Movies 132: The King's Speech

This movie is quite a gem. It is very much Oscar worth with such grand performances from Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush.

If you've always wondered where that silly line came from Prince Albert in a can..well, here is your answer. As it is Prince Albert "Bertie" became King George VI over night, so to speak. If you must know he's Prince Will's great-grandfather. If he hadn't gotten the throne by default, I guess we wouldn't be surfing the net for new gossip on Prince William and his fiance.

This is the movie that shows you how it all started. The prince's brother, who would be king, was gallivanting around. Edward played by Guy Pearce..so Albert had to do all the speeches that his dying father couldn't do on the radio, right before war time. It was a new age of sorts. Radio (Way before video killed the radio star). He was the voice of the kingdom. Only one problem, Albert was a great stutterer.

Firth shows all the wonderful sides of Albert. A wonderful father to Elisabeth and Margaret. The brother who felt he was never quite good enough in his father's eyes. He had even been rather abused as a child by his nanny since he was really none of importance with Edward around. Then you have the Australian speech teacher, Lionel Logue played brilliantly by Geoffry Rush. Such an unlikely friendship between the two.

This really is a special movie. There is history to savor, and its a story all of us can relate too. Stage fright.

I hope this movie does well at the Oscars. Colin Firth certain deserves an Oscar. If not for this..then his wonderful body of work as a movie actor. Splendid performances by Bonham Carter. And if you're wondering if the actor who played William Churchill looked familiar..I'm sure you know Timothy Spall is Peter Pettigrew from the Harry Potter movies.

Storyline: Tells the story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George ('Bertie') reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stammer and considered unfit to be king, Bertie engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue. Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country through war.