The Gathering Storm

Starring:Albert Finney, Vanessa Redgrave, Jim Broadbent, Linus Roache, Lena Headey, Derek Jacobi, Ronnie Barker, Tom Wilkinson, Celia Imrie, Hugh Bonneville, Gottfried John, Anthony Brophy, Edward Hardwicke, Tom Hiddleston, Tim Bentinck, Diana Hoddinott, Dolly Wells, Lyndsey Marshal, Nancy Carroll (II), Walter Sittler
Director: Richard Loncraine
Studio: Hbo Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

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

Description

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?

Customer Reviews:

Winston Is Back! By Bloody Hell He Is!.......2007-04-23

"This is a hugely entertaining movie that gives us a personal glimpse of Churchhill's life at the prelude of his illustrious career. The movie works as well as it does because of Albert Finney's brilliant performance as Churchhill. Finney won an Emmy for this performance and it's not hard to see why. His portrayal of the former Prime Mister of England is the greatest acting performance I've seen in years. The way Finney so effortlessly molded himself into the character is simply astonishing." David Blair

The opening scene of this epic shows Winston Churchill getting up out of bed, buck naked, we see his buttocks as he goes to take a 'piss' while reciting a speech he was about to make. We know without a doubt that this is a movie without compromise, and Albert Finney has become Churchill. I doubt I will see acting as fine as this again. I am enmeshed in his character, and I believe he was more Churchill than Churchill.

As fabulous as the acting is the story holds you spellbound. The story of Churchill without power and out of office as it were and floundering. Then he is given information about Germany and his life begins anew. The story of Clementine, his wife, as played by Vanessa Redgrave. Their love story, and as Winston says at one point near the end of the movie. "Thank you for loving me as I never thought I would be loved". How wonderful to have a love as deep and as long and to be as thankful for someone else in your life. Their family and their personal life comes alive. The travails and the daily life become up close. The friends and foes are put to test, and Winston's true personality shines. He is a great man, and as he has said, he knows it! We see the warts and all. His drinking, his financial issues, his 'black dog' or depression, and the wonderous man who works 20 hours out of 24.

I learned a great deal about Winston Churchill I did not know. This movie opened the door into his personal life, and he became a real flesh and blood man. 'The Gathering Storm' was the title of one of his books and it fits this movie well. Clemmie, his wife is the epitome of the woman behind the man. She gave up much, but it was returned in spades via her husband and her children. The stories entwined that of Winston, his public life and that of Winston, his private life. I want more of this calibre. My best friend told me this movie was a favorite. It has become a favorite of mine, and I only finished the viewing.
Heartily Recommended. prisrob 4-22-07

The Wit & Wisdom of Winston Churchill

If you're into Winston Churchill from his days as a Speaker to his being declared Prime Minister of Britain, this is your movie.......2007-03-30

What can I say, I'm a big fan of Winston Churchill. There's not many persons on this planet who can admit their shortcomings and fears; look them in the eye, and make them work to their advantage. He was a walking "how to" manual on how to making shortcomings look a part of why one was able to be even moreso or better than originally declared in the age old question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

This movie THE GATHERING STORM shows the homebody Winston and his relationship with the love of his life Clemetine and the way he was perceived in the eyes of each who knew and grew up around him during his days as a speaker of Parliment to his being assigned the Prime Ministership of Britian. Each child's perception is different as well as the perception of Winston's relationship with Clemmie as she was called. The chemistry between ol' "Pug and Pussycat" is something that can't be denied throughout the movie.

The movie shows Winston as human and vulnerable as anyone else living and breathing on his planet which quite possibly hadn't been shown that much for the wide and TV screens. You'll laugh, cheer, wonder, and shed a poignant tear for this unlikely man whose stances were not always embraced by the majority and not only stood by them but he knew how to take the vocalized gestures of doubt and disbelief and turn them into the very fire that inspired him to keep going. He took the arias of doubt and disbelief and he used them to fuel his drive to find out more documented and irrefuted sources of information that would either support their opinion AND how to work around it OR he would take those shards of information and he would make them realize, "This is why I felt that this is the way we should be going on this and I have in my hands the proof that my way is the only way the way I feel we should be looking at this situation MY way is the only way to do so." Then again, he doesn't really raise his voice. He doesn't call his fellow Members of Parliament dirty names nor does he cuss in any of his pleas and speeches. He speaks to them like persons and if he does point out a wrong coming from them, he just mentions the wrongdoing and NOT WHO DID IT.

You need to see this movie. It's the greatest movie I've seen in regards to the time frame presenting itself.

The Gathering Storm DVD.......2007-03-13

This is s superb work, showing the life of Sir Winston Churchill during the period from his political nadir to his appointment as First Lord of the Admiralty at the outbreak of World War II. The acting is first rate and the story accurately mirrors the actual events in his life.

Great movie.......2006-12-15

A great quality British period piece taking place in the 1930's in England(they do them so very well). Need I comment on the acting, given the cast? It was brilliant. For those who do not like war scenes, there are no violent war scenes in this movie. It is more like IKE - a behind-the-scenes drama of a leader.

Shallow, misses the mark.......2006-12-01

With all of the material written about this remarkable man, this is the best HBO could come up with? This is the man that put Chamberlain in his place, stood up to Herr Moustache and saved England from the certain defeat of pacifism.

And what dialogue do we have from him in this yawn? (spoiler warning)

"Please Mrs. Pussycat, come out. Mr. Pug is lonely."

Yikes!

Charlie Rose with Roy Vagelos & Norman Augustine; Noah Baumbach (February 1, 2006)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Roy Vagelos & Norman Augustine; Noah Baumbach (February 1, 2006)

Manufacturer: "Charlie Rose, Inc."
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

Roy Vagelos, former CEOand Chairman of Merck & CO, and Norman Augustine, former CEO and Chairman of Lockheed Martin weigh in on whether America might be losing its scientific edge. Also, Noah Baumbach talks about his film about coming of age in Brooklyn, The Squid And The Whale.

Average customer rating:

Winston Is Back! By Bloody Hell He Is!
If you're into Winston Churchill from his days as a Speaker to his being declared Prime Minister of Britain, this is your movie
The Gathering Storm DVD
Great movie
Shallow, misses the mark

The Gathering Storm [Region 2]
Starring: Albert Finney , Vanessa Redgrave , Jim Broadbent , Linus Roache , and Lena Headey
Director: Richard Loncraine
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video