Set during the days after The Blitz during World War II, Their Finest follows the writers and film makers working for The Ministry Of Information, with one aim in mind – to raise public morale. The film’s screenwriter, Gaby Chiappe, talked to Flickering Myth’s Freda Cooper about making the move from writing for TV to the big screen – and how she came to appear in the movie herself. It’s released in cinemas this Friday.
The film is Gaby Chiappe’s first movie screenplay, adapted from Lissa Evans’ novel Their Finest Hour And A Half. After a career in TV, taking in household names like EastEnders, Shetland and Vera, she found herself on familiar territory, telling the story of a group of people she understands well – writers. And, when the opportunity presented itself, she couldn’t resist stepping in front of the camera herself, to play a small role in one of the propaganda films re-created in the movie.
Their Finest is released in UK cinemas on Friday, 21 April.
Freda Cooper. Follow me on Twitter, check out my movie blog and listen to my podcast, Talking Pictures.
Originally published April 19, 2017. Updated April 11, 2018.
