Albert, the Duke of York, was the 2nd son of King George V and as a Naval Officer and husband and father with two young children he enjoyed a calm and privileged life and the freedom that came with not being the Heir to the British Throne. That all changed suddenly with the unexpected death of his father quickly followed by his older brother Edward V111 abdicating so that he could marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Now on the brink of World War 2 the Nation …. and the British Empire … looked to the new King for leadership in the Broadcasts on the Radio. The trouble was that the King had a dreadful stammer since childhood, something none of the regimen of famous doctors his wife had dragged him too could help in the slightest. That is until they stumbled on a very unorthodox Australian speech therapist based in Harley Street, who by treating the King just like any other ordinary patient, managed to find him a voice and the confidence that went with it. In fact the remarkable and unlikely friendship that eventually strikes up between this commoner and the royal prince is one of the most crucial elements to the story.
This beautiful compassionate tale shows a very personal side of the Royal Family (and in a much positive light than movies such as ‘The Queen’) at a time when they personally, and the world generally, was going through a great deal of change. Superb script; exquisitely directed by Tim Hooper (‘The Dammed United’ one of my favorites in 2009), but made into the sheer joy that it was by such an excellent cast. Colin Firth as the stammering King was pitch perfect, but will probably be competing against the incomperable Geoffrey Rush as Logue the Therapist for the inevitable Oscar nod for their two outstanding performances. And Helena Bonham-Carter, who just seems to get better with every new role, was so endearing as the Queen. And amidst a who’s who of a cast Guy Pierce (who I will ‘fess up to not recognizing) was wonderful as Edward V111.
★★★★★★★★★
Labels: British, drama, dramatized reallife, Oscar Winner
