The Gathering Storm (2002 film)

Plot

In 1934, Winston Churchill is deep in his wilderness years, and struggling to complete his biography of his ancestor the Duke of Marlborough, which he hopes will revive his fortunes. Winston is chided by his wife Clemmie for their lack of money and is aware that as a 'man of destiny' his moment may have passed. At the same time he struggles in the House of Commons as a backbencher to get a hearing for his concerns about German re-armament under Hitler and the policy of appeasement. Churchill is also disappointed by the behaviour of his son Randolph Churchill (Tom Hiddleston), which leads to further arguments with Clemmie, who announces she is leaving to go on an extended overseas trip. Churchill is devastated and throws himself into his pet activities: painting, and building walls around the family country house Chartwell. Clemmie eventually returns, and the couple are reconciled.

A young official in the government, Ralph Wigram (Linus Roache) has become concerned about the growth of the German Luftwaffe (air force), and is convinced by his wife to leak information about it to Churchill. Shortly afterwards, Churchill uses Wigram's information to launch an attack on the appeasement policies of Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin (Derek Jacobi). In 1936, Wigram is found dead. Even though his death is thought to be suspicious, his death certificate records the cause as a pulmonary haemorrhage.

With Churchill's fortunes restored, by September 1939, with the declaration of war against Germany at the start of World War II, it is announced that Churchill will be taking over command of the Royal Navy again as First Lord of the Admiralty. An impatient Churchill bids farewell to the staff at the country house, and travels to London. Arriving in the middle of the night at the Admiralty, Churchill is met by a Royal Marine corporal who informs him the fleet have already been signalled that "Winston is Back", to which Churchill triumphantly replies, "And so he bloody well is!"

Cast

• Albert Finney as Winston Churchill
• Vanessa Redgrave as Clementine "Clemmie" Churchill
• Jim Broadbent as Desmond Morton
• Linus Roache as Ralph Wigram
• Lena Headey as Ava Wigram
• Derek Jacobi as Stanley Baldwin
• Ronnie Barker as David Inches
• Tom Wilkinson as Sir Robert Vansittart
• Celia Imrie as Violet Pearman, his chief secretary
• Hugh Bonneville as Ivo Pettifer
• Gottfried John as Friedrich von Schroder
• Anthony Brophy as Brendan Bracken
• Edward Hardwicke as Mr. Wood
• Tom Hiddleston as Randolph Churchill
• Tim Bentinck as John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Churchill's ancestor
• Dolly Wells as Sarah Churchill
• Emma Seigel as Mary Churchill
• Nancy Carroll as Diana Churchill
• John Standing as Lord Moyne
• Gerrard McArthur as Vic Oliver

Locations

Churchill's real-life family home Chartwell was used for the scenes at his house and grounds. Indoor scenes were not filmed inside the house itself, but in replicas of its rooms built on Chartwell's lawn.

Reception

In 2016, Mark Lawson of The Guardian chose The Gathering Storm as the most memorable television portrayal of Churchill. He wrote: "This BBC-HBO account of Churchill's return from exile to save his nation will always be the one to beat. Finney doesn’t take many roles, and his meticulous preparation is apparent: he uncannily walks and talks almost exactly as Churchill did, while also vividly suggesting – especially in a scene where the leader, nude in his bathroom, dictates a speech to a secretary – the character’s battles between body and mind."

The review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 83% approval rating based on 6 reviews, with an average rating of 6.60/10.

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. "The Lonely War".
2. [http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/the-gathering-storm 62nd Annual Peabody Awards], May 2003.
3. Lawson, Mark. (26 February 2016). "Close but no cigar: TV's Winston Churchills – ranked". The Guardian.
4. Kent Film Office. (4 February 2010). "Burke & Hare Film Focus".
5. "The Gathering Storm". [[Rotten Tomatoes]].
6. "6th Annual TV Awards (2001-02)".
7. "The Gathering Storm". [[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]].
8. "Movies for Grownups Awards 2003 with Bill Newcott".
9. "AFI Awards 2002". [[American Film Institute]].
10. (2003). "BAFTA Awards: Television in 2003".
11. (2003). "BAFTA Awards: Television Craft in 2003".
12. "2003 Awards".
13. "Nominees/Winners". [[IMDb]].
14. "61st DGA Awards".
15. "The Gathering Storm – Golden Globes".
16. "The Gathering Storm".
17. (16 January 2003). "Big pix click with PGA". Variety.
18. "RTS Programme Winners 2003". [[Royal Television Society]].
19. "International Press Academy website – 2003 7th Annual SATELLITE Awards".
20. "The 9th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". [[Screen Actors Guild Awards]].
21. "Awards Winners". Writers Guild of America.