INTO THE STORM
UK, 2009, 90 minutes, Colour.
Brendan Gleeson, James D' Arcy, Iain Glen, Janet Mc Teer, Lynn Cariou, Patrick Malahide, Robert Pugh, Jack Shepherd, Bill Patterson.
Directed by Thaddeus O’ Sullivan.
Into the Storm follows The Gathering Storm from 2001 with Albert Finney and Vanessa Redgrave as Winston Churchill and his wife Clementine. This time it is Irish actor Brendan Gleeson (who won an Emmy and Satellite award and was nominated for a Golden Globe for this performance). Janet Mc Teer is Clementine.
A strong supporting cast of British character actors is in support including Patrick Malahide as Montgomery. American actor Lynn Cariou is President Roosevelt.
The framework of the film is the end of the war and the elections in 1945 which Churchill lost. The film probes his character, his own sense of self-importance and inability to listen to his wife and to the public, despite his strong qualities as wartime leader. The film also shows the interparty collaboration for governing Britain during the war.
The film offers a number of flashbacks to the war experience from the time of Neville Chamberlain and the Munich Agreement throughout the Battle of Britain, Dunkirk, and America entering the war. The film shows the friendship between Churchill and Roosevelt.
The film was written by Hugh Whitemore, who had written The Gathering Storm, and was directed by Irish director Thaddeus O’ Sullivan.
1.Audience knowledge of Winston Churchill, admiration for him? His place in British memory and esteem? World War Two and his leadership?
2.The portrait of the war years, Brendan Gleeson as Churchill, his appearance, speeches, his attitudes towards himself and leadership, towards his wife, to King George VI, the Roosevelt and the United States?
3.The actual footage in the credits? The impact of the credits? VE Day in 1945? Churchill, his swim, his acceptance of victory?
4.1939, Hitler, the invasion of Belgium and the speed with which the Nazis moved? The maps? The tactics?
5.England and its politics at the time, Chamberlain and the visit to Munich, appeasement policy? Chamberlain’s resignation? Halifax and the king? The unified government? Clement Atlee as leader of Labour? Cooperation with Churchill? The photo, the Cabinet? The meetings? Churchill and his presence – and sleeping? The preparations for the evacuation, the deals with Mussolini? The place of Malta in strategies? The facts versus deals?
6.The introduction to Clementine, as a person, her love for Churchill, their discussions? A humane person, tolerant and supportive? But strong-minded?
7.Churchill’s rhetoric in the Cabinet, his patriotic style, oratory, carrying the Cabinet?
8.The post-war elections, the troops coming home, the talk with Clemmie, the role of the Labour Party, policies for a welfare state, Churchill’s abhorrence?
9.The experience of Dunkirk, the desperation, the loss of life, the wounded being shipped away last? Churchill’s speech, the famous words? The footage of Dunkirk? The people listening? The boats, ordinary people, the cross-section, parliament, the radio reports? On the beaches?
10.The domestic sequences, Clemmie and Churchill’s anger about painting, treating the people as servants? His criticism of the left wing?
11.George VI and Churchill, the king’s story, oil, the Mediterranean, bombs, the French navy?
12.Roosevelt and his opinion of Churchill? Churchill and his appeal to the United States for help? Roosevelt as a personality, his comments on Churchill, their friendly meetings?
13.The pilots, drinking, taking off? The Battle of Britain? The tribute to the ‘so few’? Roosevelt and his comments?
14.Montgomery and logistics, Montgomery’s character, arrogance, smoking and drinking? Watching the film of Lady Hamilton? Patriotism? Discussions about Hitler and Napoleon? Olivier’s speeches?
15.The battle of the air, on the roof watching, the tribute to the pilots? Churchill saying he was humbled in their presence? Clemmie’s comment that make-believe had come true?
16.December 7, 1941, Churchill thankful that America had been drawn into the war, Europe needing the United States? Relationship with Roosevelt, for Europe, Europe first, letting Singapore go? Roosevelt’s comments about doubt cramping energy? Churchill and the religious perspective? The wickedness in taking away men’s hopes?
17.Singapore, the fall of Singapore, strategies, reflection? Like a storm and going through the storm? Parliament reactions? The king?
18.The assessment of the bombing of London?
19.Tehran, 1943, Stalin, Stalin being called The Great? The banquet? The discussions with Stalin and D-Day?
20.The preparations for D- Day, Churchill going to the king? The footage?
21.The Yalta conference, Roosevelt, Stalin, the photo? Roosevelt soon to die?
22.The Dresden footage, fifty-eight thousand dead? Cruel and squalid?
23.The contribution of this film to audience understanding of Churchill, as a person, as a leader, and his leadership in World War Two?
