Wikipedia

The King's Speech

This article is about the film. For the stage play based on the film, seeThe King's Speech(play).For other uses, seeKing's speech.

The King's Speechis a 2010historical dramafilm directed byTom Hooperand written byDavid Seidler.Colin Firthplays the futureKing George VIwho, to cope with astammer,seesLionel Logue,an Australianspeech and language therapistplayed byGeoffrey Rush.The men become friends as they work together, and afterhis brother abdicates the throne,the new king relies on Logue to help him make his first wartime radio broadcast uponBritain's declaration of war on Germanyin 1939.

The King's Speech
A film poster showing two men framing a large, ornate window looking out onto London. Colin Firth, on the left, is wearing as naval uniform as King George VI, staring at the viewer. Geoffrey Rush, on the right, is wearing a suit and facing out the window, his back to the reader. The picture is overlaid with names and critical praise for the film.
British theatrical release poster
Directed byTom Hooper
Written byDavid Seidler
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDanny Cohen
Edited byTariq Anwar
Music byAlexandre Desplat
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 6 September 2010(2010-09-06)(Telluride Film Festival)
  • 23 December 2010(2010-12-23)(Australia)
  • 7 January 2011(2011-01-07)(United Kingdom)
Running time
119 minutes[4]
Countries
LanguageEnglish
Budget$15 million[7]
Box office$427.4 million[1]

Seidler read about George VI's life after learning to manage a stuttering condition he developed during his youth. He started writing about the relationship between the therapist and his royal patient as early as the 1980s, but at the request of the King's widow,Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother,postponed work until she died in 2002. He later rewrote his screenplay for the stage to focus on the essential relationship between the two protagonists. Nine weeks before filming began, the filmmakers learned of the existence of notes written by Logue that were being used by his grandson Mark andPeter Conradias the basis of abook,and were granted permission to incorporate material from the notes and book into the script.

Principal photographytook place in London and around Britain from November 2009 to January 2010.Hard lightwas used to give the story a greater resonance and wider-than-normal lenses were employed to recreate the Duke of York's feelings of constriction. A third technique Hooper employed was the off-centreframingof characters.

The King's Speechwas a majorbox officeandcritical success.It was widely praised by film critics for its visual style, art direction, screenplay, directing, score, and acting. Other commentators discussed the film's representation of historical detail, especially the reversal ofWinston Churchill's opposition to abdication. The film received manyawards and nominations,particularly for Colin Firth's performance, which resulted in his firstAcademy Award for Best Actor.At the83rd Academy Awards,The King's Speechreceived 12 Oscar nominations, more than any other film in that year, and subsequently won four, includingBest Picture.Censors initially gave it adult ratings due to profanity, though these were later revised downward after criticism by the makers and distributors in the UK and some instances of swearing were muted in the US. On a budget of £8 million, it earned over £250 million internationally.[8]

Plot

edit

At the official closing of theBritish Empire ExhibitionatWembley Stadium,Prince Albert "Bertie", Duke of York,the second son ofKing George V,addresses the crowd with a strongstammer.His search for treatment has been discouraging, but his wife,Elizabeth,persuades him to see Australian-bornLionel Logue,a non-medically trainedHarley Streetspeech defects therapist.Bertie believes the first session is not going well, but Lionel has him reciteHamlet's "To be, or not to be"soliloquy while listening to classical music over a pair of headphones. Bertie is frustrated but Lionel gives him theacetate recordingthat he has made of the reading as a souvenir.

After Bertie's father, King George V, broadcasts his 1934Royal Christmas Message,he explains to Bertie that the wireless will play a significant part in the role of the royal family, allowing them to enter the homes of the people, and that Bertie's brother's neglect of his responsibilities makes training in it necessary. The attempt at reading the message himself is a failure, but Bertie plays the recording Lionel gave him that night and is astonished at the lack of stutter. He returns for daily treatments to overcome the physical and psychological roots of his stutter.

George V dies in 1936.His eldest son David ascends the throne asKing Edward VIII.A constitutional crisis arises with Edward over a prospective marriage with twice-divorced American socialiteWallis Simpson.Edward, as thesupreme governor of the Church of England,cannot marry her, even if her second divorce occurs, since both her previous husbands are alive.

At an unscheduled session, Bertie expresses frustration that, while his speech has mostly improved, he still stammers when talking to David, simultaneously revealing the extent of Edward VIII's folly with Simpson. When Lionel insists that Bertie himself could make a good king, Bertie accuses Lionel oftreasonand angrily quits Lionel. They reconvene afterKing Edward decides to abdicateto marry. Bertie, urged by Prime MinisterStanley Baldwin,ascends the throne as King George VI and visits Lionel's home with his wife before theircoronation,much to the surprise of Mrs. Logue when she learns who Lionel's client has been.

Bertie and Lionel's relationship is questioned by the King's advisors during preparations for his coronation inWestminster Abbey.Thearchbishop of Canterbury,Cosmo Gordon Lang,points out that George never sought advice from his advisors about his treatment and that Lionel lacks formal training. Lionel explains to an outraged Bertie that at the time he started with speech defects there were no formal qualifications and that the only known help that was available for returningGreat Warshell-shockedAustralian soldiers was from personal experience. Bertie remains unconvinced until provoked to protest at Lionel's disrespect forKing Edward's Chairand theStone of Scone.After realising he has just expressed himself without impairment, Bertie is able to rehearse with Lionel and complete the ceremony.

As king, Bertie has a crisis when he must broadcast to Britain and theEmpirefollowing thedeclaration of war on Nazi Germanyin 1939. Lionel is summoned toBuckingham Palaceto prepare the king for his speech. Knowing the challenge that lies before him, Lang,Winston Churchill,and Prime MinisterNeville Chamberlainaccompany for support. Bertie and Logue are left in the broadcasting room. He delivers his speech with Logue conducting him, but eventually begins speaking freely. Logue mentions that Bertie still struggles enunciatingw,to which Bertie replies, "I had to throw in a few so they'd know it was me."

As the Royal Family step onto the palace balcony and are applauded by the crowd, atitle cardexplains that Logue, who was made Commander of theRoyal Victorian Orderfor services to the Crown, was always present at King George VI's speeches during the war and that they remained friends untilthe King's deathfrom lung cancer in 1952.

