HALLMARK HALL OF FAME: THE GATHERING STORM (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramatic specials presented by Hallmark. A docudrama, based on Sir Winston Churchill's memoirs, which depicts the turbulent times leading up to Great Britain's early involvement in World War II. Act one begins in 1936 at Chartwell, the Churchill country residence. Von Brendorff, fearful of the Nazi rule in his homeland, pays Churchill a visit and warns of the serious threat that Hitler's military forces pose to European peace. In Parliament, Churchill echoes Von Brendorff's concerns and advocates war, but he is disregarded by Prime Minister Baldwin and his government, who are concerned about a more immediate crisis: King Edward is determined to marry Mrs. Simpson, an American divorcŽe. Speaking out in defense of the king, Churchill is jeered by the members of Parliament. At home, Clementine Churchill rushes to her husband's defense when their son Randolph scorns his father's actions and predicts his political demise. In the wake of political tensions, a new government headed by pacifist Nevil Chamberlain is formed. With public sentiment against him, the dispirited Churchill returns to Chartwell. A friend, Lord Beaverbrook, visits him and reassures him that his fortunes will change for the better.
As Act Two begins, Von Ribbentrop, Hitler's foreign minister, warns Churchill against England's interference with Germany's plans to annex Europe. Although Churchill is on the back bench in Parliament, he announces his intentions to stop Hitler's war machine. Prime Minister Chamberlain is intent on dealing with the Nazi threat through peaceful means, but his negotiations with Hitler prove ineffective as Austria and then Czechoslovakia are invaded. In Act Three, when England is forced to enter the war, Churchill finds himself once more in favor and he becomes First Lord of the Admiralty. Chamberlain, unable to cope with the war with Germany, resigns and Churchill becomes the new Prime Minister. When he takes office in May of 1940, he delivers a rousing inaugural address announcing the national aim to achieve "victory." After the program concludes, Prime Minister Anthony Eden provides an epilogue in which he encourages donations to the Churchill Foundation, a scholarship program designed for study at Cambridge. Includes commercials.
("Hallmark Hall of Fame" aired on NBC from 1952 to 1978; network affiliation varies after 1978.)
(Beginning with the live telecast of the opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors" on December 24, 1951, Hallmark has sponsored a series of dramatic specials which, since 1952, has aired under the title "Hallmark Hall of Fame." From 1952 to 1955 Hallmark also presented "Hallmark Hall of Fame," a weekly half-hour dramatic anthology series hosted by Sarah Churchill. The first program, "Dr. Serocold," was televised in January 1952 under the title "Hallmark Television Theatre." This series also ran under the title "Hallmark Summer Theatre" in July and August 1952.)
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: November 29, 1974 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:27:47
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T88:0271
- GENRE: Docudrama; Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Churchill family; Drama; Great Britain - History -- 1936-1945; Historical drama
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1951-1978
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Hallmark products
- TV - Promos - "Hallmark Hall of Fame"
CREDITS
- Duane C. Bogie … Executive Producer
- Jack LeVien … Producer
- Andrew Osborn … Producer
- Herbert Wise … Director
- Colin Morris … Writer
- Winston Churchill … Based on the memoirs of
- Richard Burton … Cast, Winston Churchill
- Virginia McKenna … Cast, Clementine Churchill
- Angharad Rees … Cast, Sarah Churchill
- Lesley Dunlop … Cast, Mary Churchill
- Clive Francis … Cast, Randolph Churchill
- Thorley Waters … Cast, Stanley Baldwin
- Robin Bailey … Cast, Neville Chamberlain
- Robert Beatty … Cast, Lord Beaverbrook
- Michael Elwyn … Cast, Anthony Eden
- Ian Bannen … Cast, Hitler
- Robert Hardy … Cast, Von Ribbentrop
- John Phillips … Cast, Von Brendorff
- Geoffrey Bayldon … Cast, Kurt von Schuschnigg
- Steve Plytas … Cast, Maisky
- Ian Ogilvy … Cast, Edward VIII
- Dennis Lill … Cast, George VI
- Patrick Stewart … Cast, Clement Attlee
- Edward Evans … Cast, Lloyd George
- Lawrence Hardy … Cast, Speaker
- John Rutland … Cast, Leo Amery
- Thorley Waters … Cast, Stanley Baldwin
- Richard Leech … Cast, Admiral Pound
- Terence Longdon … Cast, Admiral Browning
- Brook Williams … Cast, Lt. Comdr. Thompson
- Kenneth Scott … Cast, Civil Servant
- Fiona Walker … Cast, Miss Hamblin
- John Kane … Cast, Brendan Bracken
- Verna Harvey … Cast, Junior Secretary
- Patsy Byrne … Cast, Cook