Their Finest. Image shows from L to R: Tom Buckley (Sam Claflin), Catrin Cole (Gemma Arterton), Ambrose Hilliard/Uncle Frank (Bill Nighy). Copyright: Lions Gate

Key details

Genre
Film
Released
2017
Stars
Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin, Bill Nighy, Jack Huston, Helen McCrory, Eddie Marsan, Jake Lacy, Rachael Stirling and more
Writers
Lissa Evans and Gaby Chiappe
Director
Lone Scherfig
Producers
Amanda Posey, Stephen Woolley, Finola Dwyer, Elizabeth Karlsen, Thorsten Schumacher, Peter Watson, Zygi Kamasa, Robert Norris and more
Companies

Their Finest, based on Lissa Evans's novel Their Finest Hour And A Half, is a witty, romantic and moving portrayal of a young woman finding her way, and her voice, in the mayhem of war... and the movies.

1940, London, the Blitz; with the country's morale at stake, Catrin, an untried screenwriter, and a makeshift cast and crew, work under fire to make a film to lift the nation's flagging spirits; and inspire America to join the war. Partnered with fellow writer, Buckley, the pair, along with fading matinee idol Ambrose Hilliard, reluctantly joins forces on a movie to warm the hearts of the nation and capture the imagination of the US public.

Other characters include Ambrose's agent Sammy; Sammy's sister Sophie; Ellis, Catrin's war artist husband; and Phyl Moore, the woman tasked with keeping the production on track.

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Additional details

Tagline
The spirit of the nation is in her hands
UK certificate
12A
Duration
117 minutes
UK release
Friday 21st April 2017
Produced
2016
UK premiere
Thursday 13th October 2016, BFI London Film Festival
Distributors

Lionsgate

Also known as
  • Their Finest Hour And A Half (Working title)
Production
Location
Camera set-up
Single camera
Picture
Colour

Website links

Broadcast details

All previous repeats
  • Saturday 24th December 2022 at 10:10pm on BBC4
  • Saturday 25th December 2021 at 9:35pm on BBC4
  • Saturday 31st August 2019 at 9:00pm on BBC2

Recording details

  • Pinewood Studios - Studio filming.
  • London, Haverfordwest and Porthgain - Location filming.