Cast

edit
Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter as the Duke and Duchess of York

Production

edit

Development

edit

As a child,David Seidlerdeveloped a stammer, which he believes was caused by the emotional trauma ofWorld War IIand the murder of his grandparents duringthe Holocaust.King George VI's success in overcoming his stammer inspired the young Seidler, "Here was a stutterer who was a king and had to give radio speeches where everyone was listening to every syllable he uttered, and yet did so with passion and intensity." When Seidler became an adult, he resolved to write about King George VI. During the late 1970s and 1980s he voraciously researched the King, but found a dearth of information on Logue. Eventually Seidler contactedValentine Logue,who agreed to discuss his father and make his notebooks available if the Queen Mother gave her permission. She asked him not to do so in her lifetime, and Seidler halted the project.[9]

The film's producers broke etiquette by hand-deliveringGeoffrey Rushthe script. Rush eventually produced the film as well as performing in it.[10]

The Queen Motherdied in 2002.Three years later, Seidler returned to the story during a bout of creative work inspired by a recovery from cancer. His research, including a chance encounter with an uncle whom Logue had treated, indicated he used mechanical breathing exercises combined with psychological counselling to probe the underlying causes of the condition. Thus prepared, Seidler imagined the sessions. He showed the finished screenplay to his wife, who liked it, but pronounced it too "seduced by cinematic technique". She suggested he rewrite it as a stage play to focus on the essential relationship between the King and Logue. After he had completed it, he sent it to a few friends who worked in theatre in London and New York for feedback.[citation needed]

In 2005 a small production company in London, received the script. The owner Joan Lane started talking with Simon Egan and Gareth Unwin ofBedlam Productions,and they invited Seidler to London to rewrite the play again, this time for the screen. Together, they and Bedlam Productions organised a reading of the play inPleasance Theatre,a small house in north London, to a group of Australian expatriates, among whom wasTom Hooper's mother. She called her son and said, "I've found your next project".[11][12]

Instead of trying to contact his agent, Lane asked an Australian staff member to hand-deliver the script to Geoffrey Rush's house, not far away from hers in Melbourne. Unwin reports that he received a four-page e-mail from Rush's manager admonishing them for the breach of etiquette, but ending with an invitation to discuss the project further. Iain Canning fromSee-Saw Filmsbecame involved and, in Gareth Unwin's words: "We worked with ex-chair ofBAFTARichard Price, and started turning this story about two grumpy men sitting in a room into something bigger. "[12]Hooper liked the story, but thought that the original ending needed to be changed to reflect events more closely: "Originally, it had a Hollywood ending... If you hear the real speech, he's clearly coping with his stammer. But it's not a perfect performance. He's managing it."[11]

Colin Firth's performance earned him aBAFTAand anAcademy Award,among other accolades

The production team learned – some nine weeks prior to the start of filming – of a diary containing Logue's original notes on his treatment of the Duke, which was in the process of being turned into a non-fiction book by Logue's grandson Mark and journalistPeter Conradi,titledThe King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy.[13]Striking an agreement with the authors, they then went back and re-worked the script to reflect what was in the notes and the book. Some lines, such as at the climax, when Logue smiles and says, "You still stammered on the W" to the King, who replies, "I had to throw in a few so they would know it was me" were direct quotations from Logue's notes.[14]Changes from the script to reflect the historical record included Michael Gambon improvising the ramblings of George V as he signed away authority, and the decision in the opening scene to dress the Duke in an overcoat rather than regal finery.[15]

Seidler thoughtPaul Bettanywould be a good choice to play King George VI, while Hooper preferredHugh Grant,though both actors declined the offer. Once they met with Firth and heard him read for the part, Seidler and Hooper were convinced of his suitability for the role.[16]

TheUK Film Councilawarded the production £1 million in June 2009.[17]Filming began in December 2009, and lasted 39 days. Most was shot in the three weeks before Christmas because Rush would be performing in a play in January. The schedule was further complicated by Bonham Carter's availability: she worked onHarry Potterduring the week, so her scenes had to be filmed during the weekend.[12]

Location and design

edit

The film depicted both regal opulence and scruffy, depression-era London.[18]On 25 November 2009 the crew took over thePullens buildingsin Southwark and gave it the appearance of a street from 1930s London. Large advertisements for (among other things)Bovrilandfascismwere added to walls, and grit and grime to streets and buildings. To reproduce London smog of the time – thick enough that cars might need guidance from someone walking ahead – so much artificial smoke was used that fire alarms were triggered.[15]

On 26 November, a week's filming with Firth, Rush, and Jacobi began atEly Cathedral,the location used forWestminster Abbey.The production had asked for permission to film in the Abbey but were denied due to the demands of tourism.[15]ThoughLincoln Cathedralis architecturally a closer match to the Abbey, they preferred Ely, a favoured filming location. Its size allowed them to build sets showing not just the coronation, but the preparations before it.[19][20][21]

Lancaster House,an opulent government-owned period house in London, was rented (at £20,000 per day) for interior scenes of Buckingham Palace.[18]The 1936Accession CouncilatSt. James's Palace,whereGeorge VIswore an oath, was filmed in the Livery Hall ofDrapers' Hall.The room, ornate and vast, met the occasion: the daunting nature of the new King's responsibilities was shown by surrounding him with rich detail, flags and royal portraiture.[22][23]

The crew investigated Logue's former consultation rooms, but they were too small to film in. Instead, they found a high, vaulted room not far away in 33Portland Place.Eve Stewart, the production designer, liked the mottled, peeling wallpaper there so much that she recreated the effect throughout the entire room.[18]In his DVD commentary, Hooper said he liked Portland Place as a set because it felt "lived in", unlike other period houses in London. The scenes of the Duke of York at home with his family were also filmed here; showing the Prince living in a townhouse "subverted" expectations of a royal drama.[15]

