La tempête qui se prépare

Winston Churchill's life story is a hell of a tale: pampered youth, war and incarceration in Africa, enduring romance with his wife, catastrophic early political years, service in WW1, abandon in the 20s, resurgence and finest hour during WW2, then decline. Until I stumbled upon this particular film, I wondered why no biography of his had inspired a leading filmmaker, much like T.E. Lawrence's Seven Pillar's of Wisdom fired up the imagination of a generation, including one Sir David Lean, leading to one of the best films of all time.

There are two great challenges in putting Churchill to film: 1) Assuming you cannot afford a half-century-spanning narrative in miniseries format, which part of his life do you focus on? 2) Who could possibly play the part without it becoming a joke?

Every once in a while, when you least expect it, you stumble into something amazing. Pure, blind luck. So I ran into this made-for-TV movie on a flight - coincidentally - mere weeks after reading a Churchill bio.

The Gathering Storm, produced by Ridley Scott and directed by Richard Loncraine (the Ian McKellen Richard III) has some serious pedigree behind the camera. The playful script covers Churchill's wilderness years during Hitler's rise to power in Germany. It is rich with context but never forgets the casual viewer, focusing primarily on the electric dynamic between Winston and wide/confidant Clemmie.

In calling not for one strong central part but two - a wise move on paper - the film compounds the challenge expressed in point 2, but casting turns out to be a real coup: Albert Finney was always the man, but he simply IS Churchill, a perfect blend of imitation and incarnation (and if you want to know what happens when you get the blend wrong, look no further than the follow-up, Into The Storm). Thank god Vanessa Redgrave more than holds her own opposite him. The rest of the cast is a who's-who of venerable and up-and-coming British thesps, from Jim Broadbent, Derek Jacobi and Tom Wilkinson to Tom Hiddleston and Lena Heady, who are hopefully due great things in the future.

It is a shame that part 2 fell slightly short, and failed to bring back Finney and Redgrave, but still, as Churchill adaptations go, this is probably as good all you'll get. I truly doubt anyone could top this.

How many movies do you see about Winston Churchill? Not enough, that's for sure, at least here in the U.S. Albert Finney plays the great British prime minister during the period before World War II and before he was in politics. Churchill was trying to warn his countrymen in the British Parliament of the dangers of Nazi Germany and most people weren't listening. (How ironic, with today's situation involving Islamic terrorists! Are WE listening?)

A big part of this film also details the romance between Churchill and his wife "Clementine" (Vanessa Redgrave). It's not some syrupy piece. It shows Churchill's warts, too, meaning his ego and temper. It's nicely filmed, a nice period piece and with just a handful of swear words. I was shocked, though, to hear one f-word, even if it was quoted from poetry. It seemed out of place in this TV film but obviously, television is more liberal in the UK.

This is a bit slow but a pleasant film I enjoyed.

Unlike others who have commented on this film I am actually English, so all this talk of H.B.O. means nothing to me. I watched The Gathering Storm last night on the good old B.B.C. I was absolutely amazed by Albert Finney's performance as the premier statesman of our country and a great British hero, Sir Winston Churchill, as he later became after Queen Elizabeth II made him a Knight of the Garter (having turned down the dukedom of London).

Finney simply IS Winston Churchill! He has every part of Churchill's character down to a 'T' and delivers a moving and vivid portrayal of Churchill in the years before him premiership. The cast also includes other eminent British actors including Vanessa Redgrave (CBE) as Churchill's devoted wife, Clemmie; Jim Broadbent (as Desmond Morton); Sir Derek Jacobi (as Stanley Baldwin); Tom Wilkinson (as Robert Vansittart); Celia Imrie (as Churchill's secretary, "Mrs. P."); and Hugh Bonneville (as Ivo Pettifer). There are also two notable appearances from Sir John Standing Bt (Lord Hoyse) and Tim Bentinck, a relative of the Churchill family (as Harborough).

I was also very happy to see the great Ronnie Barker (OBE) out of retirement to play the Churchills' butler, David Inches. Barker is fantastic and funny in this warm role that serves to illustrate the love and devotion that Churchill inspired in those around and under him.

