Amazon Prime Video original film The King’s Speech was released November 26th, 2010.
#TheKing’sSpeech made $472M at the international box office.
rottentomatoes: 94%
metacritic: 88
imdb: 8.0
oscars: 4 wins
golden globes: 1 win
SAG awards: 2 wins
King George VI
The Duke of York suffers from a speech impediment in London, England.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
1 win: 2011
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
1 win: 2011
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
1 win: 2011
“I have received… …from His Majesty the… …the… …the… …the… …the King…” — King George VI
“I nearly swallowed the bloody things! Insert… marbles. He can insert his own bloody marbles. I know. Promise me… promise me, no more.” — King George VI
“Oh, to fly away. Weren’t they lucky? Can’t I be a penguin instead? Very quickly. Once there were… …two princesses, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret… …whose papa was a penguin. This was because he’d been turned into one by a wicked witch. This was very inconvenient for him because he loved… …to hold his princesses in his arms. But you can’t if you’re a penguin because you… …you have wings like herrings.” — King George VI
“Penguins have wings which are… …are shaped like herrings. And what made matters worse is that she… …she sent him to the South Pole, which is an awfully long walk back if you… …if you… can’t fly. So when he reached the water he… …he dived in, through the depths so fast that he was in Southampton Waters by lunchtime. And from there he took the 2:30 to Weybridge changed at Clapham Junction, asked a… …a passing mallard the way to Buckingham Palace, swam up the Thames, out through the plughole and gave… …the cook, Mama and Mrs. Whittaker quite a shock. Now when the girls heard all the commotion, they ran to the kitchen where they gave him a… …a good scrub, a mackerel and a kiss. And as they kissed him, guess what he turned into? A short-tailed albatross. With wings so big, that he could wrap them both around his two girls together.” — King George VI
“And take those horses to the stable. Feed them, brush them and to bed. My brother’s insisting. About her coming to dinner? A married woman? He can’t be. Out of the question. I’m not having this conversation again. Matter… Matter’s settled.” — King George VI
“Thank you. No. Where did you find this… physician?” — King George VI
“Waiting for me to… …commence a conversation one can wait rather a long wait. Timing isn’t my strong suit. No. No, thank you. Aren’t you going to start treating me, Dr. Logue? No, I… prefer Doctor. Your Royal Highness. Then it’s ‘sir’ after that. Prince Albert Frederick Arthur… …George. Only my family uses that. If… if we were equals, I wouldn’t… …be here. I’d be… …at home with my wife, and no one would give a damn. I’m sorry? My physicians say it relaxes the… the throat. They’ve all been knighted.” — King George VI
“What on earth do you mean? I’m not… …here to discuss personal matters. Because I bloody well stammer! One of my many faults. I’ve always been this way. Don’t… tell me, it’s my stammer! Four or five. So I’ve been told. I… I can’t remember not doing it. Don’t be ridiculous. Stop calling me that. Then we shan’t speak. Are you charging for this, Doctor? No… of course not. I don’t… I don’t know. I… I don’t… I don’t care. I… I stammer. No one can fix it. And if I win? One usually… wagers money. I don’t… carry money. If there is a next time. I can’t read this. ‘To… to… to be… …or not to be, that…’ can’t read.” — King George VI
“You’re playing music! So how can I hear what I’m saying? Hopeless. Hopeless! I’ve no idea… what an Australian might do for that sort of money. No. Thank you, Doctor. I don’t… …feel this is for me. Thank you for your time. Bye. No. Papa, I don’t… think I can read this. We’re not a family, we’re a firm. He’s broken off with Lady Furness. Through the… …wireless. One of the… marvels of… …science… …I am enabled… This Christmas Day… …to speak to all my… lying… …bastard.” — King George VI
“Strictly business. No… …personal nonsense. No, I haven’t. Besides, you… you tricked me. I… I… I’m willing to work hard, Dr. Logue. Are you… are you… willing to do your part? Fine. Forget about the blessed shilling! Perhaps, upon occasions… …you might be requested to assist… …in coping with… …with some minor event. Would that be agreeable? Shall I see you next week? Full of hot air. My wife and I are glad to visit this important… yes. Mmm… mother. Mmm… mother. Mmm… manufacturing district… Jack and Jill… went up the hill. Will not permit us to… ding dong bell, pussy’s in the well. Who put her in? Little Tommy Tin. A cow, a cow… a… a king. It is… no, it doesn’t bloody work. A sea of thisted siphles. Father. Father. Father. Father. Father.” — King George VI
“Hello, David. Not at all. Where have you been? So have I. Elizabeth has pneumonia. Father won’t. Dying? For heaven’s sake, David. You know how long he’s been ill.” — King George VI
Queen Elizabeth
“Time to go.”
