The story of King George VI of Britain, his impromptu ascension to the throne and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch become worthy of it.
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A Westerner finds refuge with a group of women in a church during Japan's rape of Nanking in 1937. Posing as a priest, he attempts to lead the women to safety.
The story of the assassination of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy who was shot in the early morning hours of June 5, 1968 in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, and 22 people in the hotel whose lives were never the same.
Director:
Emilio Estevez
Stars:
Harry Belafonte,
Anthony Hopkins,
Demi Moore
In April 1994, after the airplane of the Hutu President of Rwanda is shot down, the Hutu militias slaughter the Tutsi population. In the Ecole Technique Officielle, the Catholic priest ... See full summary »
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. Written by
Anonymous
EMI recording engineer Peter Cobbin pointed out that the original royal microphones, which were used for speeches such as those depicted in the film, had been held in the EMI archives for over 70 years. The EMI Archive Trust granted permission for five of these to be loaned to Abbey Road Studios, of which three were able to be restored to good working condition and used for recording the film's orchestral score. The microphones, designed for HM George V, HM George VI, HM Queen Mary, and HM Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother), were state-of-the-art in the 1930s (and excellent even compared to much of today's equipment), gilt with silver and chrome details bearing royal coats of arms and other individual insignia. Composer Alexandre Desplat and director Tom Hooper were both pleased with the result, and felt that the slight coloring of the sound caused by the older equipment gave the recordings an authentic "patina" of the time period. See more »
[first lines]
Title Card:
1925 / King George V reigns over a quarter of the world's people. He asks his second son, the Duke of York, to give the final closing speech at the Empire Exhibition in Wembley, London.
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Crazy Credits
In the end credit roll, Philip Clements is listed twice as Assistant Sound Editor. See more »
"Shout For Happiness"
Written by Jack Hart and Tom Blight
Performed by Al Bowlly and the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra
Published by Campbell Connelly & Co Ltd.
Master courtesy of Post Perfect Vintage Music, UK
Playing in the background at Balmoral Castle See more »
No spoilers here. I would like to let everyone know that this is an excellent film. I enjoyed it this week at the Mill Valley Film Festival in Marin County, CA. Given the outstanding cast and director, and my fascination with historical figures, I had high hopes for this film, though mixed with a certain resignation that I might be disappointed. There was no way I could have imagined how wonderful "The King's Speech" would be. There was abundant humor without the film ever becoming a comedy, drama without dreariness, and many deeply moving moments. I can't praise this film enough. It boosted my appreciation of the human capacity to become our best selves, and rise to meet even the most daunting challenges.
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No spoilers here. I would like to let everyone know that this is an excellent film. I enjoyed it this week at the Mill Valley Film Festival in Marin County, CA. Given the outstanding cast and director, and my fascination with historical figures, I had high hopes for this film, though mixed with a certain resignation that I might be disappointed. There was no way I could have imagined how wonderful "The King's Speech" would be. There was abundant humor without the film ever becoming a comedy, drama without dreariness, and many deeply moving moments. I can't praise this film enough. It boosted my appreciation of the human capacity to become our best selves, and rise to meet even the most daunting challenges.