MovieChat Forums > A Man for All Seasons (1988) Discussion > Cromwell

Cromwell

posted 15 years ago by TudorLady
3 replies | jump to latest

Benjamin Whitrow was so good as Thomas Cromwell. I think I preferred his portrayal to that of Leo McKern in the 1966 version. The menace was there but mostly underneath the genial facade. I felt he came across as cool, calculating and almost smooth, whereas McKern's Cromwell was a bully and it showed.
On the other hand, Vanessa Redgrave's Dame Alice was almost a caricature. The Yorkshire accent was so overdone in places I found myself cringing. No comparison with Wendy Hiller.

The King's good servant but God's first

[–] rogerscorpion 11 years ago

According to Heston, Redgrave intended to do an accurate West Country accent, but was persuaded not to, so the US audience could better understand it.

As for Cromwell, check out John Colicos', in 'Anne of the Thousand Days'.

Carpe Noctem!

[–] angelosdaughter 10 years ago

I preferred McKern. When More accuses him of threatening like a "dockside bully", he looks and acts the part. He also resembled Holbein's portait of Henry VIII's chief minister. Cromwell's role was to facilitate the King's wishes, and he went at it like the administrator he was, untroubled by qualms of conscience. Cromwell was the son of a blacksmith, a commoner

"..sure you won't change your mind? Why, is there something wrong with the one I have?"

[–] 10 years ago

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