Churchill’s Life Depicted In Newly Completed Film

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30428, 30 April 1964, Page 7

Churchill’s Life Depicted In Newly Completed Film

(N. Z.P.A. -Reuter— Copyright)

LONDON, April 29. '

The film story of Sir Winston Churchill’s life—“ The Finest Hours”—will have its world premiere in London tonight. After the showing at the Royal Festival Hall before an audience including the Duke of Edinburgh it will go on public exhibition at a central London theatre on Thursday.

Sections of film of the statesman’s life never shown before have been included in “The Finest Hours” produced by the American Jack Le Vien. Sir Winston Churchill was the first to see the film when it was completed three weeks ago.

Today Mr Le Vien said: “I was very worried that there might be something in it which he might disapprove of. But it was all right.” The screening was arranged at Sir Winston Churchill’s home at Chartwell. Kent. The film covers 70 years of history, starting with Churchill’s early adventures in India and the Boer War. His election to Parliament and his part in World War 1 follow. The story is narrated by Orson Welles and the music

written by the Australian composer Ron Grainer. Much of the narration is in Churchill’s own words, taken from his books and spoken by an actor, Patrick Wymark. Same Voice Originally Mr Le Vien had chosen Welles to speak Churchill’s words, but a Columbia Pictures telephone operator in the London office heard Wymark on the radio and told Le Vien that Wymark had the voice of Churchill. At times during the film one wonders whether Wymark or Churchill is the speaker. The film’s tension builds up as Churchill warns about the German menace in the 19305. In its World War 11 coverage the film assumes greater reality than many war epics and this is heightened by the use of hundreds of newsreel shots. Extracts never before shown to the public include: Churchill marching through

the desert with a white umbrella. Churchill addressing Russians in Moscow. Churchill being heckled in an election campaign after the war. For many “The Finest Hours” will bring back grim memories of the blitz, Dunkirk and buzz bombs. The film does not ignore the horrors of war. It shows prisoners being herded into trucks by Germans, the grotesque scenes of Mussolini strung up on a meat hook and the discovery of the victims ,of Belsen and other concentration camps. Mr Le Vien now plans a film of the life of the Duke of Windsor.

Sponsored Koreans. —The Auckland Rotary Club will sponsor 12 Korean families, with 72 people, as its major club project for 1964. The club has raised sufficient money to support the families for three years.—(P.A.)