It's Richard Harris vs Alec Guinness and Guiness wins by a knock out. The English Civil War has always been problematic in the movies - because Parliament was obviously the right side, but they were dull Puritans with funny hats who hated sex and theatre, whereas the Royalists were dashing and romantic but at heart violent dictators.
Cromwell was a fascinating man, a sort of suburban Rotary Club manager who due to history discovered a genius for military and political leadership. Harris is not only miscast he is extremely irritating - every time the camera goes on him he goes "Great! I get to act!" and sets about yelling and chewing the furniture. You are enjoying the film then they cut to him and its like "oh shut up". Contrast with Guiness' Charles I - Chuckie was an amiable idiot, a lousy king and despot but Guiness gives him shades and dimensions and you feel sorry for him having his head chopped off even if it was the right thing to do.
Some decent enough supporting performances. The direction is OK and it covers the Civil War basics but it is a bit dull.
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