Wednesday Minute
No. 184 | October 20, 2010

The Crystal Ball

Our theme this week
Movies that open later in 2010

Featured this week (theme introduction)
Monday         —   Fair Game
Tuesday         —   The Way Back

The King’s Speech

The story
Based on the true story of George VI:  he took the throne when his brother, Edward VIII, abdicated, despite doubts, including his own, that he was fit to be king.  Among his problems was a terrible stammer.  An Australian speech therapist named Lionel Logue tried a series of unorthodox techniques to help the king find his voice and lead the nation during the war.

Reasons to see it
The talent behind the film are worthy of attention.  Director Tom Hooper made his film debut last year with The Damn United, and is probably best known for the 501-minute mini-series John Adams.  Colin Firth was an Oscar nominee last year for A Single Man.  Helena Bonham Carter, playing the queen, won Best Actress at the Hollywood Film Festival.  The movie has done great on the film festival circuit, winning audience awards at Toronto and the Hamptons.  The story behind the making of the film is an interesting one.  Writer David Seidler had had a stuttering problem as a child and was inspired by the king’s example to overcome his handicap.  He had asked permission from the Queen Mother (the Bonham Carter character) to write the story, which she granted with the stipulation “not in my lifetime.”  She lived to the age of 101, and Seidler had to wait 30 years for the chance to do the film.  The early word is, it was worth the wait.

Release date (U.S.)
November 26

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The King’s Speech (2010)
Tom Hooper, director
David Seidler, writer
Danny Cohen, cinematographer
Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush, Guy Pearce
Trailer

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Quote of note
Fox:  You see that the king did not write his own speech, Mr. Pitt.
Pitt:  The king will do as he’s told, Mr. Fox.
Fox:  Then why not be rid of him?  If a few ramshackle colonists in America can send him packing, why can’t we?
—Charles James Fox (Jim Carter), Prime Minister William Pitt (Julian Wadham), The Madness of King George (1994)

…58…59…60.