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The King's Speech

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02:28

The King's Speech

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• Drama
• History

• 2010
• Tom Hooper
• 113 mins
• 12

Summary

Oscar-winning historical drama starring Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush. As part of his royal duties, Prince Albert is required to speak at public events, a task made all the more difficult owing to his severe stammer. The death of his father and subsequent abdication of his older brother means that "Bertie" is to be crowned king. Unconventional speech therapist Lionel Logue is enlisted to help the future George VI find his voice - and despite Logue's disregard for all things stately, the two men form an unlikely bond.

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IMDB

Review

A star rating of 4 out of 5.

Stella Papamichael

In this marvellously moving tale, Colin Firth is impressive as King George VI, the British monarch who suffered from a debilitating nervous stammer. From the outset, when he freezes on national radio, the tension of striving to uphold his image is palpable. And it's George's wife Elizabeth (the future Queen Mother, played by a sprightly Helena Bonham Carter) who drives him on, unlike his distant father (Michael Gambon), who continually puts him down. Elizabeth engages the services of speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), who is a breath of fresh air in a world of stifling formality, although his intimate approach initially maddens George. Director Tom Hooper (The Damned United) deftly captures a man in limbo amid the scandal of his brother Edward's abdication of the throne and the run-up to the Second World War, while Firth manages to express George's crippling fear without losing any dignity. Inevitably, his friendship with Lionel becomes pivotal, but what comes across just as powerfully is how lonely life can be at the top. This is the type of thing the British film industry does so well - a bit of history, a bit of social comedy, a few liberties with the truth and a flag-waving finale.

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8.0/10

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Credits

Cast

rolename"Albert", King George VlColin FirthQueen ElizabethHelena Bonham CarterLionel LogueGeoffrey Rush"David", Edward VlllGuy PearceKing George VMichael GambonWinston ChurchillTimothy SpallMyrtle LogueJennifer EhleArchbishop Cosmo LangDerek JacobiQueen MaryClaire BloomStanley BaldwinAnthony AndrewsDuke of GloucesterTim DownieWallis SimpsonEve BestPrincess ElizabethFreya WilsonPrincess MargaretRamona Marquez

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Crew

rolenameDirectorTom Hooper

Details

Theatrical distributor

Momentum

Released on

2011-01-07

Languages

English | German

Guidance

Swearing.

Available on

DVD and Blu-ray

Formats

Colour

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