THE GATHERING STORM
UK, 2003, 96 minutes, Colour.
Albert Finney, Vanessa Redgrave, Jim Broadbent, Linus Roache, Derek Jacobi, Lena Headey, Tom Hiddleston, Tom Wilkinson, Hugh Bonneville, Ronnie Barker, Celia Imrie.
Directed by Richard Loncraine.
The Gathering Storm is a fine television film on Winston Churchill. Churchill has appeared in many films, even having the Richard Attenborough biography of his early years, Young Winston.
This time he is portrayed by Albert Finney, a fine impersonation of Churchill, with Vanessa Redgrave as his wife, Clementine. The film has a very strong supporting cast including Derek Jacobi as Stanley Baldwin, Linus Roache as a young civil servant who provides information and statistics to Churchill, and Lena Heady as his wife.
Despite his stellar career in the past, Churchill in the 1930s seems to have finished his career and political influence. However, he is able to bring to Parliament statistics about rearmament and begins to shine again. With the disturbances in Europe before the outbreak of World War II, Churchill has put himself in a position where after Neville Chamberlain’s declaration in Munich, Churchill is about to be the leader and becomes Prime Minister, crucial to the conduct of the war.
There was a sequel some years later, this time with Brendan Gleeson as Churchill, Into the Storm.
1. World War II, the film’s perspectives? The title? Britain in the 1930s? The role of Winston Churchill?
2. The film written for television, the quality of the writing, performances, drama?
3. The status of Winston Churchill? World War I, the 1930s? His quiet years?
4. Albert Finney, his performance, the quality of his impersonation of Churchill, making him real? Vanessa Redgrave as Clementine? Derek Jacobi as Stanley Baldwin? The historical basis of the film? Fictional touches? Rearrangement of some dates?
5. The scope of the film, 1934 to 1939-40?
6. The role of Hitler, as vice-chancellor, the humiliation of Germany after World War I, rearmament, the persecution of the Jews? British trade links and diplomacy? Baldwin being careful, wanting to avoid war? Churchill and the memories of World War I, his crusade against Hitler?
7. Churchill as a person? Getting out of bed, seen nude, as an ordinary human being? His age, the years of marriage, his children and his attitudes towards them? Decisive, in the house, with his servants, secretaries, demands on them, personal interactions, friends, his enjoyment of talking, using people, his disappointment? The the the the His explanations of his paintings? Involved in building? With bricks, with the machine gehetting stuck in the mud? Clementine and her trip? His being affected? his arrogance? His jealousy?
8. Churchill as a politician? In the Boer War? World War I, lord of the Admiralty? Tory party, changes, Lloyd Georges derogatory comment? As an individual, the preparation his speeches, modulation and pauses, the scenes of delivery in the house, responses to him, pro and con? Clementine being present in the gallery? His attitude to Germany, Hitler, his friends? Desmond Morton? The contact with Wigram will? Getting the information, getting it back? Using the information in the speeches? The accusation of war-mongering? Baldwin and his reaction? The alert to re-armament? His theme over the years? Vindication? The final conversation with Baldwin? Neville Chamberlain and appeasement? His own views being successful?
9. Vanessa Redgrave as Clemmie? The years of marriage, the children’s, as a person, her charm, supporting her husband, going to parliament, hostess for the meals, with friends? Putting up with Churchill? Going on the trip, her reaction to his accusation of her being selfish? Her absence, enjoying the trip, her friend and Churchill’s being jealous? Her wisdom, observing? Her concern about Wigram, attending the funeral? Comfort for his wife?
10. The children, Randolph and his extravagance, presumption, spoilt, reckless? Sarah on the stage, Churchill’s disdaining acting, chorus girl, going to the performance and not liking it? Mary at home?
11. Stanley Baldwin, Tory leader, policies, attitudes towards Germany? In the parliament, listening, exasperation, wanting to isolate Churchill? His aide, supplying him with information, the tasks of isolation? His visiting Mrs. Wigram, trying to warn her, threatening her, her strong reaction against him? The final conversation between Baldwin and Churchill in the toilet, admiration, different policy?
12. Desmond Morton as Churchill’s friend, the contacts, the foreign office? The contact with Wigram? The file, getting it back, listening patiently to Churchill?
13. Wigram, his work, ideals, his friendships, the discussions, Morton, meeting Churchill, going to his house, the explanation of the paintings, his getting the file, anxious at the late return, his wife supportive, his love for his son, the son’s disability? The reaction to the speeches? In the office, searching for documents? Growing depression? The warning from his parliamentary friend? The pressures? The phone call to Churchill, his death, suicide or not? The sadness of his funeral? The strong character of his wife, supporting him, tender towards their son?
14. The issues of re-armament, the cumulative effect of the information, Hitler and tensions, factories and munitions, assembly lines?
15. The picture of the politicians, the range, advice, in parliament?
16. At home, Clemmie and her not liking the house? Her patience? Inches and his faithful service, elderly, support of Churchill, critique?
17. The faithful secretary, being summoned, the long years, her support?
18. The film as an impressive portrait of a Winston Churchill, age, physical characteristics, cigars and his manner? Speeches and rhetoric, quoting
literature? Self-confident, arrogant, pride, presumption, using people? Acknowledging Clemmie and his love for her? His being called back to action, his
return, the comment about his being back? And his achievement?
