The Gathering Storm

TV Movie
1974
1h 15m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

The story of British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, focusing on his place in British life just prior to World War II.The story of British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, focusing on his place in British life just prior to World War II.The story of British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, focusing on his place in British life just prior to World War II.

Director
- Herbert Wise
Writers
- Winston Churchill
- Colin Morris
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

274

YOUR RATING

Director
- Herbert Wise
Writers
- Winston Churchill
- Colin Morris
Stars

8User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Two articles written by Richard Burton attacking Churchill, one entitled "To Know Him is to Hate Him", caused great offense in the UK and the US when they were published in November 1974 before his program was broadcast. Burton's younger brother Graham Jenkins contended they were in poor taste after playing Churchill in a favorable light with considerable help from the wartime leader's family. It led to the blacklisting of Richard Burton from British TV drama for several years.

Quotes
Lord Beaverbrook: Let's face it, Winston - if you were in the undertaking business, people would give up dying.

Connections
Edited into Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)

Soundtracks
Symphony No. 3
(uncredited)
Music by Camille Saint-Saëns

User reviews8

Review

Featured review

5/10

Pedestrian Burton

Burton gets the speeches but it is another case of him going through the motions for the most part and collecting the fee. By 1974 he had been warned to stop drinking but failed to follow doctor's orders. Alcohol rules all his performances after 1974. If you want to see an actor play Churchill watch Albert Finney in 'The Gathering Storm.' He takes the role seriously. Virginia McKenna is the saving grace of this film and the other supporting actors play their parts well. Burton could have given a defining performance here but as usual in his final years all ambition had long gone. Compare this with his performances in his earlier work and it makes for depressing viewing. Robert Hardy who has played the most Churchill roles on TV has a supporting part here. How he must have cringed during the recording!