The Pullens buildings with a 1930s advertisement

The opening scene, set at the closing ceremony of the 1925British Empire ExhibitionatWembley Stadium,was filmed on location atElland Road,home ofLeeds United,andOdsal Stadium,home ofBradford RLFC.Elland Road was used for the speech elements of the prince stammering his way through his first public address, and Odsal Stadium was selected because of the resemblance of its curved ends to Wembley Stadium in 1925.[24]The crew had access to the stadium only at 10 pm, after a football game. They filled the terraces with inflatable dummies and over 250 extras dressed in period costumes. Live actors were interspersed to give the impression of a crowd. Additional people, as well as more ranks of soldiers on the pitch, were added in post-production withvisual effects.[18][25]

Other locations includeCumberland Lodge,Harley Street,Knebworth,Hatfield House,theOld Royal Naval CollegeinGreenwich,Queen Street MillTextile Museum inBurnley,and Battersea Power Station, which doubled as aBBCwireless control room.[26]The final cut of the film was completed on 31 August 2010.[27]

Dialogue

edit

In developing his portrayal of George VI's stammer, Firth worked with Neil Swain, the voice coach for the film. His sister,Kate Firth,also a professional voice coach to actors, proposed exercises the King might have done with Logue, and made suggestions on how to imagine Logue's mix of physical and psychological coaching for the film.[28]

In addition, Firth watched archive footage of the King speaking. In an interview with Allan Tyrer published by theBritish Stammering Association,Swain said: "[It] was very interesting while we were working on the film just to think tonally how far we could go and should go with the strength of George's stammer. I think a less courageous director than Tom [Hooper] – and indeed a less courageous actor than Colin [Firth] – might have felt the need to slightly sanitise the degree and authenticity of that stammer, and I'm really really pleased that neither of them did."[29]In May 2011 Firth said he was finding traces of the stammer difficult to eliminate: "You can probably hear even from this interview, there are moments when it's quite infectious. You find yourself doing it and if I start thinking about it the worse it gets. If nothing else it's an insight into what it feels like."[30]

Music

edit
Main article:The King's Speech (soundtrack)

The film's original music is composed byAlexandre Desplat,which consisted of a sparse arrangement of strings and piano. TheLondon Symphony Orchestra,conducted by Terry Davies, limited orchestral score by only adding oboe and harp in one cut, to convey the character of the king,[31]while also using single note to represent the stickiness of the King's speech.[32]Old microphones extracted from theEMIarchives, specially made for the royal family, had been used to record the score, to create a dated sound.[32]

The use of the 2nd movement (Allegretto) ofBeethoven's7th Symphony,played during the broadcast of the 1939 radio speech from the film's climax, was played as a temp track added by editorTariq Anwar.Desplat did not want to change the track and defended Anwar's suggestion, as the theme has a universal quality. Hooper further remarked that the stature of the piece helps elevate the status of the speech to a public event.[33]The score album also featured the second movement of Beethoven'sPiano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor"andWolfgang Amadeus Mozart'sMarriage of Figarooverture.[33]The score was nominated for several awards, includingBest Original Scoreat the Oscars, Golden Globes, and BAFTAs, winning the latter award. The score also won a Grammy at the 54th Grammy Awards.

Visual style

edit
Tom Hooper operating a camera on location at Queen Street Mill Textile Museum, Lancashire

Hooper employed a number of cinematic techniques to evoke the King's feelings of constriction. He and cinematographer Danny Cohen used wider than normal lenses to photograph the film, typically 14mm, 18mm, 21mm, 25mm and 27mm, where the subtle distortion of the picture helps to convey the King's discomfort.[34][35]For instance, the subjective point of view shot during the Empire exhibition speech used a close up of the microphone with a wider lens, similar to the filming technique used for one of the Duke's early consultations with a physician.[15]InThe New York Times,Manohla Dargiswrote that the feeling of entrapment inside the King's head was rendered overly literal with what she believed to be afisheye lens,though in these scenes the wider lenses were used.[34][36]Hooper also discussed using the 18mm lens, one he likes "because it puts human beings in their context".[15]

Roger Ebertnoted that the majority of the film was shot indoors, where oblong sets, corridors, and small spaces manifest constriction and tightness, in contrast to the usual emphasis on sweep and majesty inhistorical dramas.[37]Hooper used wide shots to capture the actors' body language, particularly that of Geoffrey Rush, who trained atL'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoqin Paris and "is consequently brilliant in the way he carries his body". Hooper widened his scope first to capture Rush's gestures, then full body movements and silhouettes. The approach carried over to Firth as well. In the first consultation scene, the Duke is squeezed against the end of a long couch framed against a large wall, "as if to use the arm of the sofa as a kind of friend, as a security blanket?"[34]Martin Filler praised the "low-wattage"cinematographyof Danny Cohen's, as making everything look like it has been "steeped in strong tea".[38]

At other times, the camera was positioned very close to the actors to catch the emotion in their faces: "If you put a lens 6 inches from somebody's face, you get more emotion than if you're on a long lens 20 feet away," Cohen said in an interview.[35]Hooper sought a second subtlety while filming the first consultation room scene between the two men, having placed the camera 18 inches from Colin Firth's face: "I wanted the nervousness of the first day to percolate into his performances," he said.[34]

Historical dramas traditionally tend to use "soft light", but Hooper wanted to use a harsher glare, which gives a more contemporary feel, and thus a greater emotional resonance. To achieve the effect, the lighting team erected huge blackout tents over the Georgian buildings and used large lights filtered through Egyptian cotton.[35]

Historical accuracy

edit

Several events in the film did not happen, or were exaggerated. The visual blogInformation is Beautifuldeduced that, while taking creative licence into account, the film was 74.4% accurate when compared to real-life events, summarising: "Some nips and tucks of the historical record, but mostly an accurate retelling of a unique friendship".[39]

Relationship with Lionel Logue

edit

The filmmakers not only tightened the chronology of the events to just a few years but even shifted the timeline of treatment. The Duke of York actually began working with Logue in October 1926, ten years before theabdication crisis,and the improvement in his speech was apparent in months rather than years as suggested by the film.[40]When he was dispatched to Australia to open their newParliament HouseinCanberrain 1927, the Duke gave numerous speeches during the journey and performed well despite Logue not accompanying him on the trip.[41]He wrote to Logue from the Caribbean, "You remember my fear of 'The King'. I give it every evening at dinner on board. This does not worry me any more."[41]Of his speech opening Parliament it was observed that he spoke "resonantly and without stuttering".[42]

