monkmangraham

As the author of seven books on the Ted Heath Band, it's only to be expected that I would treasure this 1956 film, in which it has a strong presence. The band appears at its powerful best in an exciting sequence at Hammersmith Palais, playing 'Hawaiian War Chant', and also at recording sessions at the Decca Studios in London's Hampstead. But apart from being a wonderful record of the great days of the big bands, 'It's A Wonderful World' has plenty more to recommend it. 10/10 It's a fun film in which Ken Millar (George Cole) and Ray Thompson (Terence Morgan) - two struggling and unsuccessful songwriters - see their fortunes take a dramatic turn for the better when a beautiful French girl, Georgie Dubois (Mylene Nicole), moves next door to them. She takes a shine to one of their songs, and at the same time Ray scores a job as a rehearsal pianist - through which he secures Georgie an audition with Ted Heath. She ends up singing with his band at the Royal Variety performance, using one of Ray's melodies.

At the same time, Ken makes a bid for fame in the classical world, by playing Ted Heath's recorded version of 'D'ye ken John Peel' backwards, and claiming it to be a revolutionary work by an unknown composer Rimsikoff. It's all highly unlikely stuff but very entertaining, and it features plenty of the best known names in British film comedy in the 50's - Kathleen Harrison, James Hayter, Reginald Beckwith, Richard Wattis, Jon Pertwee and Sam Kydd.

Ted Heath vocalist Dennis Lotis plays himself in the film, singing a beautiful romantic ballad by Robert Farnon, 'A Few Kisses Ago' and two rousing up beat numbers 'Girls On My Mind' and 'Roseanne', both composed by Ted and Moira Heath - who also wrote the sweet and sentimental 'When You Came Along'. The latter should have been a hit, but in 1956 Bill Haley and Elvis Presley were rapidly eclipsing ballads and the rapid escalation of rock'n'roll in the charts was already underway. 'It's A Wonderful World' will take you back to the days of the big bands and big ballrooms - an era no doubt many still wish had never come to an end. If you weren't around in those days, I think you'll enjoy seeing what you missed, in particular meeting Ted Heath - a musical legend who made very rare appearances on film.

A classic feel good movie warmly recommended.

"The Gathering Storm' is a well researched and beautifully produced account of Winston Churchill's life and career in the 1930's - a decade widely regarded as his 'wilderness years' in the light of his failure to hold any ministerial position, not to mention experiencing hostility and contempt within the Conservative Party.

Former American President John F Kennedy described the thirties as a period during which 'England slept' - a view prompted by the failure of successive British governments to recognise the danger of fascist dictatorships in Europe, with particular regard to the massive arms build up in Nazi Germany and the aggressive territorial ambitions of its leader, Adolf Hitler.

One man who isn't asleep is Winston Churchill, who consistently warns of the Nazi menace, only to be ridiculed, branded a warmonger, and shouted down in the House of Commons.

He is excluded from any cabinet role in the 30's Conservative governments of Stanley Baldwin and Neville Chamberlain. Churchill understands the dangers of a fanatic like Hitler - Baldwin, Chamberlain and later Foreign Secretary Edward Halifax, do not. Unlike Churchill, they have little or no exposure to fanaticism, so they continue to insist it is possible to negotiate peace with the despotic and unbalanced German dictator.

Churchill is a historian and his prodigious research and writings have equipped him with in depth awareness of the fanatic mentality and the threat it presents to international peace and stability, Moreover, he has experienced extremists first hand during his years in the British army in India and Africa.

In movies over the years Churchill has been played by Robert Hardy, Brian Cox, Albert Finney, Michael Gabon and Gary Oldman. Albert Finney plays Churchill in 'The Gathering Storm' and in my opinion he is the best of the lot. His voice and deportment are close to Churchill and he also exudes so many of the great man's personal qualities - his irascibility, energy, sense of humour, patriotism, superb oratory, literary genius, kindness, wit and magnanimity.

The scenes of him speaking in the Commons are superbly presented, showing dramatically the noisy and hysterical opposition he encounters whenever he emphasises the evils of Nazi Germany, its racism, arms build up, and Hitler's demonstrable determination to achieve his 'lebensraum' through force.

The impact of Churchill's warnings is greatly strengthened by confidential information about German rearmament provided by Ralph Wigram, a rather nervous Foreign Office official played by Linus Roache. Churchill's forebodings begin to be taken more seriously in the Commons, much to Baldwin's annoyance.

'The Gathering Storm' highlights the ongoing advance of Nazi aggression during the 30's - Hitler's total disregard for the Treaty of Versailles, his reoccupation of the Rhineland, his annexation of Austria and Czechoslovakia, and his massive build up of the German navy, army and air force - not to mention his increasingly intense persecution of Germany's Jews. Churchill can see that war is looming, but still the government continues to give in to Hitler.

