Into the Storm
Written byHugh Whitemore
Directed byThaddeus O'Sullivan
StarringBrendan Gleeson
Janet McTeer
James D'Arcy
Patrick Malahide
Robert Pugh
Theme music composerHoward Goodall
Country of originUnited Kingdom
United States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersFrank Doelger
Julie Payne
Tracey Scoffield
Ridley Scott
Tony Scott
Ann Wingate
EditorHeidi Freeman
Running time100 minutes
Production companiesHBO Films
BBC Films
Scott Free
Rainmark Films
Original release
Release31 May 2009 (2009-05-31)
(United States)
2 November 2009 (2009-11-02)
(United Kingdom)

Into the Storm or Churchill at War (alt. title) is a 2009 biographical film about Winston Churchill and his days in office during the Second World War. The movie is directed by Thaddeus O'Sullivan and stars Brendan Gleeson as the British Prime Minister. Into the Storm is a sequel to the 2002 television film The Gathering Storm, which details the life of Churchill in the years just prior the war. Into the Storm had its first public premiere on HBO and HBO Canada on 31 May 2009.[1][2]

Into the Storm was nominated for 14 Primetime Emmy Awards.[3] Brendan Gleeson won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie.

Synopsis

The Second World War has recently ended in Europe, and the people of the United Kingdom are awaiting the results of the 1945 general election. During this time, Winston Churchill goes to France for a holiday with his wife Clemmie. Through a series of flashbacks, Churchill recalls some of his most glorious moments during the war, and the effect it had on their marriage.

Into the Storm continues on from The Gathering Storm. It is set against the backdrop of World War II, and looks at how Churchill's success as a great wartime leader ultimately undermined his political career and threatened his marriage to "Clemmie" - Clementine Hozier.[4]

The film proper begins shortly after the Second World War commences in September 1939, as Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain calls Churchill and Edward Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax, to a private meeting. Chamberlain informs Halifax and Churchill that he knows he will be condemned by the British public for failing to recognize Hitler as a threat in time, and therefore intends to resign from office. Asked if he would be willing to hold the office of Minister for War under Lord Halifax as the new Prime Minister, Churchill remains silent until Halifax reluctantly speaks up, indicating Churchill would be the better choice as Prime Minister. Churchill then intones, "Yes. I think so, too."

Churchill immediately moves to take charge of a confused, overworked government and lead the British people into a second world war. He argues bitterly with some members of his cabinet, including Lord Halifax, as the situation in Continental Europe rapidly deteriorates. As country after country falls to the German invaders, Churchill adamantly maintains that no deal with Hitler will ever be considered, let alone accepted. Though much-criticized for it at the time within his government, Churchill's decision hardens British resolve: with any idea of parley with the Nazis out of the question, the only route forward is to fight on until the end. Churchill gathers influential members of the leftist Labour Party and convinces them to forge a coalition government, arguing that political and personal differences must be set aside to win the war. He meets then-unknown Major General Bernard Montgomery at a static gun emplacement on the British coastline, and approves the stern-faced Montgomery's demand that his division be provided with buses in order to rapidly move to wherever German forces might land.

Because night bombing on continental Europe with restricted and specific targets has been ineffective, Air Marshal Arthur Harris urges Churchill to commence bombing German factories. Clement Attlee argues against this due to the inevitable heavy collateral damage that this would cause, but is overruled by Churchill, who tells Harris to "Let them have it." Churchill soon after visits a Royal Air Force fighter squadron in the midst of the Battle of Britain, where he is well received by the young pilots until they are interrupted by a scramble call. As the pilots sprint to their fighters and take off, Churchill solemnly removes his cap in salute. As he returns to his car, he tells an aide, "They're so young. There's so few of them. Never in the field of human conflict have so many owed so much to so few." Churchill is fascinated by the impossible odds facing Britain in the battle and the war overall; they drive him to be utterly indomitable in the face of the Nazi threat, seeming to Churchill as the fulfillment of a personal wish to protect the British Empire in its greatest hour of need.

The film periodically shows Churchill's counterpart in the United States, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, with whom he steadily establishes a strong friendship despite Roosevelt's early dislike for Churchill as a hawkish imperialist. Churchill works relentlessly to persuade Roosevelt to bring the United States into the war, although this does not fully happen until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. King George VI, initially dismayed at having to deal with Churchill instead of Halifax, also is won over by Churchill's courage and personal charm over the years. When a naval aide finally brings Churchill the news that Germany has surrendered unconditionally as of midnight on 8 May 1945, Churchill is invited to join the King and his family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace before a jubilant crowd of thousands that has gathered in the street outside.

