Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years 1929 - 1939 (1983)

It's easy to stay glued to all 390 fascinating minutes of this 1981 television series, which concentrates, in great detail, on an agonizing decade in the political life of Winston Churchill. Ousted in 1928 from his powerful position in Britain's Conservative government, Churchill (Robert Hardy) assumes--for the first of many times to come--that his career is over. But a pattern emerges: Churchill, the maverick defender of Britain's empire, is pressed back into service only to be attacked for unpopular views about the King's abdication and Hitler's threat. Time and again Churchill is banished, but this sprawling drama provides much colorful detail about the great man's trips to America (what a sight: Churchill in Monument Valley), his passion for his family, and his prescient drive to complete a historical tome before 1939--the year he becomes Prime Minister. Hardy is superb; excellent support comes from, among others, Eric Porter as Neville Chamberlain. --Tom Keogh Amazon.com

Fascinating but Flawed

This series held my interest from beginning to end. How could it miss with such a monumental protagonist and absorbing subject matter. I especially liked Nigel Havers as Randolph, and the actors who played Stanley Baldwin, Ramsay McDonald, and Clement Atlee. I am afraid that I am less enthusiastic about Sian Phillips, who always plays Sian Phillips, and who, in my estimation, managed to make Clemmie rather unpleasant (as unpleasant as Phillips, appropriately, made Livia Augusta in "I Claudius."). As for Robert Hardy, he does an on-target impression of Sir Winston Churchill, but I think that he was misdirected.

Did Sir Winston really orate twenty-four-seven? Surely he spoke in a more modulated voice with the family around the dining room table [when he wasn't shouting at Randolph] or in the privacy of his bedroom! In this production, he addresses his "dear Clemmie" in his "fight-them-on-the-beaches" persona, to such an extent that Hardy's portrayal sometimes slips into parody. But again, I believe that the fault must be laid at the door of the director.

This quibble aside, the production is excellent. The recreation of the scenes in the House of Commons is fascinating. When Churchill is at the dispatch boxes letting Labour have it, Hardy is magnificent. This series is highly recommended for anyone interested in British political history. January 29, 2008

Full justice to the character

I bought this DVD because I have always admired this great man, Sir Winston Churchill. Having read several books about him and having been enamored by his famous one-liners, both inside and outside of parliament, I wanted to get a "feel" for the person. Let me tell you that this DVD did precisely that. The fact that the focus is on the decade of 1929-1939 when Churchill was believed to be politically inconsequential makes this very interesting becaue it builds up the case for the "delicious" outcome that history has already shown us. It is not easy to portray a leader such as Churchill whose persona is well-established/remembered even many years after his death. While it is possible to copy trademarks such as the rotund body shape and cigar, it is far more difficult to build the personality, charisma and forcefulness that he had within a character role. This has been done brilliantly by Robert Hardy. November 14, 2007

Intriguing

This is an excellent insight of the pre-war Churchill and his rise through a political elite that was determined to marginalize him. Robert Hardy is superb as Churchill. Neville Chamberlain is portrayed as a man who seems lost in an astounding socialistic dream world while perilous events in Europe threaten England's very survival.

Two cautions: A background knowledge of British politics would be helpful in understanding the full cast of characters and events, especially in the somewhat tedious first four episodes. Also, the transfer appears to be from a video tape rather than an original film and is not especially sharp when played on an HDTV.

Otherwise, this is a fine production and the final four episodes are compelling. I only wish that the producers could have followed-up with Hardy in the role of the wartime Churchill. September 10, 2007

Totally engrossing

Previous reviewers have remarked upon the shortcomings of the DVD transfer. It's true that you'll have to crank up the volume. The color's not great.

But what a story! Remember, this isn't the war years; this is the decade of the 30s when Churchill was out of power -- still in Parliament, but not on the cabinet.

This series is a crash course in the British system of government and a incredibly entertaining history lesson. I can't praise it enough. Robert Hardy seems to get more confident in his portrayal the further into the series. By the end, you're looking at him, but actually seeing Churchill.

I don't give many 5 star ratings. This one deserves it. December 10, 2006

An absorbing and factual historical drama.

Churchill's political story in the 1930s is rendered very well in this work. Robert Hardy as Churchill delivers an excellent performance. The dialogue, acting, and general ambience of this series are excellent. The sound quality on this DVD is questionable, specially Episode 1. Much of the dialogue seems muffled. Understanding Baldwin's mumble is quite a chore. However, after one adjusts to these shortcomings you are sure to get hooked.

One caveat. You will have to turn up the volume to compensate for the accents.

One can say with regards to Churchill that the "man and the hour had met". Churchill certainly was a major figure in saving Western civilization. Going through this series I could not but help noticing how privileged a life he led. The family estate, Checkers, was beautiful with servants galore.
April 14, 2006

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