Robert Logue, a grandson of Lionel, doubted the film's depiction of the speech therapist, stating "I don't think he ever swore in front of the King and he certainly never called him 'Bertie'".[43]Andrew Roberts,an English historian, states that the severity of the King's stammer was exaggerated and the characters of Edward VIII, Wallis Simpson, and George V made more antagonistic than they really were, to increase the dramatic effect.[44]

Politics

edit

Christopher Hitchensand Isaac Chotiner have criticised the film for failing to indict theappeasementof the era or to portray Edward VIII's sympathetic attitude to Nazi Germany.[45]The Guardianalso corrected the portrayal ofStanley Baldwinas having resigned due to his refusal to order Britain's re-armament, when he in fact stepped down as "a national hero, exhausted by more than a decade at the top".[46]Stanley's grandson,Earl Baldwin,was particularly unhappy with this film due to its factual distortions and portrayal of his grandfather as a dithering fool who misunderstood Hitler's intentions.[47]

Hugo Vickers,an adviser on the film, agreed that the alteration of historical details to preserve the essence of the dramatic story was sometimes necessary. The high-ranking officials, for instance, would not have been present when the King made his speech, nor would Churchill have been involved at any level, "but the average viewer knows who Churchill is; he doesn't know whoLord HalifaxandSir Samuel Hoareare. "[48]

Hitchens and Chotiner also challenged the film's portrayal of Winston Churchill's role in the abdication crisis.[49][50]It is well established that Churchill encouraged Edward VIII to resist pressure to abdicate, whereas he is portrayed in the film as supportive of the Duke of York and not opposed to the abdication.[51]Hitchens attributes this treatment to the "cult" surrounding Churchill's legacy. In a smart, well-made film "would the true story not have been fractionally more interesting for the audience?", he wondered.[45]

Realism

edit

Martin Filleracknowledged that the film legitimately usedartistic licenceto make valid dramatic points, such as in the probably imagined scene when George V lectures his son on the importance of broadcasting. Filler cautions that George VI would never have tolerated Logue addressing him casually, nor swearing, and the King almost certainly would have understood a newsreel of Hitler speaking in German. Filler makes the larger point that both the King and his wife were, in reality, lukewarm towards Churchill because of the latter's support for his brother during the abdication crisis.[38]

Commenting on the film's final scene on the balcony of Buckingham Palace,Andrew Robertshas written, "The scene is fairly absurd from a historical point of view – Neville Chamberlain and Winston Churchill were not present and there were no cheering crowds outside Buckingham Palace."[44]However, Roberts praises the film overall as a sympathetic portrayal of the King's "quiet, unassuming heroism [...] The portrayals by Firth and Bonham Carter are sympathetic and acute, and the movie's occasional factual bêtises should not detract from that."[44]

Release

edit

Cinema release

edit

The film had its world première on 6 September 2010 at theTelluride Film Festivalin the United States.[27]It was screened at the2010 Toronto International Film Festival,on Firth's 50th birthday, where it received a standing ovation and won thePeople's Choice Award.[52]The cinema release poster was re-designed to show an extreme close-up of Firth's jaw and a microphone after Hooper criticised the first design as a "train smash".[53]Tim Appelo called the original, air-brushed effort, which showed the three leads, "shockingly awful" though the new one "really is worthwhile".[54]

The film was distributed byTransmission Filmsin Australia and byMomentum Picturesin the United Kingdom.The Weinstein Companydistributed it in North America, Germany, theBeneluxcountries, Scandinavia, China, Hong Kong, and Latin America.[55]The film was released in France on 2 February 2011 byWild Bunchunder the titleLe discours d'un roi.[56]

Ratings controversy

edit

The film was initially given a15 certificateby theBritish Board of Film Classification,due to a minute-long scene where Logue encourages the King toswear,which he could do without stuttering. At the London Film Festival, Hooper criticised the decision, questioning how the board could certify the film "15" for bad language but allow films such asSalt(2010) andCasino Royale(2006) to have "12A" ratings, despite their graphic torture scenes. Following Hooper's criticism, the board lowered the rating to "12A", allowing children under 12 years of age to see the film if they are accompanied by an adult.[57][4]Hooper levelled the same criticism at theMotion Picture Association of America,which gave the film an "R" rating, preventing anyone under the age of 17 from seeing the film without an adult.[58]In his review, Roger Ebert criticised the "R" rating, calling it "utterly inexplicable", and wrote, "This is an excellent film for teenagers."[37]

In January 2011Harvey Weinstein,the executive producer and distributor, said he was considering having the film re-edited to remove some profanity, so that it would receive a lower classification and reach a larger audience.[59]Hooper refused to cut the film, though he considered covering the swear words with bleeps. Helena Bonham Carter also defended the film, saying, "[The film] is not violent. It's full of humanity and wit. [It's] for people not with just a speech impairment, but who have got confidence [doubts]."[60]After receiving his Academy Award, Colin Firth noted that he does not support re-editing the film; while he does not condone the use of profanity, he maintains that its use was not offensive in this context. "The scene serves a purpose", Firth states.[61]An alternative version, with some of the profanities muted out, was classified as "PG-13" in the United States; this version was released to cinemas on 1 April 2011, replacing the R-rated one.[62][63]The PG-13 version of this film is not available on DVD and Blu-ray.

