Plot Synopsis

Just like its predecessor AMERICA IN COLOR, this series presents iconic moments in history as never before seen -- in color. But this time, focused on British history, bringing to glory of the British Empire and the royal family as well as the iconic Prime Minister. The early half of the 20th century was an era of great power, leadership, and transformation for Britain. The British Empire controlled over a quarter of the earth's land, the Royal Family struggled to rebrand itself in order to save the monarchy, and Winston Churchill boosted morale and resolve in the nation's deepest moment of need. Using cutting-edge digital technology, witness the dramatic stories of kings, queens, colonists, and a maverick prime minister, presented entirely in color. The series premiere, "Royalty," features the earliest existing footage of Queen Victoria before her death in 1901. The episode builds epic sweep out of tiny details, from the uniformed procession at Victoria's funeral, to David, Prince of Wales, whose stylish suits and daring patterns make him a tabloid darling even before he gives up the throne for love. The earliest known original color footage of Princess Elizabeth shows her playing in a Piccadilly garden with sister Margaret, long before anyone knew she would one day be Queen.
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On Sunday, December 1, 2019 at 9pm ET/PT, Smithsonian Channel premiered "Churchill," the finale of BRITAIN IN COLOR. In a career that spanned 54 years, Winston Churchill served as Home Secretary, First Lord of the Admiralty, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Prime Minister of Britain. Over the decades, he made catastrophic blunders, but in England's moment of deepest need, he boosted morale, led them to victory, and cemented his place in the nation's heart. Through colorized movies and never-before-seen archival footage, we present an intimate portrait of this military tactician, maverick politician, and revered global statesman.