Darkest Hour Guided Viewing

Pre-Viewing Questions:

1. What was the date of Churchill’s birth?

a. November 30, 1874

2. What year was Churchill first elected to Parliament?

a. 1900

3. During World War I, Churchill was instrumental...

a. What political title did Churchill hold at this time?

i. First Lord of Admiralty

b. In what modern-day country did the Gallipoli Campaign take place?

i. Turkey

c. What was the ultimate outcome of this campaign?

i. The British had to evacuate due to the high number of casualties

4. How old was Churchill when he became Prime Minister for the first time?

a. 65

5. What was the date of Churchill’s death?

a. January 24, 1965

Character Key:

1. D 2. F 3. B

4. E 5. A 6. C

Guided Viewing:

1. On what year does the movie begin?

a. 1940

2. The movie opens with an argument in Parliament. As a result of this argument Neville

Chamberlain decides to resign. What position did he resign from?

a. Prime Minister

3. Before meeting Churchill for the first time, Elizabeth Layton is given specific instructions on the

spacing of her typing. What are these instructions?

a. Always type double spaced.

4. When we first see Churchill, where is he?

a. Laying in bed.

5. According to Chamberlain, why is Churchill chosen over Halifax to replace him as Prime

Minister?

a. Because the opposition party would support the choice of Churchill.

6. What day and time every week did Churchill and King George VI decide to meet?

a. Mondays at lunch time.

7. If at the end of Churchill’s speech, Chamberlain waves his handkerchief what are the members

of the party supposed to do?

a. Show approval.

8. Chamberlain indicates that it saddens him that he will never see his country at peace again. Why

is that?

a. He has cancer.

9. When Churchill lands in France, he asks the French leadership what their plan is for a counter

attack. What response do they give him?

a. There isn’t any plan.

10. While Churchill is looking for his copy of Cicero, what does his wife yell at him?

a. We are broke.

11. What does the red light on Churchill’s desk indicate?

a. That he is broadcasting live to the country.

12. Churchill is informed that the Germans have surrounded 60 British, Belgian, and French

divisions. As a result, the British forces have withdrawn or are trying to withdraw to what

beach?

a. Dunkirk

13. After speaking to Halifax and Chamberlain alone, Churchill retired to the W.C. (“Water Closet,”

the British term for a bathroom) and makes a phone call. Who does he call?

a. President Franklin Roosevelt

14. While on the phone Churchill is told that if he wants the planes that Britain purchased from the
United States, he should arrange for them to be pulled over the Canadian border by a team of

what?

a. Horses.

15. After his meeting with King George VI, Churchill walks past an open door where Hitler can be

heard speaking on the radio. How does he respond?

a. He slams the door shut.

16. What does Halifax tell Churchill that he will do if Churchill does not enter into peace

negotiations within 24 hours?

a. Halifax indicates that he will resign.

17. Elizabeth Layton asks Churchill how many days the men at Dunkirk will have if they don’t

evacuate them. How long does Churchill say that they have?

a. One, maybe two days.

18. Churchill is given a telegram from Lord Gort in France. What does it indicate?

a. Belgium has fallen. They will surrender at midnight and France will soon follow suit.

19. Elizabeth Layton has a picture on her desk. Who is in the picture?

a. Her brother.

20. Who comes and visits Churchill in the middle of the night?

a. King George VI.

21. Churchill asks this visitor if he still scares him. How does he respond?

a. “A little. But I can cope.”

22. In the morning of May 28th, while Churchill is still in bed, he is given a count of civilian vessels

ready to sail on Dunkirk. How many vessels are there?

a. 860

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23. Churchill leaves his personal car without warning. Where does he go?

a. He heads for the subway.

24. On his way to Westminster, Churchill asks a group of civilians how they would respond to peace

negotiations with Hitler. What do they chant in unison?

a. Never.
25. When Churchill reaches Westminster he is told his War Cabinet is waiting for him. Instead of

meeting with them he indicates that he is going to address whom?

a. His Outer Cabinet.

26. When Churchill finally addresses his War Cabinet, what does he tell them regarding peace

negotiations?

a. There will be no peace negotiations.

27. After Churchill’s speech to Parliament, Chamberlain takes out his handkerchief. What does he

do with it?

a. Dabs his forehead

28. How does the party react to Chamberlains action?

a. They applaud Churchill’s speech.

29. What happened to most of the 300,000 troops at Dunkirk?

a. They “were carried home by Winston’s civilian fleet.”

30. On what date would Britain and its allies declare victory?

a. May 8, 1945