Young Winston (1972)

Director:

Richard Attenborough

Writers:

Winston Churchill (based upon "My Early Life: A Roving Commission")
Carl Foreman (written by)

Release Date:

July 1972 (UK)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | War

Tagline:

Rebel Soldier Hustler Prisoner Fugitive Firebrand [Australia Theatrical]

Plot:

This historical drama is an account of the early life of British politician Winston Churchill (Simon Ward)...

Plot Keywords:

Student | South Africa | Tense | Colonialism | England

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Robert Shaw	...	Lord Randolph Churchill
Anne Bancroft	...	Lady Jennie Churchill
Simon Ward	...	Winston Churchill
Jack Hawkins	...	Mr. Welldon
Ian Holm	...	George E. Buckle
Anthony Hopkins	...	David Lloyd George
Patrick Magee	...	General Bindon Blood
Edward Woodward	...	Captain Aylmer Haldane
John Mills	...	General Kitchener
Peter Cellier	...	Captain 35th Sikhs
Ronald Hines	...	Adjutant 35 Sikhs
Raymond Huntley	...	Old Officer (scenes deleted)
Russell Lewis	...	Winston Churchill (Age 7)
Pat Heywood	...	Mrs. Everest
Laurence Naismith	...	Lord Salisbury

Runtime:

157 min | USA:124 min | Argentina:125 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

This was the first of five films that Richard Attenborough and Anthony Hopkins worked together on. They later worked together on Magic (1978), A Bridge Too Far (1977), Chaplin (1992), and Shadowlands (1993).

Goofs:

Factual errors: The film has Churchill declare that both he and his father were born at Blenheim Palace. In fact, his father was born in London.

Quotes:

Winston Churchill: I'm free! I'm Winston Bloody Churchill, and I'm free!

A Film well remembered

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.