Young Winston (1972)

Complex family relationships, as well as a combat experience, form the personality of the future world-known politician.

Director:

Richard Attenborough

Writers:

Winston Churchill (based upon "My Early Life: A Roving Commission") (as The Rt. Hon. Winston Churchill K.G. O.M. C.H. M.P.), Carl Foreman (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Simon Ward, Robert Shaw, Anne Bancroft

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Shaw	...	Lord Randolph Churchill
Anne Bancroft	...	Lady Jennie Churchill / Lady Randolph Churchill
Simon Ward	...	Young Winston / Sir Winston Churchill's Voice (voice)
Jack Hawkins	...	Mr. Welldon
Patrick Magee	...	General Bindon Blood
Edward Woodward	...	Aylmer Haldane
John Mills	...	General Kitchener
Peter Cellier	...	Captain
Ronald Hines	...	Adjutant
Dino Shafeek	...	Sikh Soldier
Russell Lewis	...	Winston (aged 7)
Pat Heywood	...	Mrs. Everest
Laurence Naismith	...	Lord Salisbury
William Dexter	...	Arthur Balfour
Basil Dignam	...	Joseph Chamberlain

Storyline

This historical drama is an account of the early life of the future British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill (Simon Ward), including his childhood, his time as a war correspondent in South Africa during the Second Boer War, and culminating in his first election to Parliament.

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Plot Keywords:

winston churchill character | two word title | character name as title | forename in title | lord randolph churchill character | 

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Taglines:

Rebel Soldier Hustler Prisoner Fugitive Firebrand [Australia Theatrical]

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | War

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Winston Churchill had an American-born cousin-by-marriage named John Dodge, who, along with Roger Bushel, was one of the many escapees from Stalag Luft III. Although Dodge was not portrayed in the film, director Richard Attenborough played a fictionalized Bushel (renamed Bartlett) in The Great Escape.

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Goofs

Just as 'the last ever cavalry charge' is starting, there's a 'cavalry-mans view' towards the enemy lines. The wheel marks of the vehicle carrying the camera are visible, presumably from previous takes.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Captain: Who's that bloody fool on the gray?
Adjutant: Someone who wants to be noticed, I should imagine.
Captain: He'll be noticed. He'll get his head blown off.

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Connections

Featured in Young Winston: A National Hero Brought to Life (2007)

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Soundtracks

Toreador Song
(uncredited)
from "Carmen"
Music by Georges Bizet
Arranged by Alfred Ralston and Freddy Douglass

User Reviews

" It may be our empire too is doomed, but for us, there is such a thing as Moral Force "

From the autobiographical works of the Prime Minister of England comes this remarkable chronology of his life. The Film is called " Young Winston " and was directed by equally famous, Sir Richard Attenborough. The film encapsulates Churchill's early life (Russell Lewis) during his formative school years of which he later recalls both the loving affection given by his nanny (Pat Haywood), a woman he fondly remembers in his memoirs and the brutal education system he was subjected to. It is to his credit he relates his Father's (Robert Shaw) struggle to maintain his conservative political status as well as his parental obligations. All the while, Winston tries to earn approval and become a success. His mother, Lady Jennie Churchhill (Anne Bancroft) is seen as both a proper wife and mother as well as a spirited Representative of her family's social affairs. The audience is also privy to the courageous undertakings of the ambitious Churchill (Simon Ward) as he experiences both the hazards of war and the warnings of the political arena. In this he is scrutinized carefully by both friend (Anthony Hopkins) and adversaries like Lord Salisbury (Laurence Naismith) alike. The movie, like his biography, is creatively smooth and contains both the hurtles and inner doubts. As a result, it becomes an exceptional narrative studded with noted movie icons like Jack Hawkins, Patrick Magee, Edward Woodward and John Mills. In addition the colorful costumes, panoramic scenes and exciting action make for an interesting historical film of one of the world's most respected leaders. Superb Movie and definitely a Classic. ****

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 July 1972 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Churchill Story

Filming Locations:

Morlais Colliery, Dyfed, Wales.

Box Office

Gross USA:

$4,687,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Open Road Films (II)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

157 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (35 mm prints) 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Color (Eastmancolor) (uncredited)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1