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DVD Description
The King’s Speech is the tale of Elizabeth II's father and his remarkable friendship with maverick speech therapist Lionel Logue. Fascinating, moving and often humourous it charts the personal relationship that developed between England's reluctant King George VI, plagued by a nervous stammer, and his irreverent Australian speech therapist.
As the second son of George V, Prince Albert "Bertie" was not expected to ascend to the throne, but when his brother Edward abdicates to marry American Wallis Simpson, Bertie, as his successor, is crowned King George VI.
George becomes King as radio is taking off as a mass medium and the Second World War looms. Thrust into the international spotlight he must speak not only to the nation but to the people of the British Empire, across the world. His wife, Queen Elizabeth - the future Queen Mother - is tireless in her belief in him. Having tried all the traditional doctors she engages unorthodox outsider, Logue, to help him find a voice that can inspire a nation on the brink of war.
Stills from The King’s Speech (Click for larger images)
As the second son of George V, Prince Albert "Bertie" was not expected to ascend to the throne, but when his brother Edward abdicates to marry American Wallis Simpson, Bertie, as his successor, is crowned King George VI.
George becomes King as radio is taking off as a mass medium and the Second World War looms. Thrust into the international spotlight he must speak not only to the nation but to the people of the British Empire, across the world. His wife, Queen Elizabeth - the future Queen Mother - is tireless in her belief in him. Having tried all the traditional doctors she engages unorthodox outsider, Logue, to help him find a voice that can inspire a nation on the brink of war.
Stills from The King’s Speech (Click for larger images)
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Product Description
The nation awaits.
Based on King George VI's rise to the throne, Tom Hooper's Oscar-winning The King's Speech stars Colin Firth as the titular monarch on a quest to find his voice.
After the death of his father, King George V (Michael Gambon), and the scandalous abdication of King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), Bertie (Colin Firth), who has suffered from a debilitating speech impediment all his life, is suddenly crowned King George VI of England. With his country on the brink of war and in desperate need of a leader, his wife, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), the future Queen Mother, arranges for her husband to see an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush).
After a rough start, the two delve into an unorthodox course of treatment and eventually form an unbreakable bond. With the support of Logue, his family, his government and Winston Churchill (Timothy Spall), the King will overcome his stammer and deliver a radio-address that inspires his people and unites them in battle.
Widely praised by critics, The King's Speech received 12 Academy Award nominations, winning Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director (Tom Hooper), Best Actor (Colin Firth), and Best Original Screenplay (David Seidler).
- Commentary with director tom hooper
- An inspirational story of an unlikely friendship - The making of The King's Speech
- An interview with mark logue (co-author of The King's Speech: how one man saved the british monarchy)
- Speeches from the real King George VI
- Production sketches from academy award nominated Production designer Eve Stewart
- Photo gallery including a look behind the scenes
- Actors
Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Derek J
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
197 of 212 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I was lucky enough to see this wonderful film at the Bath Film Festival, having dragged two friends along as well. We all agreed it is the best film we have seen for ages.
A film for adults (and a 12 year old can be an adult), no cameras tricks/ CGI/ gory scenes, a simple story of two remarkable men, one of whom just happened to become the King of England - by accident. There are inaccuracies (Churchill was not a friend of George VI until after he became PM) and some scenes which do not ring quite true - the two men arguing in the park for example - but colin Firth is simply marvellous, as is Geoffrey Rush (and indeed, all of the stellar cast).
See it and laugh with, and weep for, a man pushed into a position he did not want, with a crippling handicap to overcome, but who became in the words of many, an ordinary hero.
A film for adults (and a 12 year old can be an adult), no cameras tricks/ CGI/ gory scenes, a simple story of two remarkable men, one of whom just happened to become the King of England - by accident. There are inaccuracies (Churchill was not a friend of George VI until after he became PM) and some scenes which do not ring quite true - the two men arguing in the park for example - but colin Firth is simply marvellous, as is Geoffrey Rush (and indeed, all of the stellar cast).
See it and laugh with, and weep for, a man pushed into a position he did not want, with a crippling handicap to overcome, but who became in the words of many, an ordinary hero.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Went to watch this as it was getting a lot of Award Season Buzz.
Found that it deserves all the praise that it is getting.
For this is truly a Brilliant Movie in every department.
Story, Acting, Direction and Production Values.
The story is very engaging right from the first scene.
It is then told in a brisk pace and laced with Wonderful Humour.
The Acting is terrific. And Award nominations are sure to follow
Colin Firth is just exceptional, and in his scenes in Public with his Stammer or excruciating to watch as any horror movie.
Geoffery Rush matches him step for step as the unorthodox Therapist. Helen Bonham Carter is good in a small role.
Guy Pearce, and Timothy Spall act their parts well.
Overall a Very Entertaining True Story
Found that it deserves all the praise that it is getting.
For this is truly a Brilliant Movie in every department.
Story, Acting, Direction and Production Values.
The story is very engaging right from the first scene.
It is then told in a brisk pace and laced with Wonderful Humour.
The Acting is terrific. And Award nominations are sure to follow
Colin Firth is just exceptional, and in his scenes in Public with his Stammer or excruciating to watch as any horror movie.
