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Gathering Storm [DVD] [2002]
enlarge	Director: Richard Loncraine Actors: Albert Finney, Vanessa Redgrave, Jim Broadbent, Linus Roache, Lena Headey Studio: Warner Home Video Category: DVD List Price: ~~£13.99~~ Buy New: £3.58 as of 25/11/2009 07:47 GMT details You Save: £10.41 (74%) New (16) Used (1) from £3.50 Seller: selectcheaper Rating: 13 reviews Sales Rank: 1375 Format: PAL, Widescreen Languages: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language) Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over Region: 2 Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 96 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6 EAN: 7321900252317 ASIN: B0000AZVHL Theatrical Release Date: April 27, 2002 Release Date: September 15, 2003 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Editorial Reviews: Amazon.c.uk Review IThe Gathering Storm/I is a fictionalised portrayal of Winston Churchill and his wife Clementine during their wilderness years of the 1930s. It deservedly won numerous awards, including an Emmy, BAFTA and Golden Globe in recognition of Albert Finney's wonderful central performance. Equally deserving were those for all aspects of the production design: period wardrobe, set dressing and use of location are equally impressive, apparently ensuring that this production has everything going for it in its depiction of pre-War Britain. The snag is that its restriction to TV movie format, a mere 90 minutes, excludes a lot of historical context that ought not to have been left out. p Seeing Churchill's adoration of his wife (Vanessa Redgrave) or the family woes troubling Ralph Wigram (Linus Roache) is all very emotionally dramatic, but it uses precious screen time that might have been better devoted to highlighting the political situation abroad, or indeed the monarchy's situation at home. The enterprise smacks a little too much of sentimental contrivance, lionising Churchill in rose-tinted retrospect. True, some attempt is made to acknowledge the personality traits that excluded him both from office and popularity prior to Germany's re-building, but like so much else pertinent to the machinations of anticipating the war, these are glossed over for familial feel-goodery and button-pushing poignancy. This is a film that's easy to admire, but ought not to be mistaken for well-rounded history. p BOn the DVD:/B IThe Gathering Storm/I doesn't look or sound quite as crisp and clear as you'd hope for a recent TV-movie transfer. That's down to some obvious grain in the picture, and the 2.0 surround audio that tends to lose quieter dialogue moments. There are extensive cast and crew biographies that will no doubt help international viewers place the naggingly familiar British faces. There's also the accumulatively enthusiastic commentary from director Richard Loncraine and producer Frank Doelger, which happily points many of them out. --IPaul Tonks/I

Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 13 1 2 3 Next » Wonderful September 9, 2005 zztopbanana (Lancashire, UK) 43 out of 43 found this review helpful *pGathering Storm is truly a top drawer dramatisation and Albert Finney's portrayal is flawless.pMy only gripe is that it was too short, much too short - a program such as this and of this quality with this cast should either have gone the whole hog and encompassed Churchill's finest hours ( ie, post WWII ) or have spawned a sequel for this purpose.pHowever, what wasn't or might have been doesn't detract from what was, or what is, and Gathering Storm is a classic of the highest order.pAs this is written, it is priced at less than £8 - I paid full whack and it was still a bargain.pAnd as for the rating, well, 5 stars is not enough.p* Winston Is Back! By Bloody Hell He Is! April 23, 2007 prisrob (New EnglandUSA) 16 out of 16 found this review helpful "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 br / br /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. br / br /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. br / br /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. br /Heartily Recommended. prisrob 4-22-07 br / br /The Wit Wisdom of Winston Churchill br / The Gathering Storm September 9, 2003 Barratt Hathaway-Taylor (England) 10 out of 10 found this review helpful Having initialy watched this film at home, I found it to be as one of those few "I must have this in my collection" type of film.pTotally engrossing, powerful and dynamic, it shows the layout of Winston Churchill's hand-me-down destiny from the days of the Duke of Marlborough at Blenheim, telling him of his destiny.pTotally gripping and exciting, it is a dynamic film that shows the many mistakes the Party in power made whilst not listening to him, and Churchill's determination to protect the land, i.e. Britain, that he loved.pThe secondary part of this film reveals the personal life between He and Clementine his wife, and his family. How she was his mainstay and support. Yet also reveals his eccentric and down-to-earth lifestyle at the same time. A review of a film portraying the greatest Briton!!! August 12, 2003 14 out of 15 found this review helpful This film shows the difficulties that stood in Winston Churchills way in the years before the WW2. He fought desperately to persuade the British Government that Britain was in grave danger from the Hitler and his army in Europe. The Government and the people of Britain refused to listen to him because they refused to believe that there may be another World War only 20 years after the War to end all wars had ended. Churchill continued on his pursuit even though many politicians now and then would have stopped in fear of losing support. This film has everything, love, humour and drama. This a great film about one of Britains greatest and bravest patriots. Because of what Churchill did we will be constantly reminded of him by politicians world wide in times of conflict who wish to use inspirational words to inspire their people. Because of this his name will remain in the books of history to inspire the rest of us to "Never give in!" Sir Winston Churchill - The Greatest Briton Ever! August 26, 2003 26 out of 29 found this review helpful This made for TV film about Churchills wilderness years as a politician, is completely gripping from beginning right through to the highly charged and very emotional ending.pTo British people like myself, who, approaching forty, have grown up with the knowledge of Winston Churchill, as our parents, grandparents grew up and lived through the second world war.pThis is a film that stirred no end of emotions within myself, and my wife. The main one being the fierce sense of patriotism, and frustration in the way that Winston Churchill was treated within the British Government in the 5 years preceding the second world war.pHe was ridiculed when he tried to warn the government that Hitler and Nazi Germany were rearming at a phenomenal rate. This film also gives an excellent insight into Churchill's private life, and his very close and endearing relationship with his wife Clementine, his beloved 'Clemmie'pAlbert Finney is superbly cast as Churchill, so much in fact, that when his youngest daughter (now in her late 70's) saw the preview of 'The Gathering Storm' last year before its general release, she was moved to tears at the end of the film, and kept repeating 'That's my papa, that's my papa'pVanessa Redgrave is superbly cast as Clementine Churchill, with a very strong supporting cast which includes Jim Broadbent, Linus Roache (son of William Roache - Ken Barlow in Coronation Street), Derek Jacobi as the Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, and Ronnie Barker (who came specially out of retirement for this film) is brilliantly cast as Winston Churchills irascible butler 'Inches'pIf your British, or have connections with Britain, believe you me, you'll be moved to tears at times, and smiling at other times, but at the end, when you see him walking into the Admiralty building, to take up his position of First Sea Lord, you'll be standing, cheering, clapping or punching the air, and shouting 'YES!!' at this stage, I had tears in my eyes too, and a lump in my throat, as did my wife.pWatch this film, you will not be disappointed, and you will understand why the British people voted Sir Winston Churchill as the Greatest Briton Ever! Showing reviews 1-5 of 13 1 2 3 Next »

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