| World War II: When Lions Roared | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Joseph Sargent |
| Produced by | Bruce M. Kerner David W. Rintels Victoria Riskin Ethel Winant |
| Screenplay by | David Rintels |
| Starring | John Lithgow Michael Caine Bob Hoskins |
| Music by | John Morris |
| Cinematography | John A. Alonzo |
| Editing by | John A. Martinelli |
| Studio | Koch Vision |
| Release date(s) | 1994 |
| Running time | 194 minutes |
| Language | English |
World War II: When Lions Roared (also known as Then There Were Giants) is a 1994 TV movie, directed by Joseph Sargent, that stars John Lithgow, Michael Caine and Bob Hoskins as the three major Allied leaders.[1] It was the first video production to be produced in an early form of analog high-definition video using the Sony HDVS line of equipment expressly for broadcast in the United States on the NBC television network.[2]
Contents |
The film portrays Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin as they maneuver their countries through several of the major events of World War II - such events include the Blitz, Operation Barbarossa, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the North African Campaign, the Allied invasion of Italy, and concluding with the Tehran Conference.
In particular, the focus is on the relationship between the leaders themselves and the large strategic concerns at play, with little scrutiny given to the decisions taking place at a lower level[3][4] - an example of this is how, despite his personal disdain for communism, Churchill was willing to go to great lengths to aid the Soviet Union in their fight against Nazi Germany.
The feature was met with mixed to positive reviews. Rotten Tomatoes awarded it a 100% audience pecentage, while IMDb gave it a 6.6 rating.
It was nominated for 6 Emmy Awards, including Best Actor for Michael Caine, but only won for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Drama Series, Variety Series, Miniseries or a Special.
The film was released on a two-disc DVD set on February 13, 2007.[5]