Young Winston

PG

Released Oct 10, 1972

2h 25m

Biography

List

50%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

52%

Audience Score

250+ Ratings

Lavish rendering of Winston Churchill's early life, from his school days, through his adventures in Africa, to his first days in Parliament. It begins with Churchill as a junior officer in India out to make a name for himself. It is suggested that becoming a war correspondent would be a good career move. His colorful, often controversial, reports make him a household name, aiding his passage into politics.

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Pauline Kael

New Yorker

It’s not easy to explain, even to one’s own satisfaction, why Young Winston is enjoyable.

Sep 21, 2023

Full Review

Jay Cocks

TIME Magazine

Since Young Winston attempts to be a kind of vest-pocket spectacle, there are also a couple of the battles in which he fought (a set-to in the Sudan, a Boer skirmish). Attenborough stages them with all the fury of a grade school recess.

Mar 11, 2015

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Both a brilliant artistic achievement and a fascinating, highly enjoyable film -- a combination not always obtained.

Aug 8, 2008

Full Review

Roger Moore

Movie Nation

A stiff, a movie too stately, choppy and staid in its first half (pre “intermission”), a picture that picks up with more action in its later acts only to peter out by the finale.

Rated: 1.5/4

Jun 23, 2024

Full Review

John Hofsess

Maclean's Magazine

In the title role, 31-year-old Simon Ward makes as auspicious a debut in his first major performance as Peter O'Toole did in Lawrence Of Arabia,

Oct 9, 2019

Full Review

Christopher Hudson

The Spectator

John Mills, Edward Woodward, Patrick Magee, Robert Hardy, Anthony, Hopkins and a string of well-known names in small parts keep the standard of acting agreeably high.

Mar 11, 2015

Full Review

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Jim P

Winston Churchill ranks as one of the top Britons of all time. If you are interested in his back story, watch this wonderful movie, then watch Darkest Hour. Treat yourself to a psychological adventure!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/21/24

Full Review

Leaburn O

I didn’t mind the film, as it showcases Churchill’s early years. Look out for a youngish Anthony Hopkins towards the end as Lloyd George. Where it struggles is that Churchill was a fine self propagandist so it’s clear that separating truth from fiction as to his formative days is tricky for any screenwriter. It was a decent romp though. Watched on Film4.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/29/24

Full Review

Brian O

Boring 😴 If you can't sleep put on this and you will be out in no time 😴

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/28/23

Full Review

ashley h

Young Winston is a decent film. It is about the early life of the future British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Simon Ward and Robert Shaw give good performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. Richard Attenborough did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the drama.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

s r

Slow and pensive, but showed something I had never seen in Churchill and his upbringing. Could have been better.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Attenborough's take on Churchill's book, My Early Life, which covers South African war campaign with some unconvincing battle and charge scenes, fine performances by Shaw and Bancroft of his parents and lot of speeches. The director would more fully perfect his biopic craft in Ghandi.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

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Richard Attenborough

Director

Simon Ward

Winston Churchill

Anne Bancroft

Lady Jennie Churchill

Robert Shaw

Lord Randolph Churchill

Peter Cellier

Captain 35th Sikhs

Ronald Hines

Adjutant 35 Sikhs

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Synopsis

Lavish rendering of Winston Churchill's early life, from his school days, through his adventures in Africa, to his first days in Parliament. It begins with Churchill as a junior officer in India out to make a name for himself. It is suggested that becoming a war correspondent would be a good career move. His colorful, often controversial, reports make him a household name, aiding his passage into politics.

Director: Richard Attenborough
Producer: Carl Foreman
Screenwriter: Carl Foreman
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: PG
Genre: Biography
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 10, 1972, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2010
Runtime: 2h 25m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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