Product Details

• Actors: Albert Finney, Vanessa Redgrave, Jim Broadbent, Linus Roache, Lena Headey
• Directors: Richard Loncraine
• Writers: Hugh Whitemore, Larry Ramin
• Producers: C. Cory M. McCrum-Abdo, David M. Thompson, Frank Doelger, Julie Payne, Lisa Ellzey
• Format: PAL
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 2 (Read more about DVD formats.)
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Run Time: 96 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000AZVHL
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #238,460 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Destiny commands. We must obey., April 15, 2005

By	Steven Hellerstedt "SH" - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Gathering Storm (DVD)

THE GATHERING STORM is a compelling look at the lion in wilderness. The lion, of course, is Winston Churchill (Albert Finney) and the wilderness is the political exclusion he endured circa 1938-39. It was during those years that Germany rearmed at an alarming rate; England slept while Adolf Hitler plotted. It was also a time that found Churchill gadflying from opposition to Indian independence to futilely warning England, and the world, about the newly dangerous Nazi Germany.
Such is the political context TGS takes place in, but the movie devotes most of its 90-some minutes to domestic life at Chartwell, Churchill's country estate and the place he amassed and assessed the intelligence on Germany fed to him by a variety of sources, most notably Foreign Office official Ralph Wigram (Linus Roache). Vanessa Redgrave plays Churchill's wife Clemmie, a woman who was as much a match for her famous husband as Redgrave is a match for the superb Finney.
THE GATHERING STORM won't teach you all that much about English politics on the eve of World War II, or even that much about Churchill the politician. As a character study of a complex politician it's simply brilliant, and strongly recommended.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Albert Finney is Superb as Churchill!, April 21, 2004

By	H. F. Corbin "Foster Corbin" (ATLANTA, GA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Gathering Storm [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Rarely does an actor capture the essence of someone so much bigger than life as was Sir Winston Churchill, but Albert Finney achieves the nearly impossible-- he becomes Churchill and manages to dominate practically every frame of this HBO video even against the likes of someone as talented as Vanessa Redgrave, who plays his beloved "Clemmie" Churchill. Ms. Redgrave does rise to the occasion as she, as we say, eats up the furniture when Finney accuses her of being selfish. She roars something to the effect that "don't you dare call me selfish when I have lived with you for 26 years," These two fine actors are joined by a great supporting cast in this beautifully filmed movie. The action covers a brief time in Churchill's life when Hitler is rising to power in Germany. Churchill is having financial difficulties, is plagued by what he calls the "black dog" of depression and cannot convince the current prime minister that Hitler is an enormous threat to the security of England.

Finney here joins other over 50, overweight actors (think Kathy Bates and Jack Nicholson)who bare their all for art. This movie won three Emmys, which were richly deserved.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CHURCHILL ALIVE AGAIN!, September 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Gathering Storm (DVD)

When I first heard that Albert Finney would play Sir Winston Churchill in "The Gathering Storm" I was disappointed and wondered how he could pull it off. Still I watched the movie and the first appearance of Mr. Finney on screen as the venerable and legendary British hero put all of my fears to rest. Winston was alive again. The same can be said for the performance of Vanessa Redgrave as Clementine Churchill.

The movie is filled with facts about Churchill's activities leading up to war with Germany, his intelligence activities and his relationship with his wife and family. The film is a must have for all Churchillophiles.