Albert Finney offers an excellent presenttaion of Winston Churchill in the years immediately before World War II. Facing a rising Nazi germany, most of the British Parliament chooses to look the other way in hopes of peace. Parliament even votes to send Germany airplane engines. Against the wisdom of the other party members, Churchill preaches against the Nazi threat. But the aspect of the film that makes the story a standout is the personal relationship and love he had with his wife, Clementine (Vanessa Redgrave). Churchill's arrogance strains his family and personal relationships, including his wife. When she announces she wants to go on a trip, Churchill accuses her of being selfish, which ignites her. She goes on the trip, leaving Churchill with the worry that she will not return or has started a shipboard romance with an art dealer. Eventually she does return and Churchill welcomes her with the same passion he has for his politics.

Winston Churchill:
I'm the new First lord.


Military Guard:
We know, sir.


Winston Churchill:
How do you know?


Military Guard:
A signal was sent to the fleet this afternoon, sir.


Winston Churchill:
What signal?


Military Guard:
Winston is back.


Winston Churchill:
[chuckles] He bloody well is!

Anachronisms: The infamous speech Churchill wants to revise (and later delivers in the House of Commons) in the beginning of the film ("To see Mr Gandhi, a seductive Mid-Temple Lawyer ... posing as a half-naked fakir in a manner quite well known in the East, striding up the steps of the Vice-Regal palace to parley on equal terms with the representative of the King Emperor") was actually delivered in 1930, whereas the film starts some years later.

Music by Milton Ager
Lyrics by Jack Yellen
Performed by Jack Hylton and His Orchestra