Young Winston

Just as 'the last ever cavalry charge' is starting, there's a 'cavalry-mans view' towards the enemy lines.

The wheel marks of the vehicle carrying the camera are visible, presumably from previous takes.

As the 'last ever cavalry charge' reached the enemy lines, a white flare, used as a signal for the hordes of extras, can be seen dropping from the sky.

In the depiction of the Battle of Omdurman, the film states the famous charge of the 21st Lancers, which included Winston Churchill, happened the next day "during mopping up operations".

In fact the charge happened on the same day as the main battle.

It's hard to believe that Simon Ward wasn't the first choice for the role of young Winston Churchill. James Fox was originally considered for the roll by producer/screenwriter Carl Foreman.

It's a "big" movie, narrated by Simon Ward, who plays Winston Churchill, in that magnificent and ironic voice. Most of the narration seems taken from Churchill's own writing and speeches.

Based on Winston Churchill's 1930 autobiography "My Early Life: A Roving Commission, this is an excellent and engrossing account of the early life of the future British Prime Minister. It has a very strong script by Carl Foreman, a previously blacklisted American screenwriter whose other works include "High Noon", "The Bridge on the River Kwai" and "The Guns of Navarone", which hues closely to the historical facts.

Largely based on the Winston Churchill's autobiography "My early life: a roving commission", the movie is above worth for Simon Ward's performance, despite an excessive and almost pathetic effort to characterise Churchill's early ineptness on the battle field.The original music score, however, was quite disappointing, taking out all excitement of exciting moments, such as the cavalry charge.

Young Winston is based on Winston Churchill's early life from childhood until his first speech in Parliament circa 1901. I well remember when Sir Winston Churchill gave up that seat in 1961.

When I watched this picture on DVD I had in hand The late Roy Jenkins massive biographical study of Winston Churchill and therefore I could compare the action and story line of the with a written source.Pivotal events of young Churchill's life were described both in book and movie as for example, his difficulties as a young pupil as well as his faultless recitation of Macauley's Ruins of Ancient Rome, when in Harrow.

Young Winston directed by Richard Attenborough and starring Anne Bancroft, Robert Shaw and Simon Ward as Winston Churchill is a good movie. Anne Bancroft gave an excellent performance.

Solid biography of the early life of Winston Churchill. The casting is top notch, it's a pity we don't get to see more of Anthony Hopkins, but it was an early appearance for him.

Simon Ward is "Young Winston" in this 1972 film, directed by Richard Attenborough with a all-star cast including Anne Bancroft, Robert Shaw, Jack Hawkins, John Mills, Pat Heywood, Ian Holm, Patrick Magee, Anthony Hopkins, Edward Woodward, Laurence Naismith, Robert Hardy, and Colin Blakely.The film is based on Churchill's book about his early life, which is far superior to the film because it encompasses so much more detail.