With the existence of literally dozens of films about Winston Churchill, as well as hundreds of books about one of the legendary figures of the 20th century, why did Netflix bother to commission the new four-part documentary Churchill at War?
The answer is that this series has some fascinating new elements to it. Unlike most recent movies about Churchill, it is not about just one moment or aspect of his life. It covers his five years as war leader between 1940 and 1945, and also provides a good prologue on his early life to put the war years into context, as well as an epilogue on his post-war years and return to Downing Street in 1951. Second, the series has restored and colourised the archive footage and the many, powerful still photographs it features. Regular readers will know I am not usually a fan of colourisation, but I have to admit this time it has been done very effectively, giving the wartime images a slightly faded hue. There’s nothing garish about the colourisation here.
Additionally, and for the first time, using AI voice-enhancement technology, the series quotes from many of Churchill’s books, mostly his epic six-volume account The Second World War, but also from My Early Life and from various letters written to his wife Clemmie. We actually hear Churchill’s voice, digitally recreated, reading these extracts. This is all done with the approval of the Churchill Estate, which still control his words (both written and recorded). It is remarkable – but also slightly scary – to hear some of the famous phrases from his books being read not by an actor but by Churchill’s own voice! However, the selections are well chosen and are always sourced, including detailed footnote sources in the end credits. Although the digital readings are fairly flat, they add an enormous amount to the series, even if they raise the question as to what is real and what is not.
