other films?


Hi!
I'm writing my individual assignment for A2 history on Cromwell, and cos i have no wish to do any work at the mo (!) am finding as many films to watch as i can!
1. is this film historically accurate?
2. anyone know of films that are set/about the Protectorate set up by Cromwell?
thanks!

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Sorry I haven't read this earlier; I've got a feeling that this is too late to be helpful. Here goes anyway:

1) NO! To pick out a few examples:

- The implication that Charles II tried it on with Lady Fairfax is totally out of order. Charles (tyrannical bastard though he was) was devoted to his wife even after she left the country (1645) and he never saw her again.

- Cromwell pulling a pistol on someone in order summarily to execute them, and having to be restrained by Fairfax, is also totally out of order: not only am I not aware of this ever happening but it's entirely uncharacteristic.

- The presentation of Cromwell neglecting his family while he's fighting is untrue as he used to write to them constantly (and he had a bloody big family).

- The presentation of Cromwell as Protector withdrawing into paranoid seclusion is completely wrong as he used to go walking in the park every day (just like Charles II did) and have people come up to him to give him petitions (just as happened to Charles II).

2) 'Witchfinder General', 'Cardboard Cavalier', and 'Return of the Musketeers' (1989) are all set during the Republic and feature Cromwell as a supporting character. 'The Exile' is about the future Charles II on the lam in Holland during the Republic but Cromwell doesn't feature in it. Episode 1 of 'Charles II: the Power and the Passion' starts with Charles in exile.

'Cromwell' (the 1970 Richard Harris movie) ends with Cromwell dismissing the Rump Parliament so it doesn't count; besides, it's full of lies up to that point anyway.

'By the Sword Divided' was a 1983 TV-series about the Civil War and Republic but my memories of it are are a bit foggy as I haven't seen it in 24 years and I was only six when they screened it.

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- The implication that Charles II tried it on with Lady Fairfax is totally out of order.

Did I miss something? What implication? I never saw the King try it on with Lady Fairfax.

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Try and get hold of a copy of 'Winstanley'.....it's about the Diggers.

Dr. Barry Worthington

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You've got the wrong king - it was Charles I. You sure are a historical expert - hope you're not a teacher!

Blowin' the changes!

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It's about as accurate as "Cromwell" - i.e. a crock. But "Cromwell" worked better as a movie.

The 1980s TV series "By The Sword Divided" remains far and away the best account of the Civil War and Protectorate ever filmed. Over two seasons it covered the whole period from 1640 to 1660, through the experiences of one aristocratic household. The central family is fictitious but the history is accurate, which is more than I can say for ANY other Civil War drama (why is it that this particular story is always distorted?), and it's brilliantly written, designed, and acted.

See also "Witchfinder General", but don't treat that as a history lesson.

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"An inglorious peace is better than a dishonourable war" ~ John Adams

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This was the worst depiction of Cromwell I have ever seen! I did enjoy the film 'Cromwell' (though I did wonder why someone didn't give Richard Harris a throat sweet as he clearly needed one and Alec Guinness's Scots accent was a bit dodgy!)
I've never seen 'By The Sword Divided' so will definately check that out.




The King's good servant but God's first

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Just started watching 'By the sword divided' and am hooked already! It is excellent. Historical drama as it should be. Forget this rubbish! Thank you Colkitto.


The King's good servant but God's first

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Glad to help! :-)

____________________________
"An inglorious peace is better than a dishonourable war" ~ John Adams

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In addition to the movies and TV shows already mentioned in this thread, there's also The Moonraker (not to be confused with the James Bond film) and The Scarlet Blade - which are both set in the late stages of the Civil War and depict dashing, Robin Hood-style Royalist heroes swash-buckling against boo-hiss Roundheads - plus the TV mini-series The Devil's Whore.


http://hexfan.proboards.com/index.cgi

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