Churchill - The Darkest Hour.

Churchill- The Darkest Hour.

The Second World War has now been so heavily and extensively documented both in book, film and TV archive footage that another movie about the Second World War seems as pertinent and important as ever before. None could possibly question the necessity of the first big wartime movie of the year because once again today's world needs to be reminded of those painfully tragic and darkly harrowing events that so changed the course of history. Now more so than ever we all need to be reminded of what happens when the human race becomes horribly drawn into fatal conflict.

In The Darkest Hour, now showing in cinemas all around the world, the themes are sorely familiar. Winston Churchill, one of the greatest military leaders of all time and a British Prime Minister throughout those horrifically horrendous six years of war, is the central figure of this moving, intense and powerful film which once again illustrated quite clearly man's inhumanity to man.

 Here was a very in depth portrait of a man who refused to give into the forces of evil and then stuck the proverbial two fingers at those who doubted both his military and parliamentary influence. This was a man who dragged Britain from its lowest depths and told Adolf Hitler that Churchill would never ever be defeated. Somehow Britain discovered its Churchillian spirit, the bulldog spirit, a dogged resistance, an impregnable fortress that could never ever be broken.

The opening scenes of the film showed a grimly austere House of Commons at its most furiously argumentative and deeply confrontational as both sides of the House took up the fight in a rare spirit of agreement and entente cordiale, deciding that once and for all something had to be done immediately before Britain was bombarded with bombs, rockets and then wholesale destruction. Death of course would naturally follow and suddenly Britain was at war with Germany.

On one side of the House of Commons was the blustering and barnstorming Clement Attlee who'd already asserted himself as Labour leader with some fierily forthright speeches. Atlee fiercely attacked the Tories for their utter incompetence and spinelessness in the face of grim adversity. Suddenly, in a wild flurry of waving papers Labour and Conservative screamed at each with loud mouth and stentorian force.

Then as if destiny had heard him calling, Churchill, played by the superb Gary Oldman, strode forward into the most prestigious job in the country. As Prime Minister, Churchill  lit up the now trademark cigar, puffed gently and pensively before  preparing his diaphragm for one of those unforgettable speeches that drifted across the world like the sweetest music. For those who must have thought that the world had turned very ugly and violent, Churchill had now become one of the most widely respected figures in the world.

Throughout The Darkest Hour Churchill would angrily stomp around beautifully furnished houses, grumpy and cantankerous, a man frustrated at the rapid deterioration around him and a Britain that was now in the grip of a major World War. There were Churchill's full English breakfasts with a large glass of either brandy or whiskey, Churchill sitting up in his bed with that rather grand and commanding manner about him and dear Clemmie, Churchill's wife, here played by the marvellous Kirstan Scott Thomas, with such ladylike grace, a woman who doted and adored her husband. The feeling was heartwarmingly mutual and when both shared the most tender of moments of love for each other, your heart leapt with joy.

Clemmie naturally expressed her concern that the family were struggling to pay the bills while Churchill was much more interested in Adolf Hitler and his dreadful atrocities to mankind. Meanwhile back at the underground war cabinet offices, Churchill would continue  his grumbling, groaning and moody harrumphing, constantly questioning the competence of his downtrodden secretary, a female typist who must have thought Churchill was the most terrifying boss she'd ever known. Churchill would splutter and mumble his disapproval at her totally ineffectual typing speed and the subsequent  inaccuracies that followed.

The Darkest Hour was a stirring and uplifting piece of story telling, a masterful piece of cinematography, full of dark and shade, light and insight, a production with a raw authenticity and realism about it that sent a tingle down your spine. When the Second World War reached a defining and critical points Churchill was superbly cast as the man whose legendary aura would never be forgotten.

In one of the movie's many amusing moments Churchill was gently reprimanded by a member of staff in the war cabinet who'd obviously assumed that Sir Winston Churchill's two fingered salute meant something entirely different. Churchill, chuckling deeply along the corridor, must have regarded such moments as blessed light relief  while the world was collapsing about him.

And so it was that Churchill ploughed through the trials and tribulations with a splendid heroism and courage that much of Britain could only look on with wide eyed admiration. By the end of the film Churchill had done it all and seen it all. He'd had  private audiences and breakfasts with the King, blasted the ear drums of his parliamentary colleagues and generally humiliated everybody who came within his ear shot. It was spectacularly spell binding and truly brilliant. With Ronald Pickup as a supremely convincing Chamberlain, the Darkest Hour was quite definitely a film of rich clarity. You've got to see it.