Reception

edit

Box office

edit

In Great Britain and Ireland, the film was the highest earning film on its opening weekend. It took in £3,510,000 from 395 cinemas.The Guardiansaid that it was one of the biggest takes in recent memory, and compared it toSlumdog Millionaire(2008), which, two years earlier, earned £1.5 million less.[64]The King's Speechcontinued a "stunning three weeks" atop the UK Box office, and earned over £3 million for four consecutive weekends, the first film to do so sinceToy Story 3(2010).[65]After five weeks on UK release, it was hailed as the most successful independent British film ever.[7]

In the United StatesThe King's Speechopened with $355,450 (£220,000) in four cinemas. It holds the record for the highest per-cinema gross of 2010.[66]It was widened to 700 screens on Christmas Day and 1,543 screens on 14 January 2011. It eventually made $138 million in North America overall.[1]

In AustraliaThe King's Speechmade more thanA$6,281,686 (£4 million) in the first two weeks, according to figures collected by the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia. The executive director ofPalace Cinemas,Benjamin Zeccola, said customer feedback on the film was spectacular. "It's our No.1 for all the period, all throughout the country.... I think this is more successful thanSlumdog Millionaireand a more uplifting film. It's a good example of a film that started out in the independent cinemas and then spread to the mainstream cinemas. "[67]

Of the film's net profit of some $30–40 million (£20–25 million) from the cinema release alone, about a fifth was shared between Geoffrey Rush (as executive producer), Tom Hooper and Colin Firth, with the remainder being divided equally between the film's producers and its equity investors.[68]TheUK Film Councilinvested £1 million of public funds from the United Kingdom lottery into the film. In March 2011Varietyestimated that the return could be between fifteen and twenty times that. The council's merger into theBritish Film Institutemeans that the profits were to be returned to that body.[69]

Critical response

edit

As the actor of the year in the film of the year, I can't think of enough adjectives to praise Firth properly.The King's Speechhas left me speechless.[70]

—Rex Reed,New York Observer

The King's Speechhas received widespread critical acclaim, with Firth's performance receiving universal praise. Bonham Carter and Rush were also widely praised with both going on to win BAFTAs and receiving Academy Award nominations.[71][72]Review aggregatorRotten Tomatoesgives the film a score of 94% based on reviews from 297 critics; the film's average rating was calculated as 8.60/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Colin Firth gives a masterful performance inThe King's Speech,a predictable but stylishly produced and rousing period drama. "[73]Metacriticgave the film a weighted score of 88/100, based on 41 critical reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim".[74]CinemaScorereported that audiences gave the film a rare "A+" grade.[75]Empiregave the film five stars out of five, commenting, "You'll be lost for words."[76]Lisa Kennedy ofThe Denver Postgave the film full marks for its humane qualities and craftsmanship: "It is an intelligent, winning drama fit for a king – and the rest of us", she said.[77]Roger Ebert of theChicago Sun-Timesawarded the film a full four stars, commenting that "what we have here is a superior historical drama and a powerful personal one."[37]Peter BradshawofThe Guardiangave four stars out of five, stating, "Tom Hooper's richly enjoyable and handsomely produced movie... is a massively confident crowd-pleaser."[78]

Manohla Dargis,while generally ambivalent towards the film, called the lead performances one of its principal attractions. "With their volume turned up, the appealing, impeccably professional Mr. Firth and Mr. Rush rise to the acting occasion by twinkling and growling as their characters warily circle each other before settling into the therapeutic swing of things and unknowingly preparing for the big speech that partly gives the film its title," she wrote.[36]The Daily Telegraphcalled Guy Pearce's performance as Edward VIII "formidable... with glamour, charisma and utter self-absorption".[79]Empiresaid he played the role well as "aflash harryflinty enough to shed a nation for a wife. "[76]The New York Timesthought he was able to create "a thorny tangle of complications in only a few abbreviated scenes".[36]Hooper praised the actor in the DVD commentary, saying he "nailed" the 1930s royal accent.[15]Richard CorlissofTimemagazine named Colin Firth's performance one of the Top 10 Movie Performances of 2010.[80]

The performances ofColin Firth,Geoffrey RushandHelena Bonham Carterreceived critical acclaim, earning themAcademy Awardnominations forBest Actor,Best Supporting ActorandBest Supporting Actressrespectively, with Firth winning his category.

AlloCiné,a French cinema website, gave the film an average of four out of five stars, based on a survey of 21 reviews.[81]Le Monde,which characterised the film as the "latest manifestation of Britishnarcissism"and summarised it as" We are ugly and boring, but, By Jove!, we are right! ", nevertheless admired the performances of Firth, Rush, and Bonham Carter. It said that, though the film swept British appeasement under the carpet, it was still enjoyable.[82]

QueenElizabeth II,the daughter and successor of King George VI, was sent two copies of the film before Christmas 2010.The Sunnewspaper reported she had watched the film in a private screening atSandringham House.A palace source described her reaction as being "touched by a moving portrayal of her father".[83]Seidler called the reports "the highest honour" the film could receive.[84]

Depiction of stuttering

edit

TheBritish Stammering Associationwelcomed the release ofThe King's Speech,congratulating the film makers on their "realistic depiction of the frustration and the fear of speaking faced by people who stammer on a daily basis." It said that "Colin Firth's portrayal of the King's stammer in particular strikes us as very authentic and accurate."[85]TheRoyal College of Speech and Language Therapistswelcomed the film, and launched their "Giving Voice" campaign around the time of its commercial release.[86]

Disfluency advocateJonah Lehrercalled the film "an inspiring tale" and praised its portrayal of the troubles suffered by Firth's character. [87]However, Lehrer and other advocates criticized the film's depiction of stuttering as a result of emotional repression andchildhood trauma.The treatment performed by Rush's character also drew criticism.[87]Lehrer did admit it was a necessaryartistic license:"[the film] would have been a rather tedious piece of entertainment if the climactic scene involved Logue telling the monarch that hisprimary motor cortexwas to blame. "[87]

Science journalist Jeremy Hsu wrote that the film "mainly succeeds by tackling the social stigma that surrounds stuttering."[88]However, similar to Lehrer, he disapproved that it perpetuated myths about the condition, namely its relationship with childhood trauma and overly strict parenting.[88][89]

Columnist Jane Ahlin praised the film as it "brings out of the shadows a common problem figuring into the lives of children and adults from every culture around the world." At the same time, she stated, "heartwarming though the movieThe King's Speechis, as someone who married a stutterer and is the mother of a stutterer, I'm not sure it does anything to put myths about stuttering to rest. "[90]She criticized the depiction of family and social dynamics as causes of the condition, as well as the portrayal of stutterering as connected to emotional or psychological problems.[90]

Awards and nominations

edit
Main article:List of accolades received by The King's Speech
Hooper and Firth in January 2011; each received multiple award nominations for their work

