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IMDbPro

When the Wind Blows

  • 1986
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
12K
YOUR RATING
Peggy Ashcroft and John Mills in When the Wind Blows (1986)
When The Wind Blows: We Must Look On The Bright Side
Play clip2:49
Watch When The Wind Blows: We Must Look On The Bright Side
1 Video
58 Photos
AnimationDramaWar

A naive elderly British rural couple survive the initial onslaught of a nuclear war.A naive elderly British rural couple survive the initial onslaught of a nuclear war.A naive elderly British rural couple survive the initial onslaught of a nuclear war.

  • Director
    • Jimmy T. Murakami
  • Writer
    • Raymond Briggs
  • Stars
    • Peggy Ashcroft
    • John Mills
    • Robin Houston
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    12K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jimmy T. Murakami
    • Writer
      • Raymond Briggs
    • Stars
      • Peggy Ashcroft
      • John Mills
      • Robin Houston
    • 75User reviews
    • 48Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    When The Wind Blows: We Must Look On The Bright Side
    Clip 2:49
    Watch When The Wind Blows: We Must Look On The Bright Side

    Photos58

    Peggy Ashcroft and John Mills in When the Wind Blows (1986)
    Peggy Ashcroft and John Mills in When the Wind Blows (1986)
    Peggy Ashcroft and John Mills in When the Wind Blows (1986)
    Peggy Ashcroft and John Mills in When the Wind Blows (1986)
    Peggy Ashcroft and John Mills in When the Wind Blows (1986)
    Peggy Ashcroft and John Mills in When the Wind Blows (1986)
    Peggy Ashcroft and John Mills in When the Wind Blows (1986)
    Peggy Ashcroft and John Mills in When the Wind Blows (1986)
    John Mills in When the Wind Blows (1986)
    Peggy Ashcroft in When the Wind Blows (1986)
    Peggy Ashcroft and John Mills in When the Wind Blows (1986)
    John Mills in When the Wind Blows (1986)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Peggy Ashcroft
    Peggy Ashcroft
    • Hilda Bloggs
    • (voice)
    John Mills
    John Mills
    • Jim Bloggs
    • (voice)
    Robin Houston
    • Announcer
    • (voice)
    James Russell
      David Dundas
        Matt Irving
          Winston Churchill
          Winston Churchill
          • Self
          • (archive footage)
          • (uncredited)
          Bernard L. Montgomery
          Bernard L. Montgomery
          • Self
          • (archive footage)
          • (uncredited)
          Iosif Stalin
          Iosif Stalin
          • Self
          • (archive footage)
          • (uncredited)
          Harry S. Truman
          Harry S. Truman
          • Self
          • (archive footage)
          • (uncredited)
          • Director
            • Jimmy T. Murakami
          • Writer
            • Raymond Briggs
          • All cast & crew
          • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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          Storyline

          Edit

          Did you know

          Edit
          • Trivia
            David Bowie was originally slated to record several songs for the film but was only able to contribute the title song due to time constraints regarding his then-upcoming album "Never Let Me Down". Roger Waters contributed to most of the film's songs instead.
          • Goofs
            At the beginning of the scene in which Jim and Hilda are bedridden, Hilda's feet are missing for a few frames as the camera pans across.
          • Quotes

            [dying of radiation poisoning]

            Hilda: Shall we... pray, dear?

            Jim: Pray?

            Hilda: Yes.

            Jim: All right then... But... to who?

            Hilda: God, of course.

            Jim: Oh, oh, oh, I see... Yes, yes... Would that be the correct thing?

            Hilda: It can't do any harm, dear.

            Jim: Ok, um... Here it goes... Dear sir...

            Hilda: No, that's wrong, dear.

            Jim: Well, uh... How, how do you start?

            Hilda: Our God...

            Jim: -our help, in ages past...

            Hilda: That's it, dear. Keep it up.

            Jim: Almighty and most merciful father...

            Hilda: That's good.

            Jim: Dearly beloved... we are gathered... unto thee. I shall fear no evil. Thy rod and thy staff comfort me all the days of my life.

            [beginning to suffocate]

            Jim: Lay me down in green pastures... I... I can't remember anymore.

            Hilda: That was nice, dear. I liked the bit about the green pastures.

            Jim: Oh, yes, yes. Into the valley of the shadow of death...

            Hilda: Oh, no more love. No more.

            Jim: ...rode the six hundred.

            [they die]

          • Crazy credits
            After the end credits, Morse code can be heard in the background. The code, when translated, means "MAD". MAD is an abbreviation for the term "Mutually Assured Destruction".
          • Alternate versions
            From the Castilian Spanish dubbing, Fernando Rey and Irene Gutiérrez Caba were cast to be the voices of the main characters.
          • Connections
            Featured in Years Ahead: Episode #5.1 (1986)
          • Soundtracks
            When the Wind Blows
            Written by David Bowie and Erdal Kizilcay

            Performed by David Bowie

            Produced by David Bowie and David Richards

          User reviews75

          Review
          Review
          Featured review
          9/10
          More disturbing than any film I have ever seen
          An elderly couple (Hilda and Jim -- voiced by Peggy Ashcroft and John Mills) -- who have experienced WWII -- prepare for a nuclear war believing every word that the government says and expecting a short and happy outcome should the worst happen.

          I have watched a lot of movies and I expect to watch a lot more movies before I am through, but I won't see anything quite like this one. If you think you have seen everything and had everything possible thrown at you from a TV/Cinema screen -- then think again.

          When The Wind Blows must be the most disturbing film I have ever seen -- and it is a low budget cartoon with a PG certificate! The movie starts by playing for laughs and introducing us to the daily routine of our elderly couple.They are living in the past and think of war in a kindly way. This is to soften us up for what follows -- and what follows will stay with you for the rest of your life.

          Having your emotions manipulated by cinema is nothing new, but this film uses real government information and very real scenarios.

          If only more people could see this film and debate the messages it contains we would have a safer and better world.
          helpful•110
          4
          • Pedro_H
          • Oct 31, 2005

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          Details

          Edit
          • Release date
            • March 11, 1988 (United States)
          • Country of origin
            • United Kingdom
          • Official site
            • At Entertainment (Japan)
          • Language
            • English
          • Also known as
            • Wenn der Wind weht
          • Production companies
            • Meltdown Productions
            • British Screen Productions
            • Film Four International
          • See more company credits at IMDbPro

          Box office

          Edit
          • Gross US & Canada
            • $5,274
          • Opening weekend US & Canada
            • $3,597
            • Mar 13, 1988
          • Gross worldwide
            • $5,274
          See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

          Technical specs

          Edit
          • Runtime
            1 hour 24 minutes
          • Color
            • Color
          • Sound mix
            • Dolby Stereo
          • Aspect ratio
            • 1.33 : 1

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