The Gathering Storm (2002 film)
The Gathering Storm | |
---|---|
Screenplay by | Hugh Whitemore (teleplay) |
Story by | Larry Ramin Hugh Whitemore |
Directed by | Richard Loncraine |
Starring | Albert Finney Vanessa Redgrave |
Theme music composer | Howard Goodall |
Country of origin | United Kingdom United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Producers | Frank Doelger David M. Thompson |
Cinematography | Peter Hannan |
Editor | Jim Clark |
Running time | 96 minutes |
Production companies | HBO Films BBC Films Scott Free Productions |
Original release | |
Release | 27 April 2002 12 July 2002 (UK) | (U.S.)
Related | |
Into the Storm |
The Gathering Storm is a BBC–HBO co-produced television biographical film about Winston Churchill in the years just prior to World War II. The title of the film is that of the first volume of Churchill's largely autobiographical six-volume history of the war, which covered the period from 1919 to 3 September 1939, the day he became First Lord of the Admiralty.
The film, directed by
Finney gained many accolades for his performance, winning both a
Plot
In 1934, Winston Churchill is deep in his wilderness years, and struggling to complete his biography of his ancestor the
A young official in the government,
With Churchill's fortunes restored, by September 1939, with the
Cast
- Albert Finney as Winston Churchill
- 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
- 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
- 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.[4]
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."[3]
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.[5]
Awards and nominations
See also
- Into the Storm – 2009 sequel starring Brendan Gleeson
- The Gathering Storm – 1974 similar film starring Richard Burton
- Darkest Hour – 2017 film starring Gary Oldman
References
- ^ "The Lonely War". TCM Turner Classic Musics.
- ^ 62nd Annual Peabody Awards, May 2003.
- ^ a b Lawson, Mark (26 February 2016). "Close but no cigar: TV's Winston Churchills – ranked". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
- ^ Kent Film Office (4 February 2010). "Burke & Hare Film Focus".
- ^ "The Gathering Storm". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ "6th Annual TV Awards (2001-02)". Online Film & Television Association. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ "The Gathering Storm". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ "Movies for Grownups Awards 2003 with Bill Newcott".
- ^ "AFI Awards 2002". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- BAFTA. 2003. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- BAFTA. 2003. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ "2003 Awards". Broadcasting Press Guild. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ^ "Nominees/Winners". IMDb. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "61st DGA Awards". Directors Guild of America Awards. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- HFPA. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- ^ "The Gathering Storm". Peabody Awards. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ McNary, Dave (16 January 2003). "Big pix click with PGA". Variety. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
- ^ "RTS Programme Winners 2003". Royal Television Society. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ "International Press Academy website – 2003 7th Annual SATELLITE Awards". Archived from the original on 1 February 2008.
- ^ "The 9th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ^ "Awards Winners". wga.org. Writers Guild of America. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2010.