Review of The Gathering Storm

This is no monumental pretentious heroic account of the difficult years that brought Churchill into office, but rather more like a concise documentary, leaving however plenty of space for great acting, mainly on the part of Richard Burton, who uses Churchill well, but also of Robert Hardy as a suave Ribbentrop, Ian Bannen as a monstrous Hitler, Virginia McKenna as lovely as ever as a patient and forbearing Clementine and even Edward Evans giving a striking recreation of the indomitable Lloyd George at the most critical moment of Neville Chamberlain's twilight. The main importance is given to the dialogue, including many of Churchill's own most important words, making the film highly enjoyable as a theatrical drama - everyone is perfect. The whole production is further enhanced and brilliantly orchestrated by the borrowing of Saint-Saëns' Organ Symphony, which matches Burton andf Churchill perfectly.