Rating: 
Summary: Great movie, poor picture and sound quality - NO subtitling!
Review: ...This is a Churchill movie that anyone interested in British WW2 history MUST see. Hardy is just superb as Winston Churchill. For a none-English native, though, it is absolutely incomprehensible how the producers could put this movie out without subtitling at least in English! The sound quality is not good (the picture quality far from neither), and for a none- native English too much is lost in the sometimes somewhat muffled colloqial performance, not to speak of the simple fact that Churchill's famous whisky voice would surely benefit by subtitling...However, it is a must-see all the same!
Rating: 
Summary: Perhaps the best television drama ever produced
Review: Anyone with an interest in Churchill MUST VIEW this series. It is history at it's best. I viewed this series and taped in on VHS and treated myself over the years by rewatching it. In fact, based on this series I named my son after Churchill, with Winston as his middle name. In short I can't say enough about the quality of this series. It will hold your attention for every minute, educate you on the main events and political drama affecting England in the 30's, and more importantly, give you the insight into how the politcal elite can lead themselves to craven acts of national destruction AND, how one man standing on principal can still save a nation from itself. The lessons here are timeless. I would also echo the sentiments of the other reviewer who noted that this is far superior to "A Gathering Storm" which, though a good effort,is cartoonish in its characterization of Churchill, compared to Robert Hardy's performance. Hardy deserves the equivalant of the oscar for "Best Televison Performance of the 20th Century". Get it, then watch it at least once a year. Each time, you'll come away with new insights, and new respect for what Churchill accomplished, and sacrificed, to save England from those willing to choose shame over war, only to get both. Terry Martin
Rating:
Summary: Perhaps the best television drama ever produced
Review: Anyone with an interest in Churchill MUST VIEW this series. It is history at it's best. I viewed this series and taped in on VHS and treated myself over the years by rewatching it. In fact, based on this series I named my son after Churchill, with Winston as his middle name. In short I can't say enough about the quality of this series. It will hold your attention for every minute, educate you on the main events and political drama affecting England in the 30's, and more importantly, give you the insight into how the politcal elite can lead themselves to craven acts of national destruction AND, how one man standing on principal can still save a nation from itself. The lessons here are timeless. I would also echo the sentiments of the other reviewer who noted that this is far superior to "A Gathering Storm" which, though a good effort,is cartoonish in its characterization of Churchill, compared to Robert Hardy's performance. Hardy deserves the equivalant of the oscar for "Best Televison Performance of the 20th Century". Get it, then watch it at least once a year. Each time, you'll come away with new insights, and new respect for what Churchill accomplished, and sacrificed, to save England from those willing to choose shame over war, only to get both. Terry Martin
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Story Overcomes Horrible Transfer
Review: I don't know which is worse, the sound or the picture. It's astounding that the copyright holders of this remarkable series was so hard up that they had to hand "The Wilderness Years" over to Lance Entertainment. This sorry outfit gives Madacy a run for the money as the worst mutilator of film since nitrate. Robert Hardy is the most convincing imitator of Churchill I've seen. He is wisely depicted here with his foibles - his rashness and ineptitude in areas beyond his ken, such as the stock market and raising offspring - as well as strengths. And it's a treat to see Siân Phillips and Tim Pigott-Smith supporting. Here's a story well-told, with interesting locations, too, from Churchill's home at Chartwell, in UK, to the Arizona desert. For anyone with an appreciation of the titanic events that shaped World War II, "The Wilderness Years" provides invaluable background, not only for Churchill as a major player, but for the others - Baldwin, Beaverbrook, Chamberlain, as well as movers and shakers with unfamiliar names, like the Sir Samuel "Iago" Hoare, who manipulated and connived on behalf of appeasement, and Horace Wilson, Chamberlain's oily doorkeeper. Despite the vandalism of the print by Lance Entertainment, I give 5 Stars because "The Wilderness Years" is such an indespensible document that demands viewing.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Story Overcomes Horrible Transfer
