Richard Attenborough’s renowned, star-studded historical biopic follows the early years of one of Britain’s most beloved and controversial figures – Winston Churchill.
Writer-producer Carl Foreman (High Noon, The Bridge on the River Kwai) was approached by Churchill himself, who suggested his own book, My Early Life: A Roving Commission, would make a good film. The result is a lavish and beautifully detailed drama, with Simon Ward in the lead role, detailing Churchill’s service as a cavalry officer in India and the Sudan, as a war correspondent in the Second Boer War, and his election to Parliament at the age of 26.
Forman and Attenborough assembled a sterling cast in support: Robert Shaw, Anne Bancroft, Jack Hawkins, Ian Holm, Anthony Hopkins, Patrick Magee, Edward Woodward, and John Mills add weight to Attenborough’s vision of the man and the myth.
Release Information:
Technical Specifications
Supplements
- The John Player Lecture with Richard Attenborough (1971, 78 mins): the celebrated filmmaker in conversation with film critic Dilys Powell at London’s National Film Theatre
- Reflections of a Director (2006, 13 mins): archival interview with Richard Attenborough
- A National Hero Brought to Life (2006, 17 mins): archival interview with actor Simon Ward on his performance as Winston Churchill
- Camel Blues (2019, 30 mins): assistant director William P. Cartlidge remembers working with Attenborough and writer-producer Carl Foreman
- Stars and Sand (2019, 9 mins): second assistant director Brian Cook discusses the star-studded cast
- My Kingdom for a Horse (2019, 11 mins): Vic Armstrong recalls his work as Ward’s stunt double and his role as horse wrangler for the film
- Fires in the Sky (2019, 6 mins): special effects artist John Richardson on the challenges of filming in Wales, Morocco, and Blenheim Palace
- Making It Up (2019, 3 mins): interview with make-up artist Robin Grantham
- Deleted scenes (7 mins): five scenes from the ‘roadshow’ version, including the alternative ending with Winston and Randolph Churchill
- US Premiere Footage (1972, 16 mins, mute): rare and unseen material featuring Richard Attenborough, Carl Foreman, Simon Ward, Robert Shaw, Edward G. Robinson, and others
- Original theatrical trailer
- Image galleries: publicity and promotional material
- Limited edition exclusive 36-page booklet with a new essay by Sergio Angelini, the cast and crew on the making of Young Winston, an extract from Winston Churchill’s A Roving Commission: My Early Life, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits