Into the Storm (2009) (TV)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Thaddeus O'Sullivan

Writer:

Hugh Whitemore (teleplay)

Release Date:

2009 (UK)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | War

Tagline:

A relentless leader is the greatest weapon of war.

Plot:

Continuing the storyline of The Gathering Storm, Churchill at War is a look at the former British prime minister's life and career at the end of WWII. |

Plot Keywords:

WWII | Winston Churchill | Character Name In Title

Cast

Brendan Gleeson	...	Winston Churchill
James D'Arcy	...	Jock Collville
Iain Glen	...	King George
Janet McTeer	...	Clemmie Churchill
Len Cariou	...	Roosevelt
Patrick Malahide	...	Maj-General Bernard Montgomery
Bill Paterson	...	Clement Attlee
Robert Pugh	...	General Ismay
Emma Hamilton	...	Betty
Laurence Richardson	...	Officer
Donald Sumpter	...	Halifax
Aleksei Petrenko	...	Josef Stalin
James Fiddy	...	Victor
Ben Righton	...	Pilot
Paul Kelleher	...	Sir John Anderson
Patrick Brennan	...	Dissident Backbencher
Morgan Thomas	...	Maddox
William Ellis	...	Intelligence Officer
Harriet Smith	...	Factory Worker
Catriona Ryan	...	Factory Worker

Also Known As:

Churchill at War (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

USA:100 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Lancaster House, The Mall, St. James's, London, England, UK

Company:

BBC Films

Movie Connections:

Follows The Gathering Storm (2002) (TV)

Brilliant sequel to the Gathering Storm (spoilers?)

I am finally relieved of the long wait: the Gathering Storm left me strangely unfulfilled, ending as it did with the outbreak of WW2. Now Thaddeus Sullivan's Into the Storm carries us forward into that mammoth conflict with a splendid sensitive portrayal of the enigmatic Churchill.

Hats off to Brendan Gleeson, I would never have thought an Irish actor could take over from my hero Albert Finney with such consummate ease, but I guess Brendan owns the role of Winston now, he truly WAS him! (Then again, what do I know, I thought Len Cariou played Roosevelt with a British accent,imagine my surprise to find he's a Winnipeger who lived a long time with Glen Close!)

But Gleeson really was brilliant: His tribute to the disfigured pilot,are you humble in my presence,how humble do you think I am in yours? Drops his towel in front of Roosevelt, you see I have nothing to conceal from you ha ha! On religion: whether you believe or disbelieve,it's a wicked thing to take away a man's hope.

I loved the throwaway lines: RAF Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur 'Bomber' Harris being stopped for speeding, and the copper saying you might have killed somebody, and Harris replying My dear fellow, I kill thousands of people every night!

And Winnie's relationship with King George who was worried by Churchill's plans to land on DDay: I have decided to go in with the forward landing craft, I'm sorry your Majesty that would be impossible.. Why not Winston, at least I have a replacement.

Come to think of it, there's no spoilers here, this is simply a trailer.. don't miss the show!