Churchill's Secret

TV Movie
2016
TV-PG
1h 40m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Michael Gambon in Churchill's Secret (2016)

British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill (Sir Michael Gambon) suffers from a stroke in the summer of 1953, which is consequently kept a secret from the rest of the world.British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill (Sir Michael Gambon) suffers from a stroke in the summer of 1953, which is consequently kept a secret from the rest of the world.British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill (Sir Michael Gambon) suffers from a stroke in the summer of 1953, which is consequently kept a secret from the rest of the world.

Director
- Charles Sturridge
Writers
- Jonathan Smith
- Stewart Harcourt
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

1.6K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Charles Sturridge
Writers
- Jonathan Smith
- Stewart Harcourt
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 6 nominations

Photos24

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
In the title of Jonathan Smith's book "The Churchill Secret - KBO" on which this movie was based, "KBO" is an abbreviation for a phrase commonly used by Churchill; "Keep Buggering On" (in other words, don't give up).

Goofs
Nurse Appleyard has a sailing ticket for the "Rangitoto", a liner of the New Zealand Shipping Company which sailed from London to New Zealand via Panama. The company's ships did not serve Australia and so would hardly be a choice for somebody who was emigrating there.

Quotes
[Clemmie wants Winston to retire from being PM, and to spend his time at Chartwell. He is determined to continue, despite his stroke. His immediate aim is to attend the Conservative Party conference in Margate. Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden has just visited, expecting Winston to announce his resignation]
Clemmie Churchill: I thought Anthony was looking well... if a bit thin.
Winston Churchill: Clemmie, if I'm wrong and I can't get through Margate, then I'm all yours. That's my promise. If I fall, there's nowhere I want to fall except in your arms.
Clemmie Churchill: You've made promises to me before, darling.
Winston Churchill: I know.
Clemmie Churchill: And broken them.
Winston Churchill: But not any more.
Clemmie Churchill: [with resignation] Margate, then.

Connections
Featured in Too Much TV: Episode #1.1 (2016)

Soundtracks
I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles
(uncredited)
Written by James Kendis, James Brockman and Nat Vincent
Performed by Michael Gambon

User reviews22

Review

Featured review

8/10

Watchable because it doesn't go over familiar territory

Surprisingly I enjoyed this more than some of the other movies about Churchill recently. Probably because it doesn't go over familiar ground that has been done to death. This movie concerns a stroke he had. His party's attempted to cover it up. Another interesting aspect is his children's reactions to his illness and recovery. It's not a flattering portrayal of his family life but as we do know there were some alcohol problems with his children.

Michael Gambon acts very well even if he isn't physically like Churchill as much as some of the other portrayals. Michael Macfayden steals some scenes as the belligerent drunk son. Lindsay Duncan is the most elegant looking Clementine of recent screen portrayals.

Worth a watch even if you think you have seen too many biopics about him.