Films specifically about or set against the backdrop of the English Civil War are not numerous, but a few notable productions do exist:
“To Kill a King”, 2003
Director: Mike Barker
This British historical drama film focuses on the relationship between Oliver Cromwell and Thomas Fairfax during the post-civil war period as they struggle with the direction of England with Cromwell advocating for more radical changes while Fairfax wishes for a more moderate approach.
Starring: Tim Roth, Dougray Scott, Olivia Williams, James Bolam, Corin Redgrave, Finbar Lynch, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Adrian Scarborough, Jeremy Swift, Rupert Everett;
Production year: 2003;
Genre: drama, war, biography, history;
Age: 12+;
Duration: 102 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,2;
More information about the film “To Kill a King” on the website imdb.com
“Winstanley”, 1975
Director: Kevin Brownlow
This film explores the life of Gerrard Winstanley, the leader of the True Levellers, commonly known as the Diggers, who, during the aftermath of the English Civil War, formed a small communal society based on their belief in economic and social equality.
Starring: Miles Halliwell, Jerome Willis, Terry Higgins, Phil Oliver, David Bramley, Alison Halliwell, Dawson France, Bill Petch, Barry Shaw, Sid Rawle, George Hawkins, Stanley Reed, Philip Stearns, Flora Skrine, George Barratt, Bill Brooke, Don Backhurst, Jeff Cornish, Phil Dunn, Duncan Fraser, Muriel Higgins, Philippa Johnson, Pat Kearney, Andy Kohn, Ben Lewin, Ginni Little, Gerry O'Halloran, Jack Osborn, Dorothy Phipps, Damica Pelling, Don Skinner, Mike Shanafelt, Harry Taylor, Jean Venn, Ruth Woollett, James Wise, David Meeker;
Production year: 1975;
Genre: drama, war, biography;
Duration: 95 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,1;
More information about the film “Winstanley” on the website imdb.com
“Cromwell”, 1970
Director: Ken Hughes
Starring Richard Harris and Alec Guinness, 'Cromwell' is a British historical drama that depicts the rise to power of Oliver Cromwell, who led the Parliamentary forces during the Civil War and later became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Starring: Richard Harris, Alec Guinness, Robert Morley, Dorothy Tutin, Frank Finlay, Timothy Dalton, Patrick Wymark, Patrick Magee, Nigel Stock, Charles Gray;
Production year: 1970;
Genre: drama, war, biography, history;
MPAA rating: g;
Duration: 139 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7;
More information about the film “Cromwell” on the website imdb.com
“The Devil's Whore”, 2008
Director: Marc Munden
Though technically a television serial, this four-part series is set during the English Civil War and follows the fortunes of the fictional character Angelica Fanshawe and her relationship with real-life historical figures such as Oliver Cromwell and Thomas Rainsborough.
Starring: Andrea Riseborough, Dominic West, Tom Goodman-Hill, John Simm, Maxine Peake, Michael Fassbender, Tim McInnerny, Peter Capaldi, Rob van Vuuren, Adrian Schiller;
Production year: 2008;
Genre: drama, melodrama, adventure, war;
Age: 18+;
Rating: IMDB: 7;
“A Field in England”, 2013
Director: Ben Wheatley
Directed by Ben Wheatley, this psychedelic historical thriller follows a group of deserters fleeing from a raging battle through an overgrown field. Captured by an alchemist, the group is forced to help him search for a hidden treasure he believes is buried in the field.
Starring: Julian Barratt, Peter Ferdinando, Richard Glover, Ryan Pope, Reece Shearsmith, Michael Smiley, Sara Dee;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: horror, drama, detective, history;
Duration: 90 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,2;
More information about the film “A Field in England” on the website imdb.com
Please note that the list above does not exhaust all film titles related to the English Civil War, but it includes some of the more well-known and widely discussed films on the subject.
Concluding a treatise on films about the English Civil War requires acknowledgment of the medium's power to capture the zeitgeist of this tumultuous period in history. The visceral representation of seventeenth-century political and religious conflicts, as depicted through an array of cinematic lenses, provides modern audiences with poignant insights into the struggles that shaped a nation. From the gritty realism of “To Kill a King” to the nuanced humanism of “The Devil's Whore,” these films function as both educational tools and compelling narratives, each contributing to our understanding of the complexities of loyalty, leadership, and the quest for power. As the curtains close on this selection, it is clear that the English Civil War's dramatic tableau continues to bear fruit for storytelling, allowing filmmakers to explore the depths of human conflict and the enduring quest for democracy and justice.
