James Stagg

Now, what I didn't know, and what the film lays out in tense, riveting detail, is that the final word about the timing of this invasion actually had to come from weathermen.

Captain James Stagg, the leading meteorologist of the time, was called in to give his forecast, but what he predicted was exactly what the Allied leaders, including future US President Eisenhower, did not want to hear.

And today's episode is a deep dive featuring two interviews with the minds behind the film.

One of these chats is with director Anthony Maras, uh, you might know from Hotel Mumbai, and also theater legend David Haig, who both wrote and starred in the play that this film is based on.

Ike, you have to stop doing this to yourself.

What's done is done.

Group Captain Dr. James Stagg, here at the express request of General Eisenhower.

Do we have a date yet for the invasion, sir?

And that's what the film really gets at.

It's about a protagonist in James Stagg, a meteorologist, speaking truth to power and telling these very, very powerful military figures this huge invasion that you've been planning, you know, we know you want it badly, but if you go for it, it's going to be a disaster and they don't want to believe him.

And then the fireworks erupt.

Tell me you had at least one meeting where you pitched the title of the film as The Weather Divas.

Just in terms of upping the difficulty level on the film, in terms of taking risks with it as well.

I mean, obviously we know the ending, right? And you sort of know that and you put ticking clocks basically in your plot.

But also at the heart of this isn't a very likeable character in James Stagg.

And I find myself rooting for someone who is incredibly introverted, incredibly uncomfortable.

my God, your sphincter must be destroyed with that kind of pressure.

So this chap, James Stagg, in the end, when he said, OK, go on this date, what data did he have to work from?

Well, he had access to three forecasting groups.

The film portrays it slightly differently.

Oh, my God, your sphincter must be destroyed with that kind of pressure.

So this chap, James Stagg, in the end, when he said, OK, go on this date, what data did he have to work from?

Well, he had access to three forecasting groups.

The film portrays it slightly differently.

But yes, she delivered a crucial weather report, which latest in the film is acknowledged.

But I think there's a lot of people, when news of this film came out, were saying, why is it about her? Well, you know, there are a million stories in the world, and this one happens to be about James Stagg, who I was familiar with because I'm being a man of a certain age, and like many men of that particular age, being slightly obsessed with the Second World War.

I've watched The World at War, the great early 1970s documentary series, many, many times, and Stagg is in it.

Being made in the 70s, he's still a fresh-faced man in his late 40s, I would say.

But let's get a clip first.

Let's hear a little bit from pressure.

And we're going to hear from Brendan Fraser as General Dwight D. Eisenhower and two fantastic Irish actors, Andrew Scott as Captain James Stagg and Kerry Condon as First Lieutenant Kay Summersby.

Here's a clip.

So that's Fall 2, Deadpoint, which is now in cinemas.

Group Captain Dr. James Stagg here at the express request of General Eisenhower.

Do we have a date yet for the invasion, sir? D-Day is in 61 hours from now.

This is the largest seaborne invasion in history.

this.

Pressure is a weather and war drama film directed by Anthony Maris and written by Maris and David Haig based on Haig's 2014 stage play.

It stars Andrew Scott as meteorologist James Stagg and Brendan Fraser as Dwight D. Eisenhower as the pair work to plan the Normandy landings during World War two.

Kerry Condon, Chris Messina and Damian Lewis also star.