Churchill movies??

I am currently finding the book Blackout (by Connie Willis) to be HIGHLY entertaining. The series (followed by All Clear) follows the time travels of a group of "historians" who go back to observe pivotal events in history, such as the Blitz in England, the Dunkirk rescues, the saving of St Paul's, and historical events in other geographies, such as Pearl Harbor.

Their observations (at least so far as I have read, half way into Blackout) are of "everyday heroes" who helped make a difference in the historical context.

Some reviewers, who wanted more of the sci-fi aspects of time travel, do not appreciate the "trivial" stories of the "contemps" (people living in those times, experiencing the events first hand.) I am fascinated by the perspectives from "back then." One historian, for example, went back in time to pose as an American reporter interviewing soldiers rescued at Dunkirk. Instead, through a series of time travel mishaps that seem to be characteristic of the tales, he finds himselves on one of the rescue boats, taking part in an actual Dunkirk rescue.

I have read that the book is "deeply rooted in historical events."

With thanks to Larry who introduced me, in this thread, to the books:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/free-exhibit-on-those-who-saved-st-paul-s-during-the-blitz

The darkest hour is a very good movie with Gary oldman playing Churchill and they shot in the Churchill war rooms so you will see those scenes in the movie! The other Churchill movie is not as good in my opinion.

There's also a great book called Garden of Beasts by Eric Larson which is set in the same time period.

Enjoy!

Can't comment on the others, but I thought The Darkest Hour was quite good - some serious acting chops on display there. Worth a watch IMHO (no idea how well regarded it might be by the British). I thought it portrayed Churchill as a bit quirky but admirable. Great speechifying!

One of the best moments in the recent Dunkirk movie is when there is brief glum discussion of how logistical decisions made weeks or months earlier put the gears in place to make this hasty evacuation an inevitability.

Churchill’s Secret is a good watch. The Masterpiece podcast interview with Romola Garai and Michael Gambon is an interesting listen.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/shows/churchills-secret/

Also, Dunkirk, as mentioned above.

British shows, movies, and books I’ve enjoyed? It’s a lifetime’s worth at this point. Too many to mention!

Yes to The Darkest Hour. If your heading to Bletchley Park, then I recommend The Imitation Game.

Another excellent book by Erik Larson (that will give you even more Churchill!) is The Splendid and the Vile. It’s set during the Blitz and is deeply researched. Larson really has a gift for making history come alive.

Loved The Splendid and the Vile. Excellent book.

Oldman won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in The Darkest Hour.

As an Albert Finney admirer thought he was very good as Churchill in The Gathering Storm. You’ll also have the privilege of seeing Derek Jacobi, Jim Broadbent, Tom Wilkinson as well as a young Tom Hiddleston in the film.

Recommendations:
Inspector George Gently
Line of Duty
Ridley
Scott and Bailey
Luther
Shetland
The Fall
Annika
Vera
DCI Banks

By “the Churchill movie” the other person would have meant The Darkest Hour, I’m almost certain, as that was the big Oscar-nominated cinema release of the last few years.

Your request for books/TV shows and movies about England is endlessly broad.

I don’t know if this is available for you to view, but there’s a very pleasant gentle BBC series called Villages by the Sea in which archeologist Ben Robinson looks at the history, architecture and geology of some of the UK’s coastal villages. Not just England, obviously. Beautifully filmed and always makes me want to visit.

Similarly any of what I like to call Portillo on a Train (I think it might actually be called Great British Railway Journeys?) in which a former unpopular Tory MP has recreated himself as a genial TV host and endlessly takes trains around the UK (and indeed Europe and USA, in other series). Very gentle, informative, nicely filmed.

Churchill the Wilderness Years the TV miniseries from back in the 1980s is still good with the title role played by Robert Hardy but it might be difficult to get hold of now.

I thought it portrayed Churchill as a bit quirky but admirable.

Well maybe because that is appropriate?

You might enjoy The Pursuit of Love, a 3 part miniseries on Amazon Prime based on Nancy Mitford's novel of the same name.

Lily James plays one of the main characters.

I appreciate all the great replies. I apologize for not responding sooner, we had a family emergency of a pleasant kind. A baby granddaughter arrived sooner than expected.

I enjoyed 'Churchill' with Brian Fox.

Timothy Spall plays Churchill in The King's Speech.

Rod Taylor has a cameo as Churchill in Inglorious Basterds.

The Wolf Hall trilogy is the best thing I've read in years (twice), and the TV series is excellent.
Though a much less physically imposing man than Cromwell was, Rylance is first class.

The Singing Detective, if you can get it, is outstanding. Michael Gambon.

Congratulations jules m and family!

"Darkest Hour" and "The Queen" are not entirely historically accurate....

Portillo on a Train :) is actually a tour of wherever and the train quickly became a bit part as the episodes piled up, which is actually a good thing for those who want to see about the places visited. Not so good if you wanted to learn about trains...

Two series which are interesting, and I can only assume are available in USA on Food Network, are Adam Richman's food tours of Britain! (...Eats Britian and ...Eats Football).

If you want "slow travel" reality, try and find Canal Boat Diaries, was originally a BBC daytime filler but went prime time when they transferred it to subsidiary company UKTV's Yesterday (U&Yesterday) channel. Many hours to fill the winter nights with! Or if you can't find that try Michael Downie's trips on British canal boats, may be on Canadian TV, especially in BC or if that fails it's @DownieLive on Youtube!

Stop press: edited episodes of Canal Boat Diaries are on Youtube @UAndYesterday - and whilst you're there you might like Secrets of the London Undergound

We enjoyed the book Akenfield: Portrait of an English Village. Here's a review of it that explains its appeal better than I could: https://thebookbindersdaughter.com/2015/09/24/review-akenfield-portrait-of-an-english-village-by-ronald-blythe/

There's also a movie, which I didn't know existed until 5 minutes ago.

If you watch Grantchester on your PBS station and like the lead, actor Robson Green, you might enjoy watching his Amazon Prime series; Tales From The Coast. Travel series about the Northumberland area of the UK.

The ultimate Churchill biography is the 3 volume set by William Manchester, The Last Lion. One volume is 900 pages or so, so not a quick read but very well written.

Wow, so many suggestions, I can't keep up!

I have seen Imitation Game a few times, now. Wonderful movie with the wonderful Benedict Cumberbatch. However, it makes me deeply sad, this man made tremendous contributions yet died from suicide because his lifestyle wasn't accepted. He didn't do any harm, in fact, was a genius, and should have been admired.

We've been watching "Heartbeat". Took a while to get into it. Later seasons seem to have more substance and now we just enjoy the music and play "Name that Tune".

Also, a plug for the BBC program, "Patience" based in York. Not that it needs a plug. It is utterly amazing, and I look forward to future seasons. Worth watching whether you are going to York, or know someone with autism, or not.