Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (1974)

Covering the period from 1873 to 1921, the story of Jennie Jerome (Lee Remick), an American and Brooklyn born woman better known as Lady Randolph Churchill through her marriage to the son (Ronald Pickup) of the 7th Duke of Marlborough (Cyril Luckham) and the mother of the most celebrated British politician of all time, Winston Churchill (Warren Clarke). Directed by James Cellan Jones (BEQUEST TO THE NATION). A six and a half hour period serial anchored by a dynamic performance by Lee Remick in the title role. Known as a great beauty, what a life the woman led! Unlike most costume period mini series out of Great Britain, this isn't stuffy at all but engrossing and fascinating enough so that the six and a half hours fly. Aging some 50 years, Remick is entirely convincing as young 19 year old girl eventually aging to a 67 year old woman. The excellent cast includes Barbara Parkins, Dan O'Herlihy, Sian Phillips, Christopher Cazenove, Zoe Wanamaker, Jeremy Brett and Rachel Kempson.