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| The King's Speech - 2010 |
Coming up next is 2010's "The King's Speech", the film based on the true story of the stuttering King George VI and his relationship with his speech therapist, Dr. Lionel Logue. The two worked together and their friendship ultimately bore fruit in the form of the King's first war-time speech which galvanized a nation.
The film's cast includes Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush, Guy Pearce, Jennifer Ehle, Michael Gambon, Claire Bloom, Derek Jacobi, Timothy Spall, Eve Best, Freya Wilson, Ramona Marquez, David Bamber, Anthony Andrews, and Adrian Scarborough.
In 1925, Prince Albert, Duke of York, makes a speech at the British Empire Exhibition. He stammers quite badly and can barely get the words out. His wife, the Duchess of York, watches on helplessly.
After seeing a great many doctors, the Duke of York has given up hope. The Duchess goes to see someone recommended to her, a Dr. Lionel Logue. Introducing herself as Mrs. Johnson, the Duchess tells Lionel that her husband has seen everyone and given up. "He hasn't seen me," comes Lionel's response.
Eventually, the Duchess tells Lionel who she really is and who his patient is to be. Lionel can't believe he's spoken so informally to a member of the royal family.
Speaking of the woman who recommended Lionel to her, the Duchess says, "She warned me that your methods are both
unorthodox and controversial. I warned her those are not my favorite words."
The Duke and Lionel eventually meet. Lionel insists upon informality and equality, which makes the Duke uncomfortable.
Right away, the Duke is unimpressed with Lionel's methods. After a brief meeting, he walks out of the office intending never to return.
The Duke's father, the King, explains to his son the importance that radio will play in the future of the family. He also gives some coaching to his stammering son, which isn't very well received.
After realizing that Lionel's methods really do work, the Yorks are back in his office.
And so begins a series of strange and bizarre techniques. The Duke finds himself getting better, slowly but surely, at public speaking.
Soon, that training will be put to use. The King dies, and the Duke's brother, David, ascends the throne as King Edward VIII. The new King's first thoughts are for his mistress, Wallis Simpson, and he retreats from his family to counsel with her.
The Duke and Lionel become friends through the course of the Duke's treatment, enabling them to speak frankly with each other.
When the Yorks visit the new King, they are received by Mrs. Simpson, which makes the Duchess extremely annoyed. "I came at the invitation of the King," she says coolly. The Duke gets into a heated discussion with his brother, which causes his stammer to return with full force.
He angrily quits treatment with Lionel and storms away from him during a stroll in the park.
King Edward VIII abdicates, enabling him to be with "the woman I love". The Duke of York accedes to the throne as King George VI.
The King and Queen go to the Logue home, where the King requests they begin treatment again so he can have the confidence to lead the nation.
And it's quite funny to watch Mrs. Logue's reaction to the King and Queen being in her home. She was never told by her husband about this particular patient, so it catches her completely off guard.
The King's first major hurdle is his coronation speech, and afterwards comes the declaration of war on Germany. Lionel is there to coach him and give him the confidence he needs to do his job well.
He even goes into the broadcasting room with the King so he can silently help him as he goes through his first wartime speech.
The speech is an enormous success. The Queen greets her husband lovingly after the broadcast.
And the royal family greets throngs of cheering crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace as Lionel looks on from inside.
Cast rundown:
Colin Firth...................................King George VI
Helena Bonham Carter..................Queen Elizabeth
Geoffrey Rush.............................Lionel Logue
Guy Pearce..................................King Edward VIII
Jennifer Ehle................................Myrtle Logue
Michael Gambon...........................King George V
Claire Bloom................................Queen Mary
Derek Jacobi................................Archbishop Lang
Timothy Spall...............................Winston Churchill
Eve Best......................................Wallis Simpson
Freya Wilson................................Princess Elizabeth
Ramona Marquez..........................Princess Margaret
David Bamber...............................Theatre Director
Anthony Andrews..........................Stanley Baldwin
Adrian Scarborough.......................BBC Announcer
And that's it for The King's Speech. This film won the 2011 Academy Award for Best Picture, and Colin Firth received the Academy Award for Best Actor. Production for Helena Bonham Carter's scenes had to be scheduled around her shoots for the final two Harry Potter films.
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