Churchill's domestic life at his Kentish home runs in parallel with his .stormy years in the political wilderness. He has the ongoing support of his wife Clementine - his 'rock'- played with charm and sensitivity by Vanessa Redgrave. The inclusion of Churchill's domestic circumstances adds greatly to the appeal of this film, particularly boosted by the outstanding talent of the actors involved. They include Jim Broadbent (Churchill's close friend Desmond Morton) Ronnie Barker (his long suffering manservant Inches) Tom Hiddleston (his petulant and rather spoilt son Randolph) and Anthony Brophy (Brendan Bracken, a great political supporter and confidante).

There are plenty of family rows - with Clementine (who is adept at throwing plates), son Randolph, and Inches the butler- and also friction between Churchill and his talented daughter Sarah, who wants to make a career on the stage. Sarah's inclusion inspires colourful sequences of 30's hit songs, 'Happy Days are Here again' and 'Keep Young and Beautiful' played by Jack Hylton and His Orchestra.

So, in addition to offering insights into both a great statesman and one of the most dramatic decades in the 20th century 'The Gathering Storm' is also entertaining, not to mention something of a love story. The 30's music sequence is as beautiful as the song, and Winston's relationship with Clementine is as cute as it is believable - to her he is 'Mr Pug' to him, she is 'Mrs Pussycat'.

The sets of London in the 1930's capture the elegance and romance of those unforgettable years which unfortunately proved to be the overture to the Second World War. The visual magic of 'The Gathering Storm' also includes some sequences of the beautiful Kent countryside surrounding 'Chartwell', Churchill's country home.

If you are a student of English political history, the 30's or the Second World War, this TV movie will give you hours of interesting reflection and enjoyment. I get something new out of it with every viewing.

'Young Winston' is a superbly produced movie based on Churchill's book 'My Early Life'. It is a remarkable story covering the dramatic challenges and adventures of his first 25 years. What is even more amazing is that those remarkable years were shaped despite a very unhappy childhood.

'Young Winston' brings to life Churchill's unhappy childhood years very effectively. Like all children he seeks the approval of his parents, but it is forthcoming from neither. His father, Lord Randolph Churchill (Robert Shaw), treats him with contempt and his mother - American heiress Jenny Jerome (Anne Bancroft) puts her somewhat scandalous social life before the needs of her growing son.

In his father's opinion ,Winston (played very effectively by Simon Ward) has neither the brains to go to university or to enter one of the professions.

In reality of course, Churchill had not yet been around long enough to develop the monumental talents, qualities and achievements of his later years - a prolific historical writer, an inspirational orator, a committed social reformer, and an outstanding military strategist who created both the tank and the Royal Air Force. Interestingly, his artistic skills also did not become apparent until he was 40.

'Young Winston' begins in this rather sombre under achieving environment and it continues in the same vein until the Head Master of Harrow, James Welldon (Jack Hawkins) spots some of Winston's latent talents and he is accepted into the prestigious English public school.

At Harrow his is love of words and phenomenal memory are both revealed when he enters a competition and wins a school prize for reciting from memory 1,200 lines from Macaulay's 'Lays of Ancient Rome'. He begs his parents to come to his school and share his moment of prize giving glory, but predictably neither shows up.

His future career prospects become more optimistic when his father suggests the army, and he progresses with distinction through Sandhurst. Once in the army, in 1897, he volunteers to join Bindon Blood's Malakand Field Force in its campaign against Mohmand rebels in North West India. He is accepted as a journalist and subsequently writes his first book 'The Story of the Malakand Field Force' - the beginning of his long and distinguished literary career.

In a confrontation with the rebels, Churchill joins in the fight and receives a commendation for his bravery. The battle scene is tremendous movie making, as is the following sequence, which covers his participation in the Battle of Omdurman in the Sudan in 1898 - in which he rides in the last major cavalry action by the British army.

In tandem with his military exploits Churchill begins to redress his rather dismal academic performance to date, reading widely and becoming 'his own university', as he puts it. His reading list includes Plato, Charles Darwin, and Edward Gibbon, including the latter's mammoth work 'The Decline And Fall of the Roman Empire'.

Much of the rest of the movie follows Churchill's legendary adventures in South Africa during the Boer War. He leaves the army, returns to Britain, and works as a journalist for the Morning Post.

Assigned to cover the Boer War, he sails to South Africa and is captured as a prisoner of war. He escapes by stowing away on freight trains and then spending several days hidden away down a coal mine, finally reaching the safety of Portuguese East Africa. His spectacular bid for freedom makes him a celebrity in Britain.

Towards the end of this exciting and historically significant movie, Winston finally realises his biggest ambition to date and enters Parliament as Conservative MP for Oldham at the age of 25 - his deadline for completing a major achievement.

'Young Winston' shows powerfully and comprehensively how much Churchill packed into his first twenty five years - more, much more, than countless millions can claim in a lifetime. It also draws attention to his matchless courage and determination, both of which helped him to save Western civilisation in 1940.