Review of film: "THE KING'S SPEECH" (about overcoming stammering)

Review of film:  “THE KING’S SPEECH”

This is based on a TRUE story of what happened in England shortly before the start of World War II…

…  After the Saxe-Coburg & Gotha family ran England (represented by Queen Victoria), the House of Windsor gained power.  From 1910 thru 1936, George V was King.  He and his wife Mary had 6 children, including a son John who died around 14 years of age…

…  As told in this movie, George V (played by MICHAEL GAMBON) was a fairly stern father, which very adversely affected his second son Albert Frederick Arthur George (nicknamed “Bertie”--  played by COLIN FIRTH) who in time developed a debilitating STAMMER… 

…  Supported by his comparatively down-to-earth wife Elizabeth (HELENA HONHAM CARTER), Bertie tried various methods to become a decent public speaker including going to doctors…  When the “Demosthenes” method (of trying to talk after putting marbles in his mouth) recommended by one “expert” didn’t help the stuttering, he grew very discouraged with trying to better himself in that regard…

…  Bertie had a pretty happily family life, doting on his daughters Elizabeth & Margaret.  The one thing he was especially happy about was, he was NOT 1^st-in-line to succeed his father as King.  That was to be left to his 1-year-older brother Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David (--  obviously, the family was plagued by “INDECISIVENESS” in its name choices!)…

…  Edward Multi-Name (GUY PEARCE) was called “David” by his family.  Since he was a playboy who had several affairs with married women (including openly with Wallis Simpson of Baltimore--  played by EVE BEST), Bertie & his wife (& a lot of the other “Royals”) tended to look “DOWN” on him.  [He also was considered overly in favor of APPEASEMENT towards the growing fascism of Hitler in Europe— but that is not mentioned in the film…]

…  As the King (Gambon) was growing increasingly ill, it was expected that Colin would have to do more & more public speaking in the future.  Reluctantly, he followed his wife’s urgings & visited a NON-doctoral “rebel” in the world of speech improvement, an Australian named Lionel Logue (GEOFFREY RUSH)…

…  Geoffrey was a very non-conventional character who’d developed his OWN methods of dealing with stammering & similar problems, based on his “hands-on” treating of Australian military people adversely suffering the effects of fighting in World War I.  He lived in a fairly run-down London building with his wife and kids, & insisted that all patients had to come to HIM (rather than the other way around)…

…  Although Helena had confidence in Geof’s methods, it was very difficult convincing COLIN to consider treatment by him, since he’d been discouraged by previous failures, didn’t like the “non-royal” way Geof spoke to him (calling him “Bertie” & not acting deferentially & asking him “personal questions), & Colin thus strongly RESISTED what he considered Geof’s “quack” methods…

…  But, Colin was shocked to find that Geof’s techniques actually WORKED.  Although it was very difficult (& at times humiliating for him), he kept going to regular sessions with Geof.  He continued to be surprised at the way Geof’s ideas (such as pointing out Colin had NO stammer when he spoke & swore angrily) worked (including having him SING words, since the stuttering again disappeared when that was done)…

…  Colin & Helena were quite “COOL” towards Guy when visiting him during a party & finding married woman Eve there.  Brother (Guy) had long made FUN of Colin’s stammering, & that made it increasingly difficult for Colin to “deal” with him & his philandering ways (which amounted to not “properly” taking care of Royal “duties”)…

…  On January 20, 1936, after the King died, David (Guy) was declared the NEW king Edward VIII (to the consternation of many Royalists).  Things grew even more “difficult” for the nation when Edward (Guy) insisted on ABDICATING as king just 10 months later (in November) in order to marry twice-divorced Wallis (Eve), which he did the very next year…

…  Colin --  next-in-line for the crown -- was panicked at the development, absolutely HATING he thought of being at the “head” of the nation (which he NEVER wanted to be) & at being someone expected to speak regularly…  After being on the “outs” with Geof, Colin went BACK to him for help in preparing for his coronation as King George VI on December 11^th of that year [at age 40]…

…  The “hoi-polloi” --  including Archbishop Cosmo Lang (DEREK JACOBI) -- were aghast at the idea that the non-graduate Geof would have a central role in the planning for the event (re Colin’s speech & all)…  But, Colin persisted, & Geof helped him in the coronation activities…

…  As forecast by Winston Churchill (TIMOTHY SPALL), England was soon at WAR with Hitler  around 3 years later when Germany invaded Poland.  England especially needed the King to be a “reassuring” public figure at that time, & --  although he dreaded having to take on such a role --, ever dedicated to “Duty”, the King (Colin) worked mightily with Geof to help him make needed speeches to the public (including on the “wireless” radio)…

[ …  A little “sidebar” that is NOT mentioned in the film:  Due to some of his general actions of appeasement before the start of World War II  -- including meeting with Hitler in 1937 --, the abdicated king [Guy’s character] was purposely sent off during the War to be the Governor of the BAHAMAS, to try to forestall any possible German plot to KIDNAP him & potentially use him for their own propaganda or similar purposes!...]

…  This movie has WONDERFUL acting, especially by Colin, Geof & Helena --  all of whom might well be up for consideration as possible OSCAR nominees for their efforts…  In Colin’s work, you can really “FEEL” the pain the Prince-King feels at having to fight thru the difficulties of his speech impediment [later overcome by other famous people such as James Earl Jones], & Geof has a finely practical & “unassuming” attitude towards what he’s trying to accomplish  …      

…  Since it’s a finely done and “uplifting” film (& probably likely to itself be an OSCAR nominee), I am rating it at 9.0 out of 10 stars…