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List Price: $9.98 | | Label: Hbo Home Video
Salesrank: 38329
Released: February 4, 2003 |
| Our Price: $34.95 |
| Used Price: $5.00 |
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MPAA Rating: Unrated
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
The mid-1930's find the great politician and orator Winston Churchill out of favor and struggling to make his robust voice heard by the English people. Wrestling with his personal demons - a dark depression, the loss of his family fortune, and the temporary absence of his devoted wife Clemmie - a lonely but defiant Churchill attempts to warn the nation of an impending threat from Hitler's Germany. But will the world listen?
Description of The Gathering Storm:
A remarkable cast lends emotional richness to The Gathering Storm, an HBO movie about the life of Winston Churchill just prior to the onset of World War II. Faced with bankruptcy, his career in decline, Churchill (Albert Finney) is beset with depression until the impending danger of German rearmament--along with the British government's reluctance to recognize the threat of Hitler--gives him a cause that brings him back to energetic life. The movie focuses as much on the enduring relationship between Churchill and his wife, Clementine (Vanessa Redgrave), as his political struggles. But though The Gathering Storm clearly admires Churchill, it also acknowledges his tyrannical personality and astonishing ego, turning what could be a puff piece into a well-rounded and moving portrait. The truly topnotch cast includes Derek Jacobi, Jim Broadbent, Tom Wilkinson, Linus Roache, and Lena Headey, all of whom turn in superb performances. --Bret Fetzer
The Gathering Storm Reviews:
This movie is all about the acting 
2009-10-28 - This movie is great because of the acting. I know that probably seems like the most retarded statement ever written, but Albert Finney and Vanessa Redgrave make this movie magical. They are two very gifted actors, probably the understatement of the century, that have the ability to enthrall their audiences. I never once during this movie found myself thinking, " Is this historically accurate?" Also, the musical score is outstanding. For me it was reminiscent of Nino Rota's work, very stirring and emotive.
Give Me More!!
2009-10-16 - This is a masterpiece that makes history come alive, delves into the personal and professional life of a great man who was the central figure in the allies' defeat of Germany. Great for history buffs or anyone who loves a great and true story. Wonderfully cast! My only disappointment is that they have not continued this in a series following Churchill's memoirs.
A MAN OF DESTINY
2009-06-20 - The HBO film opens with the camera under the bed of Churchill as he gets up stark naked from the rear and goes into the bathroom to relieve himself. With this very undignified beginning, we enter into the world of Winston Churchill in the days leading up to WWII. This is more than just about the political climate in England, it is the personal side of Churchill as well. It is about his life-long love relationship with his wife, Clementine as well as his life on his estate where he is struggling financially when the film opens and Clementine must step in to take over the finances to stay solvent. Much of the filming takes place on the actual estate which is amazing in itself. Of course, the focus of the film is the political world and Churchill's attempt to warn Great Britain and the world about the looming threat from Hitler and the Nazis. His is a lonely voice, at first. He had a true sense of destiny for his life and role in saving England. He had help, too, from inside the foreign affairs office, that would provide him confidential information about Hitler and his activities. It would be hard to imagine anyone playing Churchill better and more convincing than Finney. Redgrave is outstanding as well and is no minor character in his life or in the film. This is a film that deserves a much broader distribution than it has had. Really, a very brilliant picture of Churchill and the events leading up to WWII. You have to ask yourself, what would the world look like today without a Churchill? Warts (there are many) and all, this was an amazing human being. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews.
Fair & Balanced Look At Churchill 
2009-02-12 - How many movies do you see about Winston Churchill? Not enough, that's for sure, at least here in the U.S.
Albert Finney plays the great British prime minister during the period before World War II and before he was in politics. Churchill was trying to warn his countrymen in the British Parliament of the dangers of Nazi Germany and most people weren't listening. (How ironic, with today's situation involving Islamic terrorists!)
A big part of this film also details the romance between Churchill and his wife "Clementine" (Vanessa Redgrave). It's not some syrupy piece. It shows Churchill's warts, too, meaning his ego and temper.
It's nicely filmed, a nice period piece and with just a handful of swear words. I was shocked, though, to hear one f-word, even if it was quoted from poetry. It seemed out of place in this TV film.
This is a bit slow but a pleasant film I enjoyed and recommend.
Albert Finney is Churchill
2009-02-06 - Like other reviewers, I was a bit doubtful that the Albert Finny of Tom Jones and Two for the Road was going to be believable as Winston Churchill. He does an excellent job, as does Vanessa Redgrave as Clemmentine. The HBO movie covers the time of Churchill's ostracism by the Conservatives in Parliament. They even sponsor an attempt to replace him in the district he represents, an event only hinted at in the movie. The period is about 1936 when concerned civil servants, like Ralph Wigram, begin to secretly provide Churchill with government papers that are being ignored by the Prime MInister, Stanley Baldwin played well by veteran actor Derek Jacobi. The film skips over the period of Munich, no doubt for the sake of time. It ends when Churchill becomes First Lord of the Admiralty when war is declared. I have read Churchill's history and most of his books plus a dozen biographies by various people, including the excellent one by Roy Jenkins. This movie is true to them all and is a pleasure to watch.