An end to the war does not mean all is well, however. Labour leader Clement Attlee soon comes to Churchill and resigns from the cabinet, dissolving the coalition government. Churchill fights against both the Labour Party, whom he privately despises, and any discussion of regarding the war as truly over while Japan remains undefeated. The British people have had enough of war, however, and the Labour Party gains traction as Churchill continues to insist on staying on a war footing until the Pacific campaign is finished. Against his wife's strong objections, Churchill goes on the air and in a live radio speech condemns the Labour Party as being no different from communists and says that they would have to "resort to some form of Gestapo" to maintain control if they were voted into office. The result is predictable: both leftist Britons and Britons weary of a long and bloody war vote Churchill out of office, replacing him with Clement Attlee. Churchill broods over his fate, over the changing of the times and the gradual dissipation of the old way of life he holds dear, and admits that he feels lonely without a war to bring him purpose. When asked if he would want to relive the war again, Churchill tells an aide, "1940. Just 1940."

The war's end also brings about a renewed push for independence by British colonial possessions, and their inevitable success means the permanent dissolution of one of Churchill's most beloved institutions, the British Empire. Out of office, feeling lost and betrayed by the very people he fought so hard to defend, Churchill is resentful and bitter while Clementine brings them both to attend a play in London one night. The Churchills' presence in the theater does not go unnoticed, however; at the conclusion of the play, one of the actors announces Churchill, hailing him as "the savior of our nation." The entire theater stands to applaud and cheer as Churchill rises with Clementine, giving the "V for Victory" salute. The film closes with Churchill's personal motto for leadership in government: "In War: Resolution. In Defeat: Defiance. In Victory: Magnanimity. In Peace: Good Will."

Cast

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2009
Online Film & Television Association Awards Best Motion Picture Nominated [5]
Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Brendan Gleeson Nominated
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Len Cariou Nominated
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Janet McTeer Nominated
Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries Thaddeus O'Sullivan Nominated
Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries Hugh Whitemore Nominated
Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Best Costume Design in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Best Lighting in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Best Makeup/Hairstyling in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Best Music in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Best Production Design in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Best Sound in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Best Visual Effects in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Made for Television Movie Ridley Scott, David M. Thompson, Frank Doelger,
Tracey Scoffield, Julie Payne, and Ann Wingate
Nominated [6]
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Brendan Gleeson Won
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Len Cariou Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Janet McTeer Nominated
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special Thaddeus O'Sullivan Nominated
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special Hugh Whitemore Nominated
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie Luciana Arrighi, Paul Ghirardani, and Ian Whittaker Nominated
Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or Special Kate Rhodes James Nominated
Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie Michel Amathieu Nominated
Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or Special Consolata Boyle and Marion Weise Nominated
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries or Movie Kerin Parfitt and Stefano Ceccarelli Nominated
Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or Special
(Original Dramatic Score)
Howard Goodall Won
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Mark Auguste, Sam Auguste, Glen Gathard,
Graham Sutton, Peter Burgess, and Andy Derek
Nominated
Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Gary Brown, Sue Rowe, Angie Wills,
Chloe Grysole, Phil Brown, Mark Robinson,
Andy Robinson, and Sevendalino Khay
Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Motion Picture Made for Television Nominated [7]
Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Brendan Gleeson Won
Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Janet McTeer Nominated
2010
American Cinema Editors Awards Best Edited Miniseries or Motion Picture for Television John Bloom and Antonia Van Drimmelen Nominated [8]
British Academy Television Awards Best Actor Brendan Gleeson Nominated [9]
Cinema Audio Society Awards Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Movies and Miniseries Martin Trevis and Brendan Nicholson Nominated [10]
Critics' Choice Awards Best Picture Made for Television Nominated [11]
Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Television Film Nominated [12]
Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Brendan Gleeson Nominated
Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Janet McTeer Nominated
Irish Film & Television Awards Best Actor in a Lead Role – Television Brendan Gleeson Won [13]
Best Director – Television Thaddeus O'Sullivan Won

See also

References

  1. "Restricted Content - HBO Canada". Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
  2. "HBO: Into the Storm: Home". HBO. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  3. "Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". Archived from the original on 18 July 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  4. "HBO: Into the Storm: Home". HBO. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  5. "13th Annual TV Awards (2008-09)". Online Film & Television Association. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  6. "Into the Storm". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  7. "2009 Satellite Awards". Satellite Awards. International Press Academy. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  8. Finke, Nikki (12 January 2010). "Nominees For Editors' ACE Eddie Awards". Deadline. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  9. "BAFTA Awards: Television in 2010". BAFTA. 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  10. "THE WINNERS AND NOMINEES FOR THE CINEMA AUDIO SOCIETY AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND MIXING FOR 2009". www.cinemaaudiosociety.org. Archived from the original on 1 October 2011.
  11. Borys Kit; Gregg Kilday (15 January 2010). "'Hurt Locker' tops Critics' Choice Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  12. "Into the Storm – Golden Globes". HFPA. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  13. "Winners of the 7th Annual Irish Film & Television Awards". Irish Film & Television Academy. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
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