The Gathering Storm 2002 TV, 100 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Richard Loncraine Cast: Albert Finney, Vanessa Redgrave, Jim Broadbent, Linus Roache, Lena Headey, Derek Jacobi, Tom Wilkinson, Ronnie Barker, Hugh Bonneville, Celia Imrie, Tom Hiddleston, Edward Hardwicke
Albert Finney is excellent as Winston Churchill, winning a golden Globe Award for his efforts in this BBC production. It covers the period from the early 1930s when Churchill was a lone voice in warning the nation of the threat posed by the Nazis to his position as Prime Minister. But the centerpiece of the biography is the story of his personal life with his wife, Clementine (Vanessa Redgrave).
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My House in Umbria 2003 TV, 105 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Richard Loncraine Cast: Maggie Smith, Ronnie Barker, Chris Cooper, Benno Furmann, Giancarlo Giannini, Timothy Spall, Libero De Rienzo, Emmy Clarke, Cecilia Dazzi, Anna Longhi
Based on a short novel by William Trevor, this made-for-HBO film tells the story of survivors of a bomb blast in a train compartment. After the explosion, the survivors are requested to remain in the country until the investigation is complete. One of the survivors, Mrs. Emily Delahunty (Maggie Smith), a British romantic novelist now living in Italy, invites the others–a British General (Ronnie Barker), a young German man (Benno Furmann), and a girl, Aimee (Emmy Clarke)–to her home. Aimee is traumitized and will not speak, but she comes around as Emily works with her. As the others get to know each other, Aimee's uncle, Tom (Chris Cooper), her only living relative, arrives and shows a willingness to take the girl, though he is not excited about it. Maggie Smith won an Emmy for her performance.
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Robin and Marian 1976 PG, 112 min. Genre: Drama / Adventure / Romance
Director: Richard Lester Cast: Sean Connery, Audrey Hepburn, Richard Harris, Nicol Williamson, Robert Shaw, Ian Holm, Denholm Elliott, Kenneth Haigh, Esmond Knight, Ronnie Barker, Bill Maynard, Veronica Quilligan, Peter Butterworth, John Barrett, Kenneth Cranham
Robin Hood (Sean Connery) and Little John (Nicol Williamson) return home to England after many years in exile. Robin resumes his relationship with Marian (Audrey Hepburn) who is now a nun. Meanwhile, the Merry Men convince Robin to continue his fight with the Sheriff of Nottingham (Robert Shaw)–much to the dismay of Marian. Lots of "updating" of the classic story.
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| 1. The Gathering Storm (2002)
2. My House in Umbria (2003)
3. Robin and Marian (1976)
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