charles I is truly inspired. That one particular Van Dyck painting showing three views of Charles I is the spitting image of Guinness. I thought Richard Harris resembled some of the color portraits of Cromwell. Also, the actress who played Charles' wife resembled the Queen is some of Van Dyck's paintings. The actor who played Faifax was in the ball park as far as engravings of Lord Faifax. Patrick Wymark could pass for Thomas Wentworth (Strafford) if not for the white hair.