The Iron Lady Strikes Again!

Margaret Thatcher certainly played a vital part in the history of the United Kingdom.  As Prime Minister all throughout the 1980s, she steered Britain toward a more conservative course.  Gain insight into the life of the controversial and inspiring woman who led the United Kingdom for more than ten years. The BBC released The Rise and Fall of Margaret Thatcher on DVD October 18.  Here is a synopsis of the program:

Synopsis:

Gain insight into the life of the controversial and inspiring woman who led the United Kingdom for more than ten years as the BBC releases The Rise and Fall of Margaret Thatcher on DVD this October. Featuring three outstanding productions - The Long Walk to Finchley, The Falkland’s Play and Margaret - on two discs, this fascinating collection follows the political career of the former Prime Minister. Andrea Riseborough (Made in Dagenham, Happy Go Lucky), Patricia Hodge (The Legacy of Reginald Perrin, Miranda) and Lindsay Duncan (Doctor Who, Rome) respectively tackle the role of the Iron Lady in these films. Arriving at retail on October 18, The Rise and Fall of Margaret Thatcher is a must-own DVD set for all history buffs and Anglophiles alike.

Riseborough’s portrayal of a young Margaret Roberts in The Long Walk to Finchley, was hailed as “breathtaking, giving Thatcher humor, drive and real sex appeal” by the London Evening Standard. The intriguing film reveals her steely determination as an ambitious twenty-something research chemist on the first rungs of the ladder to Parliament.  Eager to speak her mind and be selected to a “winnable” Tory seat in the 1950s, The Long Walk to Finchley imagines what might have gone on behind the scenes during Thatcher’s ten-year struggle to gain a seat in Parliament.

Lauded by The Guardian as, “a thrilling piece of drama which challenged prejudices and preconceptions,” The Falkland’s Play chronicles the backroom story of Margaret Thatcher’s war. Once deemed too controversial to produce, this compelling production depicts a gripping account of how the leaders at 10 Downing Street faced one of their biggest crises in foreign affairs.

Finally, Margaret examines the downfall of the Prime Minister after her election to a third term. One of the most formidable figures in British politics, the film ultimately reveals that the very aspects of her character that helped her secure power were also the ones that ensured her decline. The Daily Express praised the film as “riveting viewing…Lindsay Duncan plays her as sharp as a ferret, with the eyes of a lynx and the manner of an aged, furious tiger.”

One of the defining crises of Thatcher's tenure occurred during the Falklands crisis. Here is a video showing some "behind the scenes" discussions just as the action was beginning to heat up:

Check out the Official Site and then Own it on Blu-ray!

I have one copy of the DVD of The Rise and Fall of Margaret Thatcher to give away.  To enter, just leave me a comment telling me your favorite leader of all time -- doesn't have to be the leader of a country, just someone who is a strong and inspirational leader!  Be sure and leave your email address so I'll have a way to contact you if you should be the winner.  I'll choose the winner randomly using random.org on Nov. 4.  The winner will have 72 hours to get back to me with their mailing address, or I'll have to choose another winner.  Due to mailing restrictions, the giveaway is only valid for US entries.

Good luck!

Disclaimer:  I was provided a giveaway copy of The Rise and Fall of Margaret Thatcher.