At the83rd Academy Awards,The King's Speechwon theAcademy Award for Best Picture,Best Director(Hooper),Best Actor(Firth), andBest Original Screenplay(Seidler). The film had received 12 Oscar nominations, more than any other film in that year. Besides the four categories it won, the film received nominations forBest Cinematography(Danny Cohen) and two for the supporting actors (Bonham Carter and Rush), as well as two for itsmise-en-scène:Art DirectionandCostumes.[91]

At the64th British Academy Film Awards,it won seven awards, including Best Film, Outstanding British Film, Best Actor for Firth, Best Supporting Actor for Rush, Best Supporting Actress for Bonham Carter, Best Original Screenplay for Seidler, and Best Music forAlexandre Desplat.The film had been nominated for 14 BAFTAs, more than any other film.[92]At the68th Golden Globe Awards,Firth won forBest Actor.The film won no other Golden Globes, despite earning seven nominations, more than any other film.[93]

At the17th Screen Actors Guild Awards,Firth won the Best Actor award and the entire cast won Best Ensemble, meaning Firth went home with two acting awards in one evening.[94]Hooper won theDirectors Guild of America Awards 2010for Best Director.[95]The film won theDarryl F. ZanuckAward for Best Theatrical Motion Picture at theProducers Guild of America Awards 2010.[96]

