The Gathering Storm (2002) (TV)

Director:

Richard Loncraine

Writers (WGA):

Larry Ramin (story) and
Hugh Whitemore (story) ...

Release Date:

27 April 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History

Tagline:

Germany was arming itself for war. But they didn't count on one man.

Plot:

A love story offering an intimate look inside the marriage of Winston and Clementine Churchill during a particularly troubled, though little-known, moment in their lives.

Plot Keywords:

Politics | Winston Churchill | Pre WWII | English Politics | United Kingdom

Awards:

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 12 wins & 21 nominations

Cast

Albert Finney	...	Winston Churchill
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Clemmie Churchill
Jim Broadbent	...	Desmond Morton
Linus Roache	...	Ralph Wigram
Lena Headey	...	Ava Wigram
Derek Jacobi	...	Stanley Baldwin
Ronnie Barker	...	David Inches
Tom Wilkinson	...	Sir Robert Vansittart
Celia Imrie	...	Violet Pearman
Hugh Bonneville	...	Ivo Pettifer
Gottfried John	...	Friedrich von Schroder
Anthony Brophy	...	Brendan Bracken
Edward Hardwicke	...	Mr. Wood
Tom Hiddleston	...	Randolph Churchill
Tim Bentinck	...	Marlborough (as Timothy Bentinck)

Also Known As:

The Lonely War (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

96 min | Germany:120 min (Filmfest Hamburg)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color | Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Germany:12 | UK:12 (DVD/VHS release) | Singapore:PG | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Chartwell House, Westerham, Kent, England, UK

Company:

HBO Films

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The infamous speech Churchill wants to revise (and later delivers in the House of Commons) in the beginning of the film ("To see Mr Gandhi, a seductive Mid-Temple Lawyer ... posing as a half-naked fakir in a manner quite well known in the East, striding up the steps of the Vice-Regal palace to parley on equal terms with the representative of the King Emperor") was actually delivered in 1930, whereas the film starts some years later.

Quotes:

[the sound of Sarah tap-dancing can be heard through the ceiling]
Clemmie Churchill: I think she wants to do it professionally.
Winston Churchill: Annoy people?

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Everybody Dance

Churchill is brought back to life.

This is a movie that captures the life of Sir Winston Churchill before he became Prime Minister of England in 1940. The period the movie covers is approximately from 1936-1939. The story is of a private and complex man trying desperately to fight for what he believes in.

Albert Finney delivers a gem of a performance as Winston Churchill and steals the show. His role is central to the story and he is equal to the task in every way. Finney does an excellent job of portraying Churchill as a hard-nosed politician, an admirable statesman and England patriot who was also a kind hearted, sensitive man in his fifties who just wanted to "Keep Buggering On". Finney succeeds in bringing intense humanity and intimacy to the character of an immensely public figure.

This is a must see for those interested in Winston Churchill and WWII; it is an excellent prequel to the war itself since it lays the groundwork for many of the struggles within British society itself over the prospect of war with Germany. Excellent movie.

Rating: 7.7/10