Countdown to War

Countdown to War
Countdown to War
Directed by	Patrick Lau
Written by	Ronald Harwood
Produced by	Norma Percy
Starring	Ian McKellen, ; Michael Aldridge,; Rashid Suhrawardy,; Peter Vaughan,; Alex Norton,; David Swift, ; John Woodvine
Music by	Richard Harvey
Release date	1989;
Running time	78 minutes
Language	English

Countdown to War is a television film made in 1989 as a co-production by Granada Television and PBS. It recounts the events that occurred between 15 March 1939, when the German army commanded by Adolf Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia and created the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, and 3 September 1939, the date when France and United Kingdom declared war on Germany. The film is divided into 5 different stages: Mussolini's study, Hitler's Chancellery, Stalin's Kremlin, Beck’s bedroom, and Chamberlain's Cabinet. The script is based on private letters, diaries and records of meetings between the different leaders.^[1] The film starred Ian McKellen, Michael Aldridge, Alex Norton and Barrie Rutter.

Plot

Europe's most powerful leaders desperately plot their strategies, attempting to determine the next moves of both their allies and enemies. The private meetings, arguments, anguish and personal battles will change the course of history. The Second World War is about to begin.