If You Love All Things English, You'll Love 'The King's Speech' [Movie]

Fox News ^ | 12/12/10 | James P. Pinkerton

[Dr. Scarpetta]

You will love “The King’s Speech,” a new movie about Great Britain in the '30s, a time of hesitation and then greatness, when the country reluctantly faced up to the challenge of Hitler and Nazism, two years before the United States similarly faced up.

As with many great films, “Speech” is a personal movie inside a historical movie.

The “personal” movie is the story of a character struggling to overcome a disability.

In “Speech,” the drama is the true story of the future King George VI, who had suffered from a severe stammer all his life.

The story begins in 1925, when Prince Albert (he didn’t take on the name “George” until he assumed the throne in 1936), attempts to give a brief speech at Wembley Stadium outside of London.

It’s a painful scene to watch, as the prince struggles to get his words out, as tens of thousands look on--and then look away from the pitiful spectacle.

After that embarrassment, he resolves never again to make a fool of himself in public.

Yet by the mid-30s, George V is dying, and it becomes obvious that the older brother is unqualified to be king.

Indeed, the stakes are now high: George V observes that Adolf Hitler seeks to control one half of Europe, and Josef Stalin seeks to control the other half. So what will England do?

The new medium of radio made it possible for a single leader to communicate across the planet. Hitler was doing it, with his message of hateful propaganda, and so his opponents had to master the radio waves.

Realizing that history would summon him to duty, like it or not, our prince--played with Oscar-grabbing understatement and poignancy by Colin Firth--resolves to improve his speech, seeking out the best speech therapists in London.

[Dr. Ursus]

We visited St Andrews a few years ago. The beach near the golf course was used for the running scenes in the credits.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Ten Secrets Behind the Making of “The King’s Speech”

http://jerrygarrett.wordpress.com/2010/11/07/ten-secrets-behind-the-making-of-the-kings-speech/

[Dr. Scarpetta]

‘King’s Speech’ Writer Speaks Here

http://www.newportbeachindy.com/arts-entertainment/2010/12/17/kings-speech-writer-speaks-here.html

[Dianna]

I liked her in the King's Speech. The King's wife must have been a wonderful woman if she was anything like the way she was portrayed in The King's Speech.

I read her authorized biography recently (most of it...the book was enormous). Palace ok-ed books are likely to be scrubbed of anything unsavory, but she did seem to be a delightful lady. Just in case the movie wasn't clear...the King's wife was Queen Elizabeth's mother, the Queen Mum who passed in 2002. She was born in 1900. The things she lived to experience!

[Dr. Scarpetta]

read her authorized biography recently (most of it...the book was enormous). Palace ok-ed books are likely to be scrubbed of anything unsavory, but she did seem to be a delightful lady. Just in case the movie wasn't clear...the King's wife was Queen Elizabeth's mother, the Queen Mum who passed in 2002. She was born in 1900. The things she lived to experience!

What a long life! I thought the actress (Carter) who portrayed her did resemble her in a way.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

“The King’s Speech” makes grown men tear up and want to have a friend like Lionel Logue and marry a woman like Elizabeth. It never had a chance with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

What a shame...

P.S. I loathe Twizzlers.

Twizzlers are a favorite of mine...)

[Pharmboy]

Thanks for the ping...saw it a few weeks ago and loved the movie. Very well done...Rush > Firth.

[DollyCali]

I am seeing it tomorrow if I am feeling better. Been under the weather past couple weeks.

Cinema

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[Clara Lou]

I can’t see the “sublime” that you mention. All I see is the “ridiculous.”

[JoeProBono]

[EveningStar]

My wife liked it a lot.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Hope you’re feeling better soon!

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Wow! The woman on the right (the King’s mother) looked exactly like the woman who portrayed her in the movie.

[caww]

Thank you so much for this link...and thru it I viewed others equally as interesting. Since I have not yet seen this movie, hearing his actual speech was certainly inviting to see the movie all the more.

CW

[JoeProBono]

Not only that but does this look familiar?

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Quite familiar...

[rabidralph]

Thanks for posting. I hope to catch it in the theater.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

You’re welcome...

[JoeProBono]

Howdy neighbor!

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Hi, are you in Northampton or Lehigh County?