17th Century England has just endured a civil war that has seen the Monarchy overthrown. The corridors of power are stalked as the reformist, but somewhat naive, idealist Fairfax, tries to broker a deal between two obstinate rocks, his power seeking deputy, the revolutionary Cromwell, and the nutty Stewart monarch Charles, and keep his beloved, but monarchist, wife happy. Roth's interpretation of Cromwell, a sort of Olivier's Richard The Third with a Hitlerian moustache attached, ie somewhat of a psychotic zealot, deserves more artistic than factual credit, as does the whole film. Great to watch but historical rubbish.