The Gathering Storm (1974 TV Movie)

Richard Burton: Winston Churchill

Quotes 

• Winston Churchill : No British government could so disinterest itself in the fortunes of the continent so as to allow Germany to dominate Central and Eastern Europe - of that much I can assure you.

  Joachim von Ribbentrop : In that case war is inevitable. The Fuhrer is resolved. Nothing will stop him.

• Edward VIII : I, erm, cannot live without her by my side, Winston.

  Winston Churchill : Sir, do not abdicate. The Crown is the last shield against evils that have afflicted countries that have given up the idea of monarchy. Think of France. Think of Germany. Think of Spain. The hereditary King of England cannot be allowed to be at the mercy of politicians who trim their doctrines on the varying hour. Your throne is a thousand years old, your sceptre, is our memory.

• Winston Churchill : I speak to you as Prime Minister for the first time, in a solemn hour for the life of our country, of our Empire, for our Allies, and above all, for the cause of freedom. A tremendous battle is raging in France. The Germans, by a remarkable combination of air bombing and heavily armoured tanks, have penetrated the French defences and are ravaging the open country. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. I will say to the House, I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. You will ask "What is our policy?" I will say, it is to wage war! By sea, by land by air. To wage war with all our strength and all the might that God can give us. To wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the whole dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That, is our policy. You will ask "What is our aim?" I will answer in one word: victory! Victory at all costs; victory despite all terror; victory however long or hard the road may be. For without victory, there can be no survival. We are resolved to destroy Hitler and every vestige of the Nazi regime. From that, nothing can turn us. Nothing. We will not parlay. We will not negotiate with Hitler and the grisly gang that works his wicked will. We will fight him by sea, we will fight him by land, we will fight him in the air until, with God's help, we have rid the world of his shadow!