King Ralph (1991)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

David S. Ward

Writers (WGA):

Emlyn Williams (novel)
David S. Ward (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 February 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

A comedy of majestic proportions

Plot:

As the only relative to take over the Royal throne, a down on his luck American slob must learn the ways of the English.

Plot Keywords:

King | British Parliament | Photograph | Tea Ceremony | Punk

Cast

John Goodman	...	Ralph Hampton Gainesworth Jones
Peter O'Toole	...	Sir Cedric Charles Willingham
John Hurt	...	Lord Percival Graves
Camille Coduri	...	Miranda Green
Richard Griffiths	...	Duncan Phipps
Leslie Phillips	...	Gordon Halliwell
James Villiers	...	Prime Minister Jeffrey Hale
Joely Richardson	...	Princess Anna
Niall O'Brien	...	Tommy McGuire
Julian Glover	...	King Gustav
Judy Parfitt	...	Queen Katherine
Ed Stobart	...	Dysentery
Gedren Heller	...	Punk Girl
Rudolph Walker	...	King Mulambon
Michael Johnson	...	Hamilton

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | Netherlands:6 | Finland:S | Germany:6 | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:PG | Ireland:PG

Filming Locations:

Apsley House, Hyde Park Corner, Hyde Park, London, England, UK

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The Treason Act of 1702 by which Ralph has Lord Percival Graves arrested is an actual Act of Parliment, enacted in the last year of William the Third's reign. It made it a capital offense to attempt to prevent the successor to the crown from properly taking the throne. Eventually, in 1998, the punishment was changed from death to life imprisonment.

Goofs:

Continuity: The "punks" who are shown watching television and commenting at various times throughout the months-long reign of King Ralph are always wearing the same clothing.

Quotes:

Sir Cedric Willingham: Your majesty, may I present the Sovereign King Mulamboa of Zambezi.
Ralph Jones: [seeing that the king is black, using a Eubonics dialect] Hey, homes! Whas happenin'! Gimme quintet, brother!
King Mulamboa: I do not comprehend, Your Majesty!
Ralph Jones: Uh, welcome, Your Majesty. On behalf of the people of the United Kingdom...
[uncomfortable silence]
Ralph Jones: Uh, do you wanna go get a beer?

Movie Connections:

References "The Honeymooners" (1955)

Soundtrack:

Good Golly Miss Molly

Regarding the film

I think that people are generally harsh towards the nature of this film. It is not meant to be entirely accurate and yes, perhaps I am slightly biased having starred in the film myself (Jason Richards (I) on IMDb). You will see that I played the role of Ralph II, the little guy who played that tiny piano/ keyboard at the end of the film! Having looked at the film again recently, I regard it as one of those classic comedies not to be mocked. I had great fun when acting in the film and I had just as much fun watching it! John Goodman really is the greatest of guys (although the size of him really scared me when I met him!) I suggest to everyone who mocks this film, that this is one of the reasons he became so great in the movie world. If it wasn't for King Ralph, he would have never got to the Flintstones or any of the other films which have come to make him so renowned.