The King's Speechwon the People's Choice Award at the2010 Toronto International Film Festival,[97]Best British Independent Filmat the 2010British Independent Film Awards,[98]and the 2011Goya AwardforBest European Filmfrom theAcademia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España(Spanish Academy of Cinematic Art and Science).[99]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^abc"The King's Speech"Archived22 September 2019 at theWayback Machine.Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
  2. ^George, Sandy (8 March 2011)."Paramount and Transmission renew pact in Australia".Screen International.Archivedfrom the original on 9 August 2020.Retrieved16 November2021.
  3. ^"The King's Speech".Transmission Films.Archivedfrom the original on 3 November 2021.Retrieved3 November2021.
  4. ^ab"The King's Speech (12A)".British Board of Film Classification.Archived fromthe originalon 2 March 2012.Retrieved17 September2011.
  5. ^"The King's Speech (2010) – BFI".British Film Institute.Archived fromthe originalon 18 May 2019.Retrieved13 June2019.
  6. ^Smith, Neil (28 February 2011)."Oscars 2011: Film Council basks in King's Speech glory".BBC News.Archivedfrom the original on 1 December 2018.Retrieved28 February2011.
  7. ^abBrooks, Xan; Dawtrey, Adam (11 February 2011)."Never mind the Baftas... who will get The King's Speech riches?".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 10 April 2021.Retrieved28 February2011.
  8. ^As of 21 August 2011all US Dollar-Sterling currency conversions were made using an exchange rate of $1=£0.60
  9. ^"Colin Firth and" The King's Speech "".60 Minutes.12 June 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 20 December 2021.Retrieved10 March2021– via YouTube.
  10. ^Spencer, Adam (21 January 2011)."The King's Speech: From Geoffrey Rush's letterbox to the big screen".702 ABC Sydney.Archivedfrom the original on 2 February 2014.Retrieved2 March2011.
  11. ^abGritten, D. (23 December 2010)."Tom Hooper Interview for the King's Speech"Archived22 January 2018 at theWayback Machine.The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  12. ^abcUnwin, G. (3 January 2011)."Crowning Glory: How The King's Speech got made"Archived1 July 2017 at theWayback Machine.The Independent.Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  13. ^"Finding the real King's Speech"Archived20 November 2015 at theWayback Machine.BBC.4 January 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  14. ^Addiego, Walter (4 February 2011)."Q&A with 'King's Speech' director Tom Hooper".San Francisco Chronicle.Archivedfrom the original on 20 January 2012.Retrieved2 September2011.
  15. ^abcdefgThomas Hooper (Director) (9 May 2011).The King's Speech.Momentum Pictures Home Ent. ASIN: B0049MP72G.
  16. ^Walker, T. (20 January 2011)"Colin Firth was the third choice to play George VI in The King's Speech"Archived13 December 2017 at theWayback Machine.The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  17. ^"Awards database The King's Speech".UK Film Council. Archived fromthe originalon 18 February 2011.Retrieved5 February2011.
  18. ^abcdBedell, G. (2 January 2011)."The King's Speech: How clever sets create a compelling picture of 1930s London"Archived23 October 2016 at theWayback MachineThe Observer.Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  19. ^Sparham, Laurie (10 December 2010)."The King's Speech: set report".The Daily Telegraph.London.Archivedfrom the original on 4 March 2012.Retrieved28 May2011.
  20. ^"Cathedral starring again in blockbuster".Cambridge News.25 November 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 12 January 2012.Retrieved6 December2009.
  21. ^"The King's Speech: Colin Firth and Bonham Carter in Ely".BBC Cambridgeshire.4 December 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 12 October 2013.Retrieved6 December2009.
  22. ^"The King's Speech film locations".movielocations.Archived fromthe originalon 12 February 2015.Retrieved4 August2011.
  23. ^Huddleston, Tom."On the set of 'The King's Speech'".Time Out.Archived fromthe originalon 18 October 2012.Retrieved25 March2011.
  24. ^"Firth is lost for words as the monarch whose dilemma gripped the country".Yorkshire Post.3 January 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 12 October 2013.Retrieved30 January2011.
  25. ^"Dummies line terraces of Elland Road".Yorkshire Evening Post.7 January 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 12 January 2012.Retrieved30 January2011.
  26. ^"The King's Speech".UK Film Council. Archived fromthe originalon 9 February 2011.Retrieved6 October2010.
  27. ^abHoyle, Ben (9 September 2010). "Story of the King who was lost for words is an Oscar favourite".The Times.p. 23.
  28. ^Dillingham, Maud (27 February 2011)."How Colin Firth learned to stammer for his Oscar-winning role in 'The King's Speech'".The Christian Science Monitor.Retrieved30 December2023.
  29. ^"The King's Voice".British Stammering Association. May 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 21 May 2013.Retrieved10 May2011.
  30. ^Ward, Victoria (5 May 2011)."Colin Firth admits he is struggling to lose his stutter".The Daily Telegraph.Archivedfrom the original on 16 January 2018.Retrieved21 July2011.
  31. ^McNab, Kaitlin (27 January 2011)."The King's Speech score review".soundonsight.org.Archived fromthe originalon 13 September 2012.Retrieved9 February2011.
  32. ^abMartens, Todd (26 November 2010)."The sound of silence: Alexandre Desplat on the music that 'just floats' throughout 'The King's Speech'".Archivedfrom the original on 5 November 2015.Retrieved9 February2011.
  33. ^abHooper, Tom (21 January 2011)."The King's Speech director Tom Hooper answers your questions – live!"Archived10 August 2017 at theWayback Machine.The Guardian Film blogRetrieved on 6 July 2011 (archivedby the Wayback Machine on 18 February 2011).
  34. ^abcdAppelo, Tim (31 January 2011)."The 5 Secrets of Tom Hooper's 'King's Speech' Success".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on 28 March 2015.Retrieved9 February2011.
  35. ^abcOppenheimer, Jean (December 2010)."Production Slate: A Future King Finds His Voice".American Cinematographer.Vol. 91, no. 12. pp. 18–22.Retrieved8 March2023.
  36. ^abcDargis, Manohla(5 November 2010)."The King's English, Albeit With Twisted Tongue".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on 10 May 2013.Retrieved6 February2011.
  37. ^abcEbert, Roger(15 December 2010)."The King's Speech:Review".RogerEbert.Chicago Sun-Times.Archivedfrom the original on 1 April 2020.Retrieved1 April2020.
  38. ^abFiller, Martin (25 January 2011)."Hollywood's Royal Stammer".NYR Blog.Archivedfrom the original on 25 February 2015.Retrieved9 February2011.
  39. ^"Based on a True True Story? Scene-by-scene Breakdown of Hollywood Films".Information Is Beautiful.Archivedfrom the original on 18 November 2020.Retrieved28 July2019.
  40. ^Schultz, Cathy (4 January 2011)."History in the Movies".The Bulletin. Archived fromthe originalon 19 October 2011.Retrieved4 January2011.
  41. ^abLogue, Mark; Conradi, Peter (2010).The King's Speech, How One Man Saved the British Monarchy.Sterling. pp. 73–75.
  42. ^Meacham, S. (10 November 2011)King's voice coach calmed a nationArchived9 August 2020 at theWayback Machine.Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  43. ^"Lionel Logue 'never swore in front of King George VI'".BBC Radio Leicester.27 January 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 12 October 2013.Retrieved27 January2011.
  44. ^abcRoberts, A. (6 January 2011)."How the King found his voice".The Daily Telegraph.London.Archivedfrom the original on 11 January 2022.Retrieved30 January2011.
  45. ^abHitchens, Christopher(24 January 2011)."Churchill Didn't Say That".Slate.Archivedfrom the original on 4 April 2011.Retrieved9 February2011.
  46. ^"Unthinkable? Historically accurate films".The Guardian.London. 29 January 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 13 October 2013.Retrieved23 July2011.
  47. ^"Lives remembered: The 4th Earl Baldwin of Bewdley".The Times.6 July 2021.Retrieved16 June2014.
  48. ^Henley, J. (9 January 2011)."How historically accurate is the King's Speech?"Archived7 August 2017 at theWayback Machine.The Guardian.Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  49. ^Chotiner, Isaac (6 January 2011)."Royal Mess".The New Republic.Archivedfrom the original on 5 September 2011.Retrieved9 January2011.
  50. ^Zohn, Patricia (11 February 2011)."David Seidler Protects and Defends The King's Speech".The Huffington Post.Archivedfrom the original on 16 August 2011.Retrieved4 August2011.
