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Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years 1929 - 1939 [1981] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
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On the DVD: It's a pity that the Southern Pictures production first screened in 1981 has emerged so dimly in this incarnation. Has the master tape eroded so badly, or was it simply not available? However, it's worth putting up with the technical defects to enjoy this historically informed and grippingly dramatic serial. --Richard Whitehouse
Our Price: £11.99 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
It's easy to forget that, though fronting the British war effort through most of World War Two, Winston Churchill had spent the previous decade isolated in Parliament and in an internal opposition to the Conservative party. Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years dramatises this period, in which the growing menace of Nazism in Germany was met with indifference, even fear by governments of the day who were more concerned with their survival than in serving those who had elected them. Churchill is perceptively played by Robert Hardy who confirms the image without falling into caricature. Visionary and obstinate by turns, he galvanises his supporters and enrages his enemies with a passion borne of conviction. A seasoned British cast includes Peter Barkworth as the amiable but ineffectual Stanley Baldwin, Eric Porter as the truly "out of time" Neville Chamberlain, Edward Woodward as the scheming Samuel Hoare, and Nigel Havers as the tragically flawed Randolph Churchill. Martin Gilbert has done a persuasive job transforming his novel into a TV script, the scenes in the House of Commons having a gritty reality that makes compulsive viewing.
An Extraordinary re-creation of Churchill and a dangerous time before WWII
Review date: 2007-07-09 Rating: 10 out of 10
This British miniseries is probably one of the best reconstructions of a dramatic period in history ever put together. It's the story of Winston Churchill, from 1929, out of office with everyone, including himself but not his wife, believing his political career is finished, to 1939 when, in the face of Hitler's invasion of Poland, Neville Chamberlain reluctantly calls on Churchill to become First Lord of the Admiralty. During these ten years Churchill is ignored, feared, plotted against and often disdained by his political foes. He also, as Germany rearms, is seen by some as the only force for realism and action that Britain has. And Churchill? He is a dominating force, by turns petulant, noble, sulking, roaring, overpowering with words, a dangerous opponent in a debate, sometimes outmaneuvered, sometimes quixotic. But more than any of the others, he was right about the things that mattered.
Robert Hardy plays Churchill in a performance that is extraordinary, far better than I've seen other actors' attempts at Churchill. Like so many British productions, the acting depth gives power and nuance to the program. Sian Phillips is Clementine, who loves her husband, believes in him and who knows he at times can be a child. As two prime ministers, Peter Barkworth (Stanley Baldwin) and Eric Porter (Neville Chamberlain) give fascinating portraits of men in power and how they behave. Baldwin, Churchill said once, was the most formidable politician he'd ever met. Baldwin is avuncular, sly, gets what he wants even if it means a bit of betrayal without ruffling a feather. Chamberlain is sincere, prissy, often ineffectual and an ultimately sad failure. There's Edward Woodward as Sir Samuel Hoare, ever ready to compromise except with Churchill; Tim Pigott-Smith as Brendan Bracken, firmly a Churchill man and an advocate for action; Clive Smith as Sir Horace Wilson, a senior civil servant who has far too much influence with Chamberlain; Peter Vaughn as Sir Thomas Inskip, who knows how to make the law work in favor of his party in power; Nigel Havers as Randolph Churchill, overshadowed and frustrated by his father; and so many others.
For those who are interested in the mistakes, the maneuvering, the decisions, the personalities and the plotting that led up to Britain finally intervening on behalf of Poland in 1939 with the declaration of war against Germany, this is a fine place to start. And for those who enjoy the complex and erratic nature of Churchill, this will also be a treat.
The production is first class, from the bespoke-looking suits of the politicians to the incredibly substantial-looking and detailed recreation of the House of Commons, where much of Churchill's genius is shown. Location shooting took place at Chartwell, Blenheim Palace, Clivenden and the U.S. Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years - 1929-1939 runs to eight 60-minute episodes over two discs. The video transfer is a bit soft but otherwise is just fine. There are a few extras.
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Reviews
Bad Production & editing onto DVD
Review date: 2004-02-15 Rating: 10 out of 10
I awaited this set with anticipation, it duly arrived on time.
I started watching this & couldn't stop as I had remembered how watchable it was when I first saw it on TV - only to be so dissapointed by the recording onto DVD - not only is it out of sinc in places, juddery in others I couldn't believe it when the editors have overlapped about 15 minutes twice on this recording - most dissapointing - DO NOT BUY.
How about a refund Amazon?
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Robert Hardy
Nigel Havers
Siân Phillips
Chloe Salaman
Tamsin Murray-Leach
Creators:
Robert Hardy (Primary Contributor)
Siân Phillips (Primary Contributor)
Ferdinand Fairfax (Writer)
Mark Shivas (Producer)
Richard Broke (Producer)
Director(s):
Recording label: Lance Entertainment
Manufacturer: Lance Entertainment
EAN: 9781417231362
Binding: DVD
ISBN: 141723136X
Number of items: 2
Format: Colour, Content/Copy-Protected CD, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC,
Release date: 2005-05-10
Universal product code (UPC): 741952660293
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Region code: 1
Running time: 415 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1983-01-16
Language: English (Original Language)