Oliver Cromwell: You think it’s time Tom stopped running around taking risks for the nation. My wife was the same when expecting her first child.
Lady Anne Fairfax: But by the second, you taught her obedience?
Oliver Cromwell: Some men have greatness in them. You never saw Tom in battle. That man was put on Earth to lead armies and build nations, not stay at home.
Lady Anne Fairfax: You’re quick at reading destinies.
Oliver Cromwell: You think I’ve misread his? You think Tom should follow the path of his forefathers? Suspect whatever is new, change nothing, question nothing.
Lady Anne Fairfax: I don’t believe I said that. I’m not convinced that running so fast is the best way to proceed.
To Kill a King takes place at the end of the English Civil War. The Parliamentarian army has defeated the Royalists, and Charles I is captured and in custody.
The central characters are Thomas Fairfax, a beloved general, and his fellow revolutionary, Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell (Tim Roth) is ruthless in his determination to have the King executed, and a government based on his own ideals formed. Fairfax (Dougray Scott) is a nobler character, fighting for what he believes in, but with more perspective and balance.
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| Dougray Scott as Fairfax and a portrait of the real Thomas Fairfax. |
The friendship between Fairfax and Cromwell begins to unravel over the issue of the King, and what is to be done with him. Fairfax's resolve is also shaken by his wife, Lady Anne Fairfax (Olivia Williams), who is from a Royalist family, and is still loyal to King Charles I, even visiting him during his imprisonment on multiple occasions. She tells her husband, "We weren’t meant for this, Thomas. Our families have always defended Kings. You have a duty." And when accused of aiding a failed attempt to help the King escape, she grows angry, saying, "I have tried to embrace your new world. Tried to see why everything I once thought right and fit must be torn down because you and your friends say so."
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| Olivia as Anne and a portrait of the real Lady Anne Fairfax. |
Fairfax tries to get the King to toe the line and agree to Parliament's terms, to no avail:
Fairfax: We have lost half our government to corruption and still await an olive branch from out King. All the country hopes and would believe you care for the people’s welfare above all else. If you would agree our terms, we could be certain of it.
Charles: Am I your divinely-appointed King set on Earth by God to rule this nation?
Fairfax: To reign, perhaps, rather than to rule. As a shepherd cares for his flock.
Charles: Doubt the sanctity of our King, and you cannot by that reasoning think your own bloodline divinely privileged. Even if some hypocrisy on your part allowed the Fairfax line to continue, I shall not grant it. Your son will be plain “Mister,” General, and his sons too. I hope your wife understands the sacrifice you make.
Fairfax: Your Majesty, please.
Charles: I sign here? [Rips up document] No man commands a King. No man tells a King his limits. A King rules by God’s grace. Now get out.
But it really doesn't matter, as Cromwell is determined that the King must die. He and Fairfax argue bitterly, Fairfax asserting, "We are jurors. We are here to serve justice; this is a mockery of it! You cannot, will not execute a man, a King, before he is found guilty!"
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| Tim Roth as Cromwell and a portrait of the real Oliver Cromwell. |
Cromwell remains unmoved:
Cromwell: The King lives, or the man. Patronage or opportunity. Old world or new. This is it, Tom. This is our victory. Our chance to set England free.
Fairfax: I am a Reformer, as I thought you were. I will reform the King. Anything less is brutal cowardice.
Cromwell: Too late.
Fairfax makes his opposition to the proceedings known when he interrupts the King's trial by leading Anne up to the King to let her bow to him one last time, and then escorting her out and abandoning the trial altogether.
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| Anne glares at Cromwell before walking out of the courtroom. |
The two men part enemies, with Cromwell preparing to be named Lord Protector, and Fairfax leaving the political scene. Cromwell still wants Fairfax's support, as Fairfax commands the love of the troops and the people, but he knows he's not going to get it: "Will you congratulate me, Tom? I know you cannot. You think I’ve fallen in love with gowns and glory, but you’re wrong. I despise them. You told me to study the lay of the land, so I have, and I see your countrymen must have a captain, a monarch of sorts."
Fairfax leaves in disgust, breaking with Cromwell forever: "Lord Protector was but another name for King and you are a cruel one."
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| Rupert Everett as Charles I and a portrait of the real Charles I. |
Charles I is played by Rupert Everett, and I actually thought that his performance was the high point of the movie. While an enjoyable movie, there's nothing exceptional about it, except for Everett's fiery and cunning portrayal of the doomed King (On a side note, Rupert Everett would play Charles's son, Charles II, a year later in Stage Beauty). My favorite scene is one in which he is playing the harpsichord (I think it's a harpsichord), with Anne singing along, and Cromwell storms in angrily to confront him about his plotting with members of Parliament to return to power:
Charles: Can you hold a tune, Mr. Cromwell?
Cromwell: I have some business with the King.
Charles: What a pity. We were just getting started. You will come again tomorrow, my dear.
Cromwell: Well, Anne?
Anne: [Bows] Excuse me, Your Majesty.
As Anne leaves, she hears Cromwell begin to shout at the King:
Cromwell: Who proposed the deal, you or Holles?
Charles: I beg your pardon?
Cromwell: You think all men are born to be your playthings, given lips to kiss your hand, knees to grovel at the edge of your well-fingered gown?
Charles: You’ve lost me, Mr. Cromwell.
Cromwell slams down the harpsichord lid, horrifying Anne, and yells: "Parliament is not a whorehouse built to serve your private needs. And if you expect to buy back the crown with your pirates’ gold, you’re not only a thief and a whoremaster, but a fool."
Then, with a steely glare, Charles responds in a formidable voice, sending Cromwell out of the room: "Is that so? I think your mother omitted something from your early education, Mr. Cromwell. Most men learn in the cradle that I am the King! By divine appointment! And will not be taught good government by you!"
He was so convincing, it gave me chills.
I must add that I don't actually know much about Charles I's real personality, but I gather he was not really as charismatic as Rupert Everett makes him. Regardless, I liked how Everett played the part.
Just as an interesting little tidbit (to me anyway), Fairfax and Anne's daughter, Mary, later married Charles II's friend George Villiers, the 2nd Duke of Buckingham, who I have mentioned in a couple other reviews.
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