The story of Winston Churchill from his time as a voice in the wilderness in the early 1930's, warning the British of the danger posed by Hitler and the Nazis, to his appointment as First Lord of the Admiralty with the outbreak of World War II.
Churchill was played by Albert Finney, who managed to capture the role well, and presented a convincing portrayal. We see Churchill in many different contexts: aloof head of the household; jealous and lonely husband; dispirited politician pushed from the centre of power that he felt rightfully belonged to him; passionate crusader against Germany. There are hints of a more playful side to him, and some consideration of his love of painting as a diversion. There is a thoughtful exploration of the relationship between Churchill and his wife Clemmie (played by Vanessa Redgrave) and vague hints (never really developed) of his troubled relationship with his son Randolph.
An interesting subplot is the role played by Wilgram (Linus Roach), a senior bureaucrat in the Foreign Office who, convinced that Germany was preparing for war, risked his career to feed information to Churchill. The glimpse we get of his family life help us to understand his aversion to Nazism, and make his ultimate fate all the more tragic.
All in all this is a fascinating picture of the political machinations of 1930's Britain, as Churchill emerges as the leading spokesman against appeasement. (From a historical point of view, it makes one believe that it was Stanley Baldwin far more than Neville Chamberlain who was responsible for Britain's weakness in confronting Hitler.)
Anyone with an interest in Churchill, or in the events leading up to World War II should watch this.
7/10
Churchill was played by Albert Finney, who managed to capture the role well, and presented a convincing portrayal. We see Churchill in many different contexts: aloof head of the household; jealous and lonely husband; dispirited politician pushed from the centre of power that he felt rightfully belonged to him; passionate crusader against Germany. There are hints of a more playful side to him, and some consideration of his love of painting as a diversion. There is a thoughtful exploration of the relationship between Churchill and his wife Clemmie (played by Vanessa Redgrave) and vague hints (never really developed) of his troubled relationship with his son Randolph.
An interesting subplot is the role played by Wilgram (Linus Roach), a senior bureaucrat in the Foreign Office who, convinced that Germany was preparing for war, risked his career to feed information to Churchill. The glimpse we get of his family life help us to understand his aversion to Nazism, and make his ultimate fate all the more tragic.
All in all this is a fascinating picture of the political machinations of 1930's Britain, as Churchill emerges as the leading spokesman against appeasement. (From a historical point of view, it makes one believe that it was Stanley Baldwin far more than Neville Chamberlain who was responsible for Britain's weakness in confronting Hitler.)
Anyone with an interest in Churchill, or in the events leading up to World War II should watch this.
7/10