“Excuse me, Doctor. What is the purpose of this? That was in ancient Greece. Has it worked since? Thank you so much, Doctor. It’s been most… …interesting.”
“Tick, tock. Tick, tock. You know you can’t keep doing this, Bertie. Mmm. Ah! Hello? Is anyone there? Sorry? How do you do? Yes. I’m afraid I am. Ah… he doesn’t know I’m here. No. No, look… my husband has seen everyone. To no avail. I’m awfully afraid he’s given up hope. Awfully sure of yourself. Of course he wants to be cured. My husband is… well, he’s required to speak publicly. He can’t. Something of that nature, yes. Doctor, forgive me… I don’t have a ‘hubby.’ We don’t ‘pop.’ And nor do we ever talk about our private lives. No, you must come to us. Mmm.”
“And what if my husband were the Duke of York? Yes. The Duke of York. Royal Highness. Yes, ‘Johnson’ was used during the Great War, when the Navy didn’t want the enemy to know he was aboard. You will be if you remain unobliging. You’ll appreciate the need for absolute discretion. The president of The Society for Speech Therapists. She warned me your Antipodean methos were both unorthodox and controversial. I warned her, those are not my favorite words. Ah, well. In that case… when can you start?”
“That’s all, girls. Tomorrow, chapter four, ‘The Flight.’ Now, girls. Time for bed. Come on. Quickly, now, you have exactly a minute. Will Mrs. Simpson be there? Is he serious? No. About her. She can. By the way, I think I’ve found someone rather interesting. On Harley Street. Doctor. Mmm. His approach seems rather different.”
“There you are. No, you have to shut that one first. Close that one first. That’s it. Classifieds. Next to ‘French model, Shepherd’s Market.’ No, he comes highly recommended. Charges substantial fees to help the poor. Oh, dear. Perhaps he’s a Bolshevik. Ah, there’s no receptionist. Likes to keep things simple. The Johnsons. Would you like a sweetie? You’re not well acquainted with royal princes, are you? Ah, well.”
“Yes, I thought I’d made that clear in our interview. That’s sufficient. No, as far as I see it, my husband has mechanical difficulties with his speech. Maybe just deal with that. That’s all we ask. Yes, and that would be the full extent of your services. You all right, Bertie? It’s actually quite good fun. Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen!”
Lionel Logue
“I’m just in the loo. Ah, Mrs. Johnson, there you are. I’m sorry, I don’t have a receptionist. I like to keep things simple. ‘Poor and content is rich and rich enough.’ Shakespeare. How are you? Oh, chuffing along. Now, this is slightly awkward, but I’m afraid you’re late. Where’s Mr. Johnson? Well, that’s not a very promising start. He hasn’t seen me. Well, I’m sure of anyone who wants to be cured. Perhaps he should change jobs. Indentured servitude? Well, we need to have your hubby pop by. Tuesday would be good. He can give me his personal details, I’ll make a drank appraisal and then we’ll take it from there. I’m sorry, Mrs. Johnson, my game, my turf, my rules. You’ll have to talk this over with your husband and then speak to me on the telephone. Thank you very much for dropping by. Good afternoon. The Duke of York? I thought the appointment was for Johnson. Forgive me, Your… Royal Highness. Am I considered the enemy? Of course. How did you find me? Your Royal Highness? Eileen McCleod? She’s a sport.”
“I can cure your husband. But for my method to work, I need trust and total equality, here in the safety of my consultation room. No exceptions. She’s still sounding a bit rough. Did you pick Mum up from the bridge? I had a special visitor this afternoon. No, you must stay, bored stupid, listening to your parents’ inane conversation. And Mum. You meeting Jean? Doctor? Doctor? Go and help your brother with the washing-up. Myrtle, it’s just a woman looking to help her husband. Oh, and I had a call for an audition. One of my favorites. Could be a lot of fun. In the amateur scene, they’re a highly regarded group. From Putney.”
“Now? Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this son of York. And all the clouds that lour’d upon our house In the deep bosom of the ocean buried. Now are our brows bound with… with victorious… Logue. Lionel Logue. I do know all the lines. I’ve played the role before. Perth. Enthusiastic. I was well reviewed.”
