Sir Winston Churchill and the Generals

Press, 20 April 1981, Page 11

Sir Winston Churchill and the Generals

Sir Winston Churchill and (he British and American warlords — the men he supported and sledgehammered. charmed and challenged ■on iris mission to resounding victory over the Germans — are depicted in “Churchill and the Generals,” a; three-hour drama screening on Two 'tonight. .Timothy .-West stars. as Churchill in this portrait which captures the stormy, yet symbiotic, relationship between the British Prime Minister and the World War II military leaders. The production is histori-

cal for two reasons;, first, it is a realistic' account of Winston Churchill’s military and personal relationship’s with his generals, and, second, it is the biggest single drama 8.8. C. Television has ever produced. The main source of this major undertaking was Churchill’s own memoirs, which are not altogether a flattering account of this historical giant. The play is an honest appraisal of Sir Winston's genius. The director, Alan Gibson, does not create a nostalgic

portrait of a World War ll' saviour, but the flesh, blood, and sheer guts of a man whose "whole life has been but a preparation of this hour and this trial.” He was, in his own words again, "a man in a rage to win this war.” His relationships with the generals are at times alarming, even shocking — but never, at any time, indifferent. Sweeping from his moment of power in May. 1940, to the time he loses' control of war planning tt the Americans, the dramt chronicles Churchill’;

stampede to end the war, depicting his disastrous decisions as well as his tactical triumphs. He is seen forming his staff of generals, planning — much to their dismay — detailed strategies (“His strategic sense seems to have got stuck about 1899”, said General -Wavell, whom Churchill later relieved of duty in Egypt), appealing to President Roosevelt for aid, announcing solidarity with Russia, visiting General Montgomery on the field and finally taking less than centre stage in running the war when America enters the scene. Remarked General Alan Brooke at the time: “Quite the most awful and wonderful man I’ve ever known.” Churchill’s overriding determination to smash Hitler at any cost is depicted clearly enough, but so is the man’s basic warmth, humour and humanity. Timothy West runs through the celebrated Prime Minister’s emotional gaunt — ruthless, childish, cruel, passionate, brilliant, witty, humorous, determined, confident. “Only I can win this war, only I. . .not Halifax, not even the King. . .1 have the steady power of England inside me. I’m its strength, its teeth, its bite. I must survive or we will lose.” Churchill says at one point in the drama.

Portraying some of the British and American wartime pesonalities with whom Churchill met and dealt are Arthur Hill as President Roosevelt: Joseph Cotten as General George C. Marshall; Eric Porter as General Sir Alan Brooke; Richard Dysart as General Dwight Eisenhower; lan Richardson as General Bernard Montgomery; Alexander Knox as Secretary. of War Henry Stimson; Patrick Magee as General Sir Archibald Wavell; Patrick Allen as General Auchinleck and Lyndon Brook as King George VI. HmMiiiiM Champions The difference between fame and failure is often measured in fractions of a second . . . but what characteristics contribute to victory? Environment, competition, coaching, motivation, natural ability and even luck enter into events. A 8.8. C. sports reporter, Paul Wade, discusses these ingredients with top British athletes and the coach, Ron Pickering. National radio, 10.30 this morning. Reading lan Mune begins this new reading. "Sydney Bridge Upside Down,” about Harry Baird’s unforgettable summer. It begins idyllically and ends up a nightmare in an isolated settlement “on the edge of the world.” It is a season of love, happiness, exploration and terror when Harry’s cousin, Caroline, arrives" for a holiday that is to change her life arid the lives of those she meets. National, 10.30 p.m. Schubert’s Ninth Franz Schubert did not live to hear performances of his last two symphonies—the Symphony No. 8 ("Unfinished”) or the Ninth Symphony, which is also known as ‘"The Great C Major.” In the recording broadcast by the Concert Programme at 10 pan. Zubin Mehta conducts. the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in Schubert’s Symphony No. 9. Organ Festival From the 1980 International Organ Festival two recent works by English composer Maxwell Peter Davies are performed by the Nuremberg New’ Music Ensemble with soprano Jane Manning. They present “God. So Loved the World” and “Ruins from a Holy Island.” Concert, 7.20 p.m.