January 1, 1970

Churchill counted among his acquaintances such luminaries of the film world as Vivienne Leigh and Charlie Chaplin, whom he met while in the US and who later came to visit him at Chartwell.

Churchill’s admiration of Vivien Leigh clearly stemmed from his love of the film Lady Hamilton, but he was also very impressed by her when he saw Gone with the Wind, apparently ‘pulverised by the strength of their feelings and emotions’. He stayed up watching it until the early hours of 16 December 1940, then carrying on until three in the morning, discussing the North Africa campaign with Anthony Eden, the Secretary of State for War.