Review: I don't know which is worse, the sound or the picture. It's astounding that the copyright holders of this remarkable series was so hard up that they had to hand "The Wilderness Years" over to Lance Entertainment. This sorry outfit gives Madacy a run for the money as the worst mutilator of film since nitrate. Robert Hardy is the most convincing imitator of Churchill I've seen. He is wisely depicted here with his foibles - his rashness and ineptitude in areas beyond his ken, such as the stock market and raising offspring - as well as strengths. And it's a treat to see Siân Phillips and Tim Pigott-Smith supporting. Here's a story well-told, with interesting locations, too, from Churchill's home at Chartwell, in UK, to the Arizona desert. For anyone with an appreciation of the titanic events that shaped World War II, "The Wilderness Years" provides invaluable background, not only for Churchill as a major player, but for the others - Baldwin, Beaverbrook, Chamberlain, as well as movers and shakers with unfamiliar names, like the oily Sir Samuel Hoare, who manipulated and connived on behalf of appeasement. Despite the vandalism of the print by Lance Entertainment, I give 5 Stars because "The Wilderness Years" is such an indespensible document that deserves watching.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Content; Horrible DVD Reproduction
Review: I purchased this for my father who has studied Churchill's life and writings for many years. He really enjoyed the HBO movie "The Gathering Storm", so I thought I would purchase this since so many recomended it. While the drama is not quite as gripping as in "The Gathering Storm" the content and depth of this series is excellent (worthy of 5 stars). Unfortunately the reproduction of this series onto DVD is sub-par. In fact it is the worst rendering to DVD I have ever seen or heard. I mention "heard" because we can hardly understand some of the dialogues do to poor sound quality. Either it is too muffled or at times too loud and distorted to make out. Given that this film is made up soley of scenes with a lot of dialogue this is a major annoyance and hence the 3 star rating.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Content; Horrible DVD Reproduction
Review: I purchased this for my father who has studied Churchill's life and writings for many years. He really enjoyed the HBO movie "The Gathering Storm", so I thought I would purchase this since so many recomended it. While the drama is not quite as gripping as in "The Gathering Storm" the content and depth of this series is excellent (worthy of 5 stars). Unfortunately the reproduction of this series onto DVD is sub-par. In fact it is the worst rendering to DVD I have ever seen or heard. I mention "heard" because we can hardly understand some of the dialogues do to poor sound quality. Either it is too muffled or at times too loud and distorted to make out. Given that this film is made up soley of scenes with a lot of dialogue this is a major annoyance and hence the 3 star rating.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Content; Horrible DVD Reproduction
Review: I purchased this for my father who has studied Churchill's life and writings for many years. He really enjoyed the HBO movie "The Gathering Storm", so I thought I would purchase this since so many recomended it. While the drama is not quite as gripping as in "The Gathering Storm" the content and depth of this series is excellent (worthy of 5 stars). Unfortunately the reproduction of this series onto DVD is sub-par. In fact it is the worst rendering to DVD I have ever seen or heard. I mention "heard" because we can hardly understand some of the dialogues do to poor sound quality. Either it is too muffled or at times too loud and distorted to make out. Given that this film is made up soley of scenes with a lot of dialogue this is a major annoyance and hence the 3 star rating.
Rating:
Summary: Hardy Brings Winston to Life
Review: Robert Hardy is wonderful in the role of Winston Churchill. This rendition of Churchill's perceptive battle in the 30's to combat Hitler and awaken Britain from it's torpor is infinitely better than the recent HBO film "The Gathering Storm". The supporting cast is superb, particularly Peter Barkworth as Baldwin, Edward Woodward as the slippery Sam Hoare, Eric Portman as Chamberlain and Sian Phillips as Clemmy. It covers all of the major political controversies that Churchill was involved with, India, the abdication in addition to the battle over re-armament. A MUST buy.
Rating:
Summary: A Fine film about courage and conviction
Review: The Wilderness Years is a charming, well-acted and absolutely riveting film about Winston Churchill in the years from 1929 until the beginning of the Second World War. Taken largely from Churchill's own writings and Martin Gilbert's wonderful biography "The Prophet of Truth," The film is technically a work of fiction but rings truer than the most carefully prepared documentary, a product of the prodigious labors of the cast, director Ferdinand Fairfax and Gilbert himself, who was intimately involved in the film. The film stars Robert Hardy as Churchill in a legend making performance. Hardy portrays Churchill in turns as childish, spoiled, brave, and selfless, with all the flaws abilities careful students of Churchill find in the great man himself. It is truly a wonderful performance. The rest of the cast is very fine and nicely captures the controlled frenzy that constantly surrounded Churchill. Look for actor Sam Wanamaker in a small role as Churchill's American friend. In real life he would eventually go on to build the "new" Globe Theatre that sits on the banks of the Thames in London. There is, of course, no substitute for reading, but I can think of few films that capture a time and a historical figure as well as The Wilderness Years. I strongly recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in Churchill or the war. Incidentally, it is quite a bargain; with almost eight hours of film time under forty dollars. It's just another reason to buy and enjoy this great film.
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