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

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 July 1972 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Churchill Story

Filming Locations:

Morlais Colliery, Dyfed, Wales.

Company Credits

Production Co:

Open Road Films (II)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

157 min

Sound Mix:

Mono 6-Track Stereo (Western Electric Sound System) (uncredited)

Color:

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

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dirk Bogarde turned down the role of Lord Randolph Churchill.

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Goofs

As the 'last ever cavalry charge' reached the enemy lines, a white flare, used as a signal for the hordes of extras, can be seen dropping from the sky.

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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

Referenced in Young Winston: Reflections of a Director (2007)

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Soundtracks

Forty Years On
(uncredited)
Traditional
Arranged by Alfred Ralston

User Reviews

It's a good adaptation about Churchill's autobiography during his childhood and youth

The picture is based on Winston Churchill's autobiographic book titled : ¨My early life : a roving commission¨ . The movie talks about infancy , the school times in a strict discipline , the young military and journalist career and the election as parliamentary at the early age twenty six years old . He intervened against the rebels in India , at defense of the British Empire . Winston participated in the last charge of Brit brigade in Sudan war along with general Kitchener (John Mills) in command the Army against Derviches that had formerly vanquished general Gordon (1884 , Khartoum, events narrated in the film with the same title with Charlton Heston). Later on , he was to South Africa as journalist in English-Boer war (1899-1902 , the leaders were Rhodes-Kruger respectively) that Kitchener would finish (though there he would create the first concentration camp) . Churchill is imprisoned but he breaks out from Pretoria . After the spectacular getaway which obtained world fame he was elected as Parliament member where he speaks an overlong speech that makes it a little bit boring . He subsequently becomes Tory (or Conservative) Party leader confronting Prime Minister Salisbury (Laurence Naismith) and later on , facing LLoyd George (Anthony Hopkins) , Liberal Party leader .

The film won several Oscar nominations or Academy Awards , to original screenplay (Carl Foreman), Production design (Geoffrey Drake) and Costume (Anthony Mendleson) but achieve none . Simon Ward is enormous and Anne Bancroft , Robert Shaw and Anthony Hopkins are magnificent . This was the first of five films that Richard Attenborough and Anthony Hopkins worked together on . They later worked together on Magic (1978), A bridge too far (1977), Chaplin (1992), and Shadowlands (1993). Very good support cast , actors Ian Holm, John Mills, Jack Hawkins , Patrick Magee, Anthony Hopkins and Edward Woodward all received 'special appearance' credits and debut theatrical feature film of actor Nigel Hawthorne . The sensitive and romantic music score was masterfully composed by Alfred Ralston . The motion picture was well directed by Richard Attemborough .