Geoffery Rush matches him step for step as the unorthodox Therapist. Helen Bonham Carter is good in a small role.
Guy Pearce, and Timothy Spall act their parts well.
Overall a Very Entertaining True Story
44 of 48 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This film is notable for a number of reasons. Some of them are wholly predictable, other less so. So, let's start with the things one might expect. First, the quality of the cast is beyond reproach. Colin Firth is quite startlingly good as the shy, diffident and afflicted future King. Rush is avuncular and authoritative, while the supporting cast are pitch perfect. The delectable Helena Bonham-Carter puts more flesh on the young Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, and future Queen Mother, than even this high quality script might have allowed, while the brief appearance of Michael Gambon is a nice study in both Saturnine severity and pitiful confusion as George V nears his end. For me, however, the cream of the supporting cast is Guy Pearce's portrayal of the Duke of Windsor. David is shown as essentially complacent and, beneath it all, weaker than his poor, derided brother. Pearce nails the clipped frustration and the arrogant languor perfectly.
So far, so good. Where this film scores even better, however, is in the rather more playfully unpredictable script and the way the performers inhabit it. At first sight, this may appear to be nothing more than a rather dry period piece, but what stands out when you watch it is just how FUNNY it is. Yes, you heard right: funny. When I first saw this at the cinema I laughed out loud more loudly and more often than I have at many comedy films. The whole thing careers along at a lively pace, held together with this quick-witted and coruscating wit. Possibly my favourite moment of the whole film comes when Lionel Logue's wife arrives home early from playing bridge to find some rather unexpected visitors to her home. It's a beautiful little pen painting of the awkwardness of the class system of the time, and beautifully judged by all. But of course, all this wouldn't work as a comedy alone, which makes the quality of the dramatic playing all the more satisfying. Since receiving the DVD, I've watched it several times more and have not tired of the standard of the work and the little gems that each view manages to reveal
There are no real low points; this is a film that does something very rare: it manages to combine a host of already exemplary components into a pretty near perfect whole. There are no major faults at all, and very few minor ones that I can remember. It is, quite clearly, a film of a very high standards, and richly deserves the plaudits it has received.
So far, so good. Where this film scores even better, however, is in the rather more playfully unpredictable script and the way the performers inhabit it. At first sight, this may appear to be nothing more than a rather dry period piece, but what stands out when you watch it is just how FUNNY it is. Yes, you heard right: funny. When I first saw this at the cinema I laughed out loud more loudly and more often than I have at many comedy films. The whole thing careers along at a lively pace, held together with this quick-witted and coruscating wit. Possibly my favourite moment of the whole film comes when Lionel Logue's wife arrives home early from playing bridge to find some rather unexpected visitors to her home. It's a beautiful little pen painting of the awkwardness of the class system of the time, and beautifully judged by all. But of course, all this wouldn't work as a comedy alone, which makes the quality of the dramatic playing all the more satisfying. Since receiving the DVD, I've watched it several times more and have not tired of the standard of the work and the little gems that each view manages to reveal
There are no real low points; this is a film that does something very rare: it manages to combine a host of already exemplary components into a pretty near perfect whole. There are no major faults at all, and very few minor ones that I can remember. It is, quite clearly, a film of a very high standards, and richly deserves the plaudits it has received.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Takes the concept of courage and makes the viewer understand
This is a truly remarkable film. I won't attempt to describe it: other very good reviews here have done that. I will offer a commentary on what it achieves. Read more
Published 17 hours ago by Stephen
Don't miss it!
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This was a belated birthday present, so the efficient delivery was ideal. The content of the DVD was excellent not only from an acting point of view but also because of the... Read more
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Once you've got your head around the concept of the The Queen Mum (Gawd bless 'er) and George VI being played by the physically-perfect Helena Double-Barrel and Colin Tightbritches... Read more
Published 22 days ago by personal penguin
Incredibly moving, extremely motivational , truly a work of art...
So many great reviews have already been written summarizing the contents of this film. To avoid redudancy, I will, therefore, direct my comments as to how incredibly inspiring a... Read more
Published 23 days ago by Cynthia Danute Cekauskas, LCSW
A ST...ST...STAMM...STAMMERING PERFORMANCE!!!
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!! A TRUE MASTERPIECE!!!
Saw this at the cinema when it first came out & absolutely loved it! Read more
Saw this at the cinema when it first came out & absolutely loved it! Read more
Published 26 days ago by CATMAN59
Great film, disappointing technical quality
This was my first BD (Blu-ray) disc purchase. While I enjoyed the film, I was disappointed by the poor technical quality of the disc itself. Read more
Published 27 days ago by Adam
Wasn't really bothered but........
I really really wasn't bothered at all about watching this film - certainly wasn't going to pay to see at the cinema ! Read more
Published 1 month ago by CocoCook
The real King
Very informative film which makes history more enjoyable. Colin Firth's acting is brilliant and he makes you feel his nervousness when he has to speak in public. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Dawn M
Could have been a good film but ...
I was hoping for much more - you can't fault attention to detail in this film - the costume and sets are excellent. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Stuart Tomanek
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