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Bertie and Elizabeth

  • TV Movie
  • 20022002
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
636
YOUR RATING
Juliet Aubrey and James Wilby in Bertie and Elizabeth (2002)
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Romance
A chronicle of the life of George VI, who was forced to become King following the abdication of his brother Edward VIII, and his relationship with his wife, Elizabeth.A chronicle of the life of George VI, who was forced to become King following the abdication of his brother Edward VIII, and his relationship with his wife, Elizabeth.A chronicle of the life of George VI, who was forced to become King following the abdication of his brother Edward VIII, and his relationship with his wife, Elizabeth.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
636
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Giles Foster
  • Writer
    • Nigel Williams
  • Stars
    • James Wilby
    • Alan Bates
    • Eileen Atkins
Top credits
  • Director
    • Giles Foster
  • Writer
    • Nigel Williams
  • Stars
    • James Wilby
    • Alan Bates
    • Eileen Atkins
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 22User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos20

    as James Stuart, the Prince's Equerry in 'Berti and Elizabeth' for Carlton International
    Juliet Aubrey and James Wilby in Bertie and Elizabeth (2002)
    Juliet Aubrey and James Wilby in Bertie and Elizabeth (2002)
    Juliet Aubrey and James Wilby in Bertie and Elizabeth (2002)
    Bertie and Elizabeth (2002)
    Eileen Atkins, Juliet Aubrey, and Elisabeth Dermot Walsh in Bertie and Elizabeth (2002)
    Bertie and Elizabeth (2002)
    David Ryall in Bertie and Elizabeth (2002)
    Elisabeth Dermot Walsh in Bertie and Elizabeth (2002)
    Juliet Aubrey and James Wilby in Bertie and Elizabeth (2002)
    Juliet Aubrey and James Wilby in Bertie and Elizabeth (2002)
    James Wilby in Bertie and Elizabeth (2002)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Wilby
    James Wilby
    • Bertieas Bertie
    Alan Bates
    Alan Bates
    • King George Vas King George V
    Eileen Atkins
    Eileen Atkins
    • Queen Maryas Queen Mary
    Dolly Wells
    Dolly Wells
    • Princess Maryas Princess Mary
    William Mickleburgh
    William Mickleburgh
    • James Stuartas James Stuart
    Juliet Aubrey
    Juliet Aubrey
    • Elizabethas Elizabeth
    Barbara Leigh-Hunt
    Barbara Leigh-Hunt
    • Lady Mabell Airlieas Lady Mabell Airlie
    Rupert Wickham
    • Equerryas Equerry
    Charles Edwards
    Charles Edwards
    • Davidas David
    Alexandra Staden
    Alexandra Staden
    • Young Womanas Young Woman
    Nicholas Pritchard
    • J.C. Davidsonas J.C. Davidson
    Oliver Ford Davies
    Oliver Ford Davies
    • Archbishop Langas Archbishop Lang
    Geoffrey Beevers
    Geoffrey Beevers
    • Earl of Strathmoreas Earl of Strathmore
    Deborah Cornelius
    Deborah Cornelius
    • Thelma Furnessas Thelma Furness
    Michael Elwyn
    Michael Elwyn
    • Lionel Logueas Lionel Logue
    Amber Sealey
    Amber Sealey
    • Wallis Simpsonas Wallis Simpson
    • (as Amber Rose Sealey)
    Anthony Smee
    • Ernest Simpsonas Ernest Simpson
    Naomi Martin
    • Young Lillibetas Young Lillibet
    • Director
      • Giles Foster
    • Writer
      • Nigel Williams
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Tommy Lascelles (Paul Brooke) is depicted as the Private Secretary to Bertie from the start of his reign, and certainly from the beginning of the war. In fact, though he had been an Assistant Private Secretary since shortly before King George V's death, he was only promoted to the full role (directly dealing with the King and his boxes, for example) as late in the War as 1943. He remained at post for the rest of the King's reign, several years after retirement age, and into Elizabeth II's first year as Queen. It's best to think of the role as combining two real-life people (Sir Alec Hardinge and Sir Alan "Tommy" Lascelles) into one.
    • Goofs
      The Duchess of York is shown as being pregnant at the time of her and the Duke's first visit to Lionel Logue. In fact, the visit took place in October of 1926 when the infant Princess Elizabeth was already six months old.
    • Quotes

      [Queen Mary and Lady Mabell Airlie notice that Bertie is taking an interest in Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon]

      Queen Mary: I think my son is rather keen on the Strathmore girl.

      Lady Mabell Airlie: I formed that impression too.

      Queen Mary: We could do worse than marry Bertie to a member of the British aristocracy. I mean, *some* of them are quite respectable - yourself, for example.

      Lady Mabell Airlie: Has it ever been done? Isn't royal blood supposed to be a unique asset? Surely she'd be the first commoner to marry into the royal family since, umm...

      Queen Mary: Anne Boleyn.

      Lady Mabell Airlie: Well, that didn't work out, did it?

      Queen Mary: Well, my understanding is that until he had her beheaded, the whole thing was a resounding success.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Story of the Costume Drama: The Stars (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      If You Were the Only Girl (In the World)
      (uncredited)

      Music by Nat Ayer (as Nat D. Ayer)

      Lyrics by Clifford Grey

    User reviews22

    Review
    Top review
    Dreadful Wasted Opportunity
    In the UK this was ITV1's big attraction for Jubilee night and came on a couple of hours after nearly 2m people had crammed the Mall to sing patriotic songs in front of the Queen.

    This is the story of her parents' marriage and reign. I got the impression it may have been on the shelf for a few years, awaiting the death of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in March 2002, who was of course the Elizabeth of the title.

    Covering a thirty year period 1922 to 1952 this fairly gallops through history and that is one of its faults. It would have been better as a mini-series over six hours rather than the two hours it was.

    There is a fascinating story here, especially the less usual view of the 1936 Abdication Crisis from those like Bertie and Elizabeth who had to pick up the pieces. The late Queen Mother's deep and long lasting consequent hatred of Mrs Simpson is barely hinted at.

    Unfortunately we were up against some fairly wooden acting and dreadfully superficial treatment of the known facts. I presume this was made with some American money hence the scenes with FDR (Robert Hardy and a large slice of ham) and the constant grating reference to the 'King of England' and 'English democracy' even by the monarchs portrayed themselves. No British monarch would ever thus describe themselves - they are monarchs of the United Kingdom.

    Small incidents such as the Dutch Queen calling early in the morning to ask for fighter squadrons to fend off the German invasion of the Netehrlands and her subsequent arival loom large whilst the King's drawn out death from lung cancer, concealed from him and the people of the UK and Commonwealth for several years is glossed over. And the Queen Mother most famous remark after Buckingham Place was targetted by the Luftwaffe 'I'm glad we've been bombed, it means I can look the East End in the face' just doesn't appear.

    Cockneys are portrayed all 'Cor love a duck' and Mrs Simpson as virtually a witch, when really she was probably out of her depth in a society she could not understand.

    Alan Bates does give a good turn as George V and the bloke who played Edward VIII gave a good sly performance of a weak and superficial man.

    Otherwise a wasted opportunity I'm afraid.
    helpful•15
    12
    • Britlaw1
    • Jun 6, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 4, 2002 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • PBS (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Bertie és Elizabeth
    • Filming locations
      • Assembly Rooms, Bath, Somerset, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Carlton Television
      • WGBH
      • Whitehall Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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