World War II: When Lions Roared (1994) (TV)

Director:

Joseph Sargent

Writer (WGA):

David W. Rintels (written by)

Release Date:

19 April 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | War

Plot:

This TV Movie is about the Tehran Conference between FDR, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin. It shows the interaction between the three leaders at the close of the Second World War. |

Plot Keywords:

Winston Churchill | Stalin | Tehran Conference | Prime Minister | Diplomacy

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 8 nominations

Cast

Michael Caine	...	Joseph V. Stalin
Bob Hoskins	...	Winston Churchill
John Lithgow	...	Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Ed Begley Jr.	...	Harry Hopkins
Jan Triska	...	Vyacheslav Molotav

Also Known As:

Then There Were Giants

Runtime:

UK:115 min (DVD version) | USA:194 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Prague, Czech Republic

Company:

Gideon Productions

Trivia:

The script uses a lot of verbatim dialog taken from transcripts and books, including Churchill's memoirs.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): During the dinner at the Teheran Conference, Stalin tells Churchill that in Britain there are two parties, while in the Soviet Union there is only one. In fact, Churchill's Coalition government included three major parties, not two: Churchill's own Conservatives, Clement Atlee's Labour Party, and Sir Archibald Sinclair's Liberal Party. Both were in the Cabinet: Atlee was Lord Privy Seal and member of the War Cabinet; Sinclair was Secretary of State for Air.

Quotes:

Joseph V. Stalin: Experience has taught me to face up to reality, no matter how unpleasant it may be, and to tell the truth.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Man Who Shot Chinatown: The Life and Work of John A. Alonzo (2007)

History made boring

Keep your children away from this sorry production, lest they be put off WWII history forever.

The three principals are too well known to play the parts in this particular production. Their twisted make-up and sometimes dreary imitations of the famous personages take attention away from the central heart of the story, which is (or should be) the evolving relationships of three countries and leaders.

This IDEA was interesting, but the execution becomes dreary in the long run. It should have been kept to under ninety minutes. Instead of a shorter, punchier piece this becomes a rambling mess.

The idea that this is a proper representation of history can easily be challenged. The newsreel footage does not adequately contextualize the diplomatic exchanges between the three leaders of that war.

For hard core WWII history buffs only.