The King’s Speech

Movie Review

I had the good fortune to see The King’s Speech this afternoon. A 1:15 PM first showing of the day was very full with a mostly baby boomer audience who obviously wanted to see this Weinstein Company film that has received 4 Screen Actors Guild and 7 Golden Globe Nominations.

The film stars Colin Firth as the Duke of York and Helena Bonham Carter as his wife Elizabeth. King George V’s younger son suffers from a terrible stammer that becomes more severe when he has to make public speeches, a part of his life he simply cannot avoid.

His sympathetic wife looks for an expert to help him and finally stumbles upon Lionel Logue played by Geoffrey Rush.

The King’s Speech

Thus begins a lifelong friendship that comes with many ups and downs.

If you remember your history, you’ll recall that George V’s eldest son was Prince Edward. The man who shocked his country and the monarchy by falling in love with a commoner, twice divorced and American, Wallace Simpson. Ultimately abdicating the throne in favor of her, the monarchy falls to his younger brother, Prince Albert (Bertie) played by Firth who suddenly finds himself King George VI in a country on the brink of war.

The King’s Speech is a film about perseverance, bravery and trust.

All leading to a friendship that lasted a lifetime. The current British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II is a little girl in the film and we all know that it was a scant 20 years later that she actually became Queen.

This film was outstanding both in the telling of a true story and in the sympathetic portrayal of some of the world’s most privileged people. I whole-heartedly recommend it. It is suitable for all audiences with a small exception. The King’s Speech is rated R because of a couple of scenes where our suffering Prince is encouraged to swear in order to become unblocked.