Truly Dreadful Film

As Good As It Gets

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

"Young Winston" was an ambitious effort from Producer Carl Foreman and Director Richard Attenborough to chronicle the early life of famed politician Winston Churchill. One always thinks of Churchill as the rotund cherubic cigar smoking politician who ultimately saved the world from Nazi domination. What we get is an unexpected adventuresome war correspondent who makes a name for himself on the battlefield.Churchill's life is chronicled from the age of seven to his first election to parliament at age 27. The young Churchill is distanced from his beloved father Lord Randolph Churchill (Robert Shaw) who is a member of parliament at odds with his Prime Minister Lord Salisbury (Laurence Naismith). We follow his schooling at an expensive prep school where he is brutally caned by his professor. His American mother Lady Churchill (Anne Bancroft) also has little time for the young boy at this juncture.When he is grown, Winston manages to get assigned to the India frontier as a war correspondent. There he is cited for an act of bravery. He begins to receive the recognition that will help him in his ultimate goal of being elected to parliament. His first try ends in defeat.His father is taken ill and dies a lonely painful death at the age of 46. This has a profound effect on both Winston and his mother. Later, Winston is posted to South Africa during the Boer War where he distinguishes himself in battle but is captured. His daring escape wins him accolades in his homeland. His second try at parliament is successful and the rest as they say, is history.The cast is supplemented by a number of notables from the British Hall of Fame. Included in small cameos are Jack Hawkins, Anthony Hopkins, Edward Woodward, John Mills, Ian Holm, Colin Blakely, Jane Seymour and others.Churchill's legendary sense of humor is absent here but we do see him light up his famous cigar at the end though.

Largely based on the Winston Churchill's autobiography "My early life: a roving commission", the movie is above worth for Simon Ward's performance, despite an excessive and almost pathetic effort to characterise Churchill's early ineptness on the battle field.The original music score, however, was quite disappointing, taking out all excitement of exciting moments, such as the cavalry charge. I guess Richard Attenborough still wanted to pass an anti-war message nevertheless... I could have done without.However, if I had to put it shortly... If you liked this movie, wait until you read the book... If you didn't like this movie, wait until you read the book!

Like most reviewers here - I saw the film originally on the big screen back in 1972. As an eager young historian then - I recall how much this film helped bring to life Winston Churchill and political and social life of Great Britain in the decades before the First World War. Simon Ward was brilliant as the young Winston but Robert Shaw's tortured performance as Lord Randolph Churchill stand out - especially the scene where he is addressing the House of Commons when clearly his mind was fast gowing. Anthony Hopkins does have a small - but crucial role in the film as Liberal M.P David Lloyd George. It was his friendship with Churchill and the then political issue of tariffs v Free trade that led to Churchill leaving the Conservatives and becoming a Liberal for the next 20 years. I do also recall the final 'ghost' scene - so i will be interested to see what the new DVD will do about that as a missing scene from the earlier video release.

Young Winston chronicles the formative years of one of England's greatest ever statesman. We witness the early childhood of Churchill, pass through his army days and encounter his first forays into the world of Edwardian politics as a Tory MP tempted to switch to the Liberals. With a strong cast, including Robert Shaw as Churchill's coldly distant father, Lord Randolph (briefly Chancellor of the Exchequer), and Anthony Hopkins as David Lloyd George, this is a film that saunters along at a nice pace. The chap who plays Churchill also looks remarkably similar to the great man in his youth, a nice bit of casting. The highlight of the film is the battle of Omdurman, where Churchill took part in one of the British Empire's final heroic cavalry charges, brilliantly portrayed. I would have liked to have seen a greater concentration on this illustrious episode, however, but there you go! Other highlights include Churchill's daring escape from a Boer prison camp and his somewhat hot-headed defence of a train deep in enemy territory during the 1899-1902 conflict. Attenborough is an excellent director and whilst this is not his best work, it merits a viewing. For a readable and concise look at Churchill's life, I would recommend Richard Holmes' In the Footsteps of Churchill.