'Darkest Hour': Who's Who in History? Quiz

Answer: Neville Chamberlain

The opposition Labour party thought Chamberlain was weak. They believed his response to Nazi aggression was inadequate and called on the Conservatives to choose a new leader. Even after his resignation as Prime Minister, Chamberlain was respected in Parliament and played an important role in Churchill's War Cabinet.

In 'Darkest Hour', Chamberlain was played by Ronald Pickup.

Answer: First Lord of the Admiralty

As First Lord of the Admiralty, Churchill was the political head of the Royal Navy. He oversaw the administrative side, such as promotions and officer appointments.

In the film, a group of politicians and advisers discussed the idea of Churchill as Chamberlain's successor. They pointed out his flaws, but reluctantly agreed that they had no other choice. When the King was presented with the recommendation of Churchill as Prime Minister, he pointed out numerous problems, too.

Gary Oldman was nominated for many awards for his portrayl of Churchill, including a BAFTA and a Golden Globe.

Answer: Lily James

Lily James played Elizabeth Layton. At the beginning of the film, Layton had just started her job as Churchill's secretary. Her first task was to transcribe a telegram as the First Lord of the Admiralty walked around his bedroom in a dressing gown.

In 'Darkest Hour', she had a brother who died at Dunkirk, but that 'fact' was fictional. You might have noticed that the qustion said Layton began her job in 1941. The film, however, is set a year earlier in 1940. Layton wrote a memoir, detailing what it was like to work for the Prime Minister. It was published shortly before her death in 2007.

Answer: Lord Halifax

Lord Halifax was a popular choice for Prime Minister: Neville Chamberlain, the King, and the Conservative and Labour parties all supported the idea of him in the position. He, however, thought that Winston Churchill would make a better leader. Lord Halifax was a member of Churchill's War Cabinet.

The tension between the two men over a potential peace deal with Hitler was depicted in the film. Lord Halifax wanted Britain to negotiate with Germany through Mussolini. In 'Darkest Hour', Churchill almost gave in to Halifax's idea... almost.

Answer: Clementine

In 'Darkest Hour', Clementine rebuked Churchill for being too harsh on his secretary, Elizabeth Layton, within minutes of meeting her for the first time. Winston was 11 years older than Clementine. How they came to be married was explained in the film: they met in 1904, but didn't see each other again for a number of years.

When they met again at a dinner party in 1908, it was like love at first sight. They were married for 56 years until Winston died.

Answer: George VI

Not all Prime Ministers were elected in the UK. In 1940, the Conservative party were in power because they had gained the most votes in the previous election. When Neville Chamberlain stepped down as Prime Minister, it was up to the Conservative party to choose a new leader.

They made a recommendation to King George VI, who then invited Churchill to form a new government. During World War II, the government was a coalition: it had MPs from five different political parties.

Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt was the American president between 1933 and 1945. He was the president who entered the USA into World War Two in 1941. After Pearl Harbor, America declared war on Japan, and in turn, Germany and Italy declared war on the USA. All of that, however, happened a year after the events in the film.

At the time, neutrality laws prevented Roosevelt from helping Churchill with Britain's war effort.

Answer: They distracted German forces so that troops could be evacuated from Dunkirk.

The defence at the Seige of Calais was commanded by Brigadier Claude Nicholson. Originally, Brigadier Nicholson was told that his troops would be evacuated with the rest of the British Expeditionary Force, but in the end he received a telegram from Churchill stating that every hour they defended against German attack was of great help to the BEF.

He wrote that he admired their bravery, but that they would not be evacuated. Though the seige was expected to fail eventually, the soldiers in the brigade gave their lives so that others could be evacuated from the beaches at Dunkirk.

Answer: French Prime Minister

When Churchill spoke to Reynaud in the film, he didn't quite grasp the power and military strength Germany had in comparison to France.

Like Britain, France was torn between signing a peace treaty and continuing to fight. On 26th May, Reynaud informed Churchill that he had no intention of signing a treaty. He also said that he might be forced to resign so that another politician could.

Answer: Joe Wright

Joe Wright has directed a number of historical films. In addition to 'Darkest Hour' and the two mentioned in the question, he directed 'Anna Karenina'. He worked with composer Dario Marianelli and production designer Sarah Greenwood on many films, including 'Darkest Hour'. All three have been nominated for awards for the films they have collaborated on.

Ken Loach and Tim Burton are also directors. Laurence Olivier played Darcy in the 1940 film adaption of 'Pride and Prejudice'.