This film brings British history into glorious and vivid colour and allows the viewer to concentrate on Churchill's character and persona and his relationships with others by concentrating on the period before Churchill attained his true greatness. The story focuses on Churchill's period of isolation within the Conservative Party. Stanley Baldwin (Jacobi) is Prime Minister and Churchill is being lambasted for his outbursts against Adolf Hitler, the Nazi Party and the re-armament of Germany. There are some brilliant scenes in the House of Commons with good performances from Finney, Jacobi and Hugh Bonneville as a particularly slimey M.P. The scenes between Finney and Redgrave are also excellent and show how special the relationship between Churchill and his wife was and how important Clemmie was to Winston, not only because he was clearly madly in love with her but also because she saved him from his "black dog" (particularly touching is the scene when Winston and Clemmie fight and make up, calling each other Mrs Pusseycat and Mr Pug).

Finney reveals both the political brilliance and extraordinary wit of Churchill but also his darker side - his dark moods and depressions. Finney is totally unashamed in showing Churchill to be the rather self-important man that he was. But on reflection at the life he lived, how can anyone criticise Churchill for having a vivid sense of his own destiny? Coming as he did from a long line of politically accomplished men, including the great Duke of Marlborough, whom he mentions on numerous occasions in the film. At the time it probably seemed arrogant to those around him but, with retrospect, now seems wholly justified.

My only criticism of the film would be that it is too short and omitted much - totally cutting out the Abdication Crisis, in which Churchill played an important part (supporting Edward VIII) and the role of Neville Chamberlain (thankfully, as Chamberlain all too oftens receives all the blame). I was also disappointed not to see any reference to, in my opinion, one of Churchill's most important relationships - the relationship between himself and King George VI (another of my heroes). This makes sense, however, given Churchill's role in the abdication and given that the relationship only really blossomed after Churchill assumed the premiership (developing into mutual admiration).

Churchill fans, those interested in history (as this is quite accurate), WWII enthusiasts or anyone who likes a good drama - this is for you!! I highly recommend it. And to our American cousins who so loved the H.B.O. showing - I don't know how readily available books are out there but if you're interested in Churchill then I also recommend the recent biography by Lord [Roy] Jenkins ("Churchill"), although I know this web-site's more concerned with films rather than books, it's a cracking good read.

8/10 - let's hope somebody thinks to make a "Gathering of the Storm II" with Finney reprising the role!

For most, the life of Sir Winston Churchill begins with WWII. In "The Gathering Storm", Finney brings Churchill to life with a superb representation of the man as an aging member of parliament, husband, father, friend, and man of the manor Chartwell in the decade prior to WWII. With a fine supporting cast and an excellent screenplay, "TGS" is a must see for WWII history buffs and anyone with a particular interest in Churchill, the man.

Albert Finney's portrayal of Winston Churchill is up there with the best characterizations of all time. He could have easily slipped into caricature (that voice, that famous voice!)but he doesn't. I read somewhere that it was an extremely painful undertaking for him as he had to draw in his chin and get rid of his neck and he did it all without prosthetics which is an extraordinary accomplishment.

Churchill is portrayed warts and all, we get a very complete picture, his crankiness, his ego, his art, and most of all his relationship with Clemmie, his wife, here played, and beautifully, by Vanessa Redgrave.

That the director, Richard Loncraine, assembled such an astonishing and talented supporting cast is to his credit. Jim Broadbent, Linus Roach, Tom Wilkinson, the brilliant and capable Ronnie Barker as Inches the Butler, Hugh Bonneville et al.

The story is historically and chronologically inaccurate but is forgiven in the light of the dramatization of the life of Winston. It is four years on, as I write this, and there is yet to be a sequel and this cries for it. We get the build-up to the war (and where on earth was Neville Chamberlain) but it would be interesting to see the life of Winston behind the actual war.

Wonderful location shots, the actual Churchill house in Chartwell, Kent was used. A must see. 8 out of 10. Pity it didn't run to 3 hours.