7.4/10
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Darkest Hour (2017)

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1:03 | Trailer
In May 1940, the fate of World War II hangs on Winston Churchill, who must decide whether to negotiate with Adolf Hitler, or fight on knowing that it could mean the end of the British Empire.

Director:

Joe Wright
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Popularity
1,130 ( 275)
Won 2 Oscars. Another 51 wins & 77 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gary Oldman ... Winston Churchill
Kristin Scott Thomas ... Clemmie
Ben Mendelsohn ... King George VI
Lily James ... Elizabeth Layton
Ronald Pickup ... Neville Chamberlain
Stephen Dillane ... Viscount Halifax
Nicholas Jones ... Sir John Simon
Samuel West ... Sir Anthony Eden
David Schofield ... Clement Atlee
Richard Lumsden ... General Ismay
Malcolm Storry ... General Ironside
Hilton McRae Hilton McRae ... Arthur Greenwood
Benjamin Whitrow ... Sir Samuel Hoare
Joe Armstrong ... John Evans
Adrian Rawlins ... Air Chief Marshal Dowding (as Adrian Rawlings)

Through the Lens of 'Darkest Hour' Director Joe Wright

See how director Joe Wright uses his signature tracking shots to set up a visual narrative for his films, including Atonement, The Soloist, and Hanna.

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Storyline

During World War II, as Adolf Hitler's powerful Wehrmacht rampages across Europe, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Neville Chamberlain (Ronald Pickup), is forced to resign, recommending Sir Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman) as his replacement. But even in his early days as the country's leader, Churchill is under pressure to commence peace negotiations with Hitler or to fight head-on the seemingly invincible Nazi regime, whatever the cost. However difficult and dangerous his decision may be, Churchill has no choice but to shine in the country's darkest hour. Written by Nick Riganas

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

With the world at war, one man took a stand that changed history. See more »


Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

This is prolific actor Benjamin Whitrow's final screen credit. He died on September 28, 2017, before this movie's general release. See more »

Goofs

When on the Underground, Churchill is advised to travel to Westminster on the District Line. This is a sub-surface line that uses carriages of normal size. However, the train he gets on is of deep-level 'tube' rolling stock which are not used on the District. See more »

Quotes

Winston Churchill: I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.
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Crazy Credits

At the end of the closing credits the Big Ben clock is heard striking. See more »

Connections

Featured in Film 24: Episode dated 12 January 2018 (2018) See more »

User Reviews

 
Almost history
11 February 2018 | by ferdinand1932See all my reviews

As a film this is quite good; it's not dull, the performances are good, the production design is excellent, the script is a professional piece of work and even Oldman's make-up is not too distracting.

However, something is not right. If most people get their history from movies, this is concerning. It's obvious that actual events occurred with real people and what they did and said but in a movie this gets pasteurized into what smart people believe will be more thrilling, more sympathetic, more emotional. That process necessarily alters things into something that is even anachronistically rendered and therefore not in the record.

This defect occurs frequently in this movie , so it's not history but myth making. A good example is Churchill's dive into the Underground to meet the common person to steel his resolve. Now Churchill had a mixed view of the average voter, and he was a patrician, but even that aside, he did not need to take a Tube train survey to gauge opinion.

This scene is poached from Shakespeare's Henry V where the king goes among his soldiers the night before battle to hear them and take courage from their strength. Steal from the best is a good policy, but it's not history. It's Shakespearean history and that trades effect for accuracy too.

The audience is given this scene to present Churchill as an instrument of democracy; he's acting for what the people want, therefore he's doing the right thing. It's called pandering.

Well, it is just a movie.


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Details

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | French | German

Release Date:

22 December 2017 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

L'heure la plus sombre See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$175,006, 26 November 2017

Gross USA:

$56,468,410

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$150,847,207
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color | Black and White (archive footage)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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