“Marvelous, Willie. You can stay here and wait for your mum. Mrs. Johnson. Mr. Johnson. Do come in. He’s a good lad, Willie. He could hardly make a sound when he first came to me. My boys make those. They’re good, aren’t they? Please. Make yourself comfortable. I was told not to sit too close. I believe when speaking with a prince, one waits for the prince to choose the topic.”
“Ah, yes. Well… do you know any jokes? Cup of tea? I think I’ll have one. Only if you’re interested in being treated. Please… …call me Lionel. I prefer Lionel. What’ll I call you? It’s a little bit formal for here. I prefer names. How about ‘Bertie?’ Perfect. In here it’s better if we’re equals. Please don’t do that. I believe sucking smoke into your lungs… …well, it will kill you. They’re idiots. Makes it official, then. My castle, my rules. Thank you. What was your earliest memory? Your first recollection. Well, why are you here, then? You have a bit of a temper. When did the defect start? I doubt that. It’s my field. I can assure you, no infant starts to speak with a stammer. When did yours start? That’s typical. I can believe that. Do you hesitate when you think? How about when you talk to yourself? Everyone natters to themselves occasionally, Bertie. I’m not going to call you anything else. A fortune. I’ll just let that brew. So… when you talk to yourself, do you stammer? Well, that proves that your impediment isn’t a permanent part of you. What do you think was the cause? I’ll bet you that you can read flawlessly, right here, right now. And if I win the bet, I get to ask you more questions. You don’t have to answer them.”
“A bob each to keep it sweet? Let’s see your shilling. I had a funny feeling you mightn’t. I’ll stake you and you can pay me back next time. I haven’t agreed to take you on yet. So please stand. And take a look at that. From there. Well, then you owe me a shilling for not trying. I… I haven’t finished yet. I’m going to record your voice and then play it back to you on this same machine. This is brilliant. It’s the latest thing from America. It’s a Silvertone. Pop these on. There’s a bob in this, mate. You could go home rich. I know. Well, surely a prince’s brain knows what its mouth’s doing? You were sublime. Would I lie to a prince of the realm to win 12 pennies? Let me play it back to you. All right, then, I get to ask you the questions. Sir… the recording is free. Please keep it as a souvenir. Bugger.”
“Have you got the shilling you owe me? Didn’t think so. Physical exercises and tricks are important, but what you’re asking will only deal with the surface of the problem. Lionel. All right. You want mechanics? We need to relax your jaw muscles, strengthen your tongue, by repeating tongue-twisters. For example, ‘I’m a thistle-sifter. I have a sieve of sifted thistles and sieve of unsifted thistles. Because I am a thistle-sifter.’ And you do have a flabby tummy, so we’ll need to spend some time strengthening your diaphragm. Simple mechanics. All that’s about a shilling’s worth. Of course. I shall see you every day.”
“Feel the looseness of the jaw. Good. Little bounces. Bounces. Shoulders loose. Beaut, beaut, beaut. Now loose. Take a nice, deep, breath. Expand the chest. Put your hands onto your ribs. Deeper. Good. How do you feel? Isn’t that what public speaking’s all about? Take a good deep breath and up comes Your Royal Highness and slowly exhale and down comes Your Royal Highness. Shorten the humming each time. Mother. Shorten the humming each time. Mother. Another deep breath. And Jack and Jill. Went up the hill. Now just sway. Perfect. Loosen the shoulders. You’ve a short memory, Bertie. Come on. A king. Anyone who can shout vowels at an open window can learn to deliver a speech. Good. Deep breath, and… let the words flow. Come on, one more time, Bertie. You can do it. Father. Father. Aim for the A-T-H. Father.”
Logue’s Family
“You make me drive too slowly, Dad. Yeah, I’ve hardly been out of the car all day. May I please leave the table? How special’s special? Thanks, Dad. And Mum. Me, too. No. Someone else. Hmm? I’m fine. Who is it, Lionel? Why bring it up if you can’t talk about it? Aren’t they all? I’m sure you’ll be splendid.”
The Royal Family
“Mama, I long to know where they fly to. I can’t wait. Now, Papa, tell a story. Well, no, I want a penguin story. Herrings don’t have wings. A handsome prince. Oh. Goodnight.”
King George V
“For the present, the work to which we are all equally bound is to arrive at a reasoned tranquility within our borders, to regain prosperity at this time of depression without self-seeking and to carry with us those whom the burden of the past years has disheartened or overborne. To all… to each… I wish a happy Christmas. God bless you. Easy when you know how. Have a go yourself