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Young Winston 1972 Watch Free

HD 6.1 149 min

Watch Young Winston Free: A Journey Through Churchill’s Early Life

On 16 September 1897, a young Winston Churchill serves as a junior officer in India, eager to carve out a name for himself and aspire to a future in Parliament. As the older Churchill, voiced by Simon Ward, narrates his story, we are transported back to his childhood, where the foundations of his remarkable life begin to take shape.

Young Winston’s Unhappy Beginnings at Boarding School

Churchill’s early years are marked by a tumultuous experience at a preparatory boarding school. Unhappy and struggling, he faces a particularly harsh punishment from the sadistic headmaster, leading his parents to remove him from the institution. This pivotal moment sets the stage for Churchill’s later academic journey.

The Struggles of Lord Randolph and Their Impact on Young Winston

Meanwhile, Churchill’s father, Lord Randolph, faces a devastating blow to his career as he resigns from his position as Chancellor of the Exchequer. The editor of The Times, George Buckle, refuses to support him, leading to a downward spiral. Doctors Roose and Buzzard inform Lady Randolph that her husband suffers from an incurable disease, which will likely lead to his death in five to six years, and they advise her to cease all physical relations with him.

One morning, Churchill’s behavior at breakfast infuriates his father, prompting Lord Randolph to send him to his room. However, after a heartfelt conversation with his wife, he reconciles with Winston, who is engrossed in playing with his collection of tin soldiers. Churchill eagerly accepts his father’s suggestion to join the army, although Lord Randolph later confides in his wife that he doubts Winston’s intellectual capabilities for university or a legal career.

Churchill’s Journey to Sandhurst and His Father’s Expectations

After three attempts, Churchill finally gains acceptance to Sandhurst, but his father is disappointed to learn that he finished near the bottom of his class. This means Winston is only eligible for the cavalry, which incurs an additional cost of £200 a year for a horse. Lord Randolph, clearly unwell and making several factual errors about his son, scolds Churchill and warns him that if he does not achieve something significant by the age of 21, he will no longer support him.

Tragically, Lord Randolph’s health deteriorates, and he delivers an incoherent speech in Parliament, witnessed by both his wife and Winston. His death marks the end of Churchill’s dream of entering Parliament alongside his father. Despite this setback, Churchill graduates from Sandhurst near the top of his class, becoming a second lieutenant and embarking on a journey that takes him to India and eventually to the Battle of Omdurman in the Sudan.

Young Winston’s Heroic Acts During the Anglo-Boer War

Later, Churchill travels to South Africa as a war correspondent during the Anglo-Boer War. While riding on an armored train, he and the soldiers are ambushed by Boer forces. In a moment of bravery, Churchill organizes the soldiers to push a derailed carriage off the track, allowing the train to proceed with the wounded. Unfortunately, many of the soldiers are captured by the Boers, but Churchill manages to escape with the help of mine manager Howard. He hides for three nights in a mine before riding a goods train into neutral Portuguese territory.

Upon returning to England, Churchill is hailed as a hero. He stands for the parliamentary seat of Oldham and wins, becoming an MP in a Conservative majority Parliament. Encouraged by opposition Liberal MP Lloyd George, Churchill takes up his father’s campaign to limit military spending, much to the dismay of his mother and the annoyance of senior Conservatives.

The Legacy of Young Winston: A Glimpse into the Future

The film concludes with Sir Winston Churchill narrating the events that follow, including his marriage to Clementine Hozier seven years later. Newsreel footage captures Churchill on the balcony with the royal family on VE Day, May 1945, symbolizing his significant role in history.