MovieChat Forums > Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) Discussion > John Colicos as Cromwell

John Colicos as Cromwell

posted 15 years ago by mcade
12 replies | jump to latest

Personally, I think John Colicos' portrayal of Thomas Cromwell is the best on film, bar none.

Wolfe Morris who played the part in The Six Wives of Henry VIII and James Frain who played the part in The Tudors come in a close second, but Colicos has this evil and slimy streak that is the epitome of Thomas Cromwell from all accounts of his personality.

Everytime I see Colicos in another part, I always think of his role as Cromwell and would have loved to have seen him in The Six Wives of Henry VIII playing "Crum" from his rise to his fall from grace.

[–] Just_Hannah 15 years ago

Nah, James Frain is the best and even he`s far from perfect. At the end of the day, Cromwell wasn`t this pantomime villain, lurking down dark coridoors hatching foul plans to chop people`s heads off and laughing maniacally about it afterwards. He truly believed that the reformation would bring about a much better England. An England where even commoners like him could rise through the ranks of society on merit alone. On the other hand, he was certainly no angel either. He was much more complex than that. A truly fascinating man, imo.

Atheism: a non-prophet organisation!

[–] mcade 15 years ago

I would have loved to see Colicos play it when Cromwell was about to fall and await his execution. It would have given him the opportunity to play all aspects of the character of Cromwell, from his humble beginnings to his rise to prominence and eventual fall.

I would also like to see someone delve into Cromwell's personal life, which so far no one really has attempted. It was interesting to see the king as him about his son and family in one of the Tudor episodes. The fact that Geoffrey Cromwell, his son, was married to the sister of Henry's third wife, Jane, would make that a fascinating story. I would have thought that Cromwell and Henry would have had stories to share about Elizabeth Seymour and Jane Seymour. His daughter in law would have had some important insights and memories of Henry's late wife that I believe he would have been interested in hearing, since he hadn't known her all that long before their marriage and her death in childbirth.

[–] Just_Hannah 15 years ago

Cromwell`s son was called Gregory, not Geoffrey. Sorry to be an annoying pedant!

Atheism: a non-prophet organisation!

[–] mcade 15 years ago

I knew that. I was typing this after working all day and being at college class, so I was a bit punchy.

[–] Just_Hannah 15 years ago

I`m sorry again for being so pedantic, I try to control it but I just can`t help myself.

Atheism: a non-prophet organisation!

[–] Morgan-41 15 years ago

Don't apologize. Correcting mistakes politely is a good thing.

[–] denise1234 13 years ago

I love this film and I admire Colicos' acting in various movies.

However, the one time when I as a viewer *stepped* outside the story/movie was when both Anne and Cromwell were questioning Smeaton in court -- the Cromwell character periodically would interject "He said (x)...Write it down!", and it just seemed that Colicos was a bit over the top in this scene, the way he delivered those lines, especially given how the shot was framed.

Other than that, a fine actor and fine performance, IMHO!

"I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than..a rude remark or a vulgar action" Blanche DuBois

[–] angelosdaughter 12 years ago

Leo McKern who played Cromwell in "A Man for All Seasons" is in my opinion the most authentic in the role. He even resembles the portraits of Cromwell and plays him as the solid beaurocrat that Cromwell was. He was Henry's man first and foremost, not the malicious sneak portrayed by Colicos or the thoughtful somewhat attractive counselor portrayed by Frain.
Cromwell got others to do his sneaking for him, and I don't think he suffered any pangs of conscience as Frain's Cromwell seemed to do.
He was the King's facilitator and he was competent and efficient in that role.
In time, though, even he made a fatal misstep when he tried to manage Henry in his choice of a wife by manuveriing him into marrying Anne of Cleves with whom Henry had absolutely no chemistry, and he paid with his head.Cromwell would have been better advised to continue to carry out the King's will than to try to direct it.

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

[–] jglapin 11 years ago

Agreed. For me, McKern is the definitive Cromwell. I also liked Robert Shaw's "Henry" performance. Far be it from me to rate Shaw ahead of Burton- the skies would darken and the earth tremble.

[–] spookyrat1 11 years ago

He was the King's facilitator and he was competent and efficient in that role.

Some claim him to be one of the first great public administrators of England.

[–] Demarates 12 years ago

"We used the incest excuse the last time. We can't make a habbit of it."

When I'm gone I would like something to be named after me. A psychiatric disorder, for example.

[–] angelosdaughter 12 years ago

I did like that line.

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