  51. ^For critiques of the film, see e.g., Hitchens FN 47 and Chotiner FN 44. For historical sources substantiating Churchill's stance during the abdication crisis, see e.g., Roy Jenkins's biography of Churchill (2001) and Frances Donaldson's biography of Edward VIII (1976).
  52. ^"Firth movie lands Toronto Film Festival prize".BBC News.20 September 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 26 January 2011.Retrieved6 October2010.
  53. ^"New Poster for 'The King's Speech' Keeps it Simple".The Film Stage.Archivedfrom the original on 12 January 2012.Retrieved2 December2010.
  54. ^Appelo, Tim (8 December 2010)."'The King's Speech' Poster and Queen Bonham Carter's Oscar Problem ".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on 17 October 2014.Retrieved19 August2011.
  55. ^"The Weinstein Company Acquires The King's Speech".Comingsoon.net.2 September 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 6 September 2009.Retrieved6 December2009.
  56. ^"Accueil:Le discours d'un roi".allocine.fr(in French). Archived fromthe originalon 15 March 2011.Retrieved3 February2011.
  57. ^"Colin Firth welcomes censors' reclassification decision".BBC News.22 October 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 25 January 2011.Retrieved23 October2010.
  58. ^Goldstein, Patrick(1 November 2010)."To the MPAA ratings board, 'The King's Speech' is just as bad as 'Saw 3D'".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on 27 January 2011.Retrieved7 November2010.
  59. ^Child, Ben (26 January 2011)."King's Speech re-edit could cut swearing".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 5 March 2016.Retrieved2 February2011.
  60. ^Labrecque, Jeff (31 January 2011)."Tom Hooper on PG-13 'King's Speech': 'I wouldn't support cutting the film in any way' – EXCLUSIVE".Entertainment Weekly.Archivedfrom the original on 3 April 2011.Retrieved5 February2011.
  61. ^Kemp, Stuart (1 March 2011)."Firth rejects 'cleaned-up' version of film"Archived24 September 2015 at theWayback Machine.The Independent.Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  62. ^"Scrubbed 'King's Speech' gets PG-13 rating".Los Angeles Times.26 February 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
  63. ^Vilkomerson, Sara (24 March 2011)."'The King's Speech' to be re-released as PG-13 version on April 1 ".Entertainment Weekly.Archived fromthe originalon 29 May 2011.Retrieved28 May2011.
  64. ^Gant, Charles (11 January 2011)."The King's Speech rouses Britain to the box office".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 2 December 2016.Retrieved3 February2011.
  65. ^Gant, Charles (1 February 2011)."Tangled's revamped princess tale dethrones The King's Speech".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 2 December 2016.Retrieved3 February2011.
  66. ^Subers, Ray (29 November 2010)."Arthouse Audit: 'King's Speech' Has Royal Debut".Box Office Mojo.Archivedfrom the original on 16 November 2018.Retrieved1 April2020.
  67. ^Kwek, Glenda (6 January 2010)."Stutterly marvellous: why we clamour for the stammer story".The Sydney Morning Herald.Archivedfrom the original on 8 January 2011.Retrieved7 January2011.
  68. ^Dawtrey, Adam (12 March 2011)."Slicing 'King's' profit pie".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on 8 November 2012.Retrieved4 August2011.
  69. ^"U.K. Film Council had chunk of 'Speech'".Variety.12 March 2011.Retrieved4 January2023.
  70. ^Reed, Rex(22 November 2010)."Did I Stutter? The King's Speech Is the Best Movie of the Year".New York Observer.Archived fromthe originalon 25 November 2010.Retrieved8 February2011.
  71. ^Holland, James R. (4 January 2010)."Movie Review: The King's Speech"Archived12 March 2012 at theWayback Machine.California Chronicle.Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  72. ^Safaya, Rubin (17 December 2010)."The King’s Speech"Archived30 December 2010 at theWayback Machine.cinemalogue. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  73. ^"The King's Speech(2010) ".Rotten Tomatoes.Fandango Media.Archivedfrom the original on 23 February 2021.Retrieved17 February2021.
  74. ^"The King's SpeechReviews ".Metacritic.CBS Interactive.Archivedfrom the original on 6 March 2018.Retrieved27 February2018.
  75. ^"19 of the Most Loved or Hated Movies: Films That Got A+ or F CinemaScores (Photos)".23 November 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 31 July 2017.Retrieved20 April2020.
  76. ^ab"The King's Speech Review".Empire.Empireonline. Archived fromthe originalon 22 December 2011.Retrieved30 January2011.
  77. ^Kennedy, Lisa (23 December 2010)."Movie review: 'The King's Speech' is, in a word, excellent".The Denver Post.Archivedfrom the original on 7 July 2014.Retrieved4 January2010.
  78. ^Bradshaw, Peter(21 October 2010)."The King's Speech – review".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 29 March 2017.Retrieved30 January2011.
  79. ^Gritten, D. (21 October 2010)."The King's Speech, London Film Festival Review"Archived16 February 2018 at theWayback Machine.The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  80. ^Corliss, Richard(9 December 2010)."The Top 10 Everything of 2010 – Colin Firth as King George VI in The King's Speech".Time.Archived fromthe originalon 13 December 2010.Retrieved13 December2011.
  81. ^"Discours d'un roi> Critiques Presse"Archived4 February 2011 at theWayback Machine.allocine.fr. Retrieved 3 February 2011.(in French)
  82. ^""Le Discours d'un roi ": comment faire un roi d'un prince bègue"Archived15 April 2011 at theWayback Machine.Le Monde.1 February 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2011.(in French)
  83. ^"Queen Elizabeth Praises 'The King's Speech' – BBC America".BBC.Archived fromthe originalon 16 May 2017.Retrieved24 April2017.
  84. ^"Queen 'approves' of King's Speech"Archived2 December 2018 at theWayback Machine.BBC News.5 February 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  85. ^"British Stammering Association comments onThe King's Speech".British Stammering Association.Archived fromthe originalon 17 November 2013.Retrieved17 March2011.
  86. ^McVeigh, Tracy (6 February 2011)."The King's Speech: spending cuts threaten £765m legacy of speech and language therapy".The Guardian.London.Archivedfrom the original on 15 October 2013.Retrieved8 June2011.
  87. ^abcTuman, Myron (2022).The Stuttering Son in Literature and Psychology: Boys and Their Fathers.Springer Nature. pp. 119–120.ISBN9783031100390.
  88. ^abHsu, Jeremy (25 February 2011)."The Science and Myths of Stuttering in 'The King's Speech'".Live Science.Retrieved7 February2023.
  89. ^"What 'The King's Speech' gets right, and wrong, about stuttering".Today. 28 February 2011.Retrieved7 February2023.
  90. ^ab"Ahlin: 'The King's Speech' doesn't dispel myths about stuttering".Inforum. 19 February 2011.Retrieved7 February2023.
  91. ^"Winners and Nominees for the 83rd Academy Awards".oscars.org. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2011
  92. ^Reynolds, Simon (13 February 2011)."Live: BAFTA Film Awards 2011 Winners".Digital Spy.Hachette Filipacchi UK.Archivedfrom the original on 12 October 2013.Retrieved13 February2011.
  93. ^"Glee and The Social Network dominate Golden Globes".BBC News.17 January 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 17 January 2011.Retrieved17 January2011.
  94. ^Kilday, Gregg (3 February 2011)."Can Harvey Weinstein Keep 'The King's Speech' Oscar Mojo?".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on 8 February 2011.Retrieved8 February2011.
  95. ^Germain, David (30 January 2011)."Hooper earns top DGA prize for 'King's Speech'".The Huffington Post.Archived fromthe originalon 3 February 2011.Retrieved8 February2011.
  96. ^McNary, Dave (24 January 2011)."PGA prizes 'King's Speech'".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on 25 January 2011.Retrieved9 February2011.
  97. ^"Firth movie lands Toronto Film Festival prize".BBC News.20 September 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 26 January 2011.Retrieved20 September2010.
  98. ^"King's Speech reigns at British Independent Film awards"Archived17 October 2018 at theWayback Machine.BBC News.Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  99. ^"King's Speech wins 'Spanish Oscar'".The Daily Telegraph.London. 14 February 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 11 January 2022.Retrieved14 February2011.

Further reading

edit
edit
Wikiquote has quotations related toThe King's Speech.
Wikimedia Commons has media related toThe King's Speech.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_King%27s_Speech&oldid=1259233335"