15 thoughts on “TBT: The King’s Speech (2010)

  1. I enjoyed The King’s Speech. As you said, the simplicity of the story is its strength. After over a decade (two?) of super hero movies from Marvel, I’m weary of “saving the whole world” as a plot and appreciate smaller character dramas more. The problem of a stutter seems small, but the drama is big!

  2. We watch this film often to enjoy the great performances, clever dialogue, and spot on costumes. I am in love with the interior furnishings and wallpaper in the Louge’s home too.

    1. Speaking of “interior furnishings and wallpaper”:

      One of the strangest trivia points about this film is that the room in 33 Portland Place with the distinctive dilapidated wall texture, seen in the first few framecaps above with Firth and Rush, was previously used in a gay porn video shot around the same time.

      Not only that, but according to this article on CinemaBlend, comparison with the earlier porn shoot shows that Oscar-nominated production designer Eve Stewart maybe didn’t do quite as much with the place as she alleged she did in interviews:

      https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Photographic-Evidence-King-Speech-Was-Shot-Same-Set-Gay-Porn-23321.html

      (There’s no NSFW content at the link, but there are two “Speedo-exposure level” shots of shirtless and jockstrap-clad porn models posed separately on the same set compared to a shot from the film.)

  3. I thought it was well done all around. Loved the future king, hated the playboy duke. Piss poor protoplasm.

  4. That’s quite the character study when comparing the wardrobes of Wallis Simpson (Eve Best) and Elizabeth Windsor (Helena Bonham Carter).

  5. Whatever one thinks of upper-class British costume drama as a genre, TKS is a wee gem. The script, direction, acting and production values all hang together, and George VI gets to preview his valiant side. (Have always had a mild crush on GVI–very cute in his withdrawn Brit fashion.)

  6. I quite enjoyed the film, as did the rest of my family. I agree about liking smaller dramas as well. I love an epic as much as the next person, but there’s something really nice about these kind of character portraits/family stories. (This is probably why I liked Belfast quite a bit; I read some reviews that think it’s enjoyable but doesn’t get into the situation enough, but for me it’s ok to take a limited view, particularly if it’s not pretending it’s some sort of all encompassing tale.) Always a treat to see Firth and Ehle, even if not enough of the latter in this one. :-)

  7. I love this movie. Saw it in the theater with 4 other people in the whole theater, then bought a copy. Have shown it to many people who also liked it. This is my kind of Oscar movie. Small, intimate story, excellent acting, costume drama, good story. And I love seeing Helena play a not-lunatic once in awhile.

  8. I LOVE THIS MOVIE. I still get a frisson of a thrill when I see the scene when Mrs. Logue comes home and stumbles on the Mutha Effin’ Queen of England in her dining room, and HBC imbues Elizabeth with such warmth and charm and class that it may have imbued my perception of the actual Queen Mum with more positive attributes than she had.

    Also, Eve Best slays in her brief scene as Wallis Simpson, but then again, she slays in everything.

  9. This movie was so well done. That said, I just couldn’t get into Guy Pearce as David nor the actress who played Wallis Simpson. I agree that the tight storyline is a very strong aspect of this film as opposed to the done-to-death other elements surrounding this story.

  10. I didn’t realize it was Jennifer Ehle until you pointed it out. I’m more familiar with her as a horror actress. She must sink into frock flick roles quite well.

  11. My daughter is in college studying to be a speech pathologist. Think we’ll watch this one when she’s home for Christmas.

  12. Loved this film. HBC and CF are terrific and I adore the costumes. One of my favourite scenes is when The Queen Mum pays a visit to Logue to get him to help Bertie. His total obtuseness of who she is or firm resolve not to treat both her and Bertie any different from his regular patients is a screen. Almost as funny as Mrs Logue stumbling on The Queen Mum scene. And I am not a fan of David or Wallis.

  13. Wonderful movie. I swear I have seen Mrs. Logue’s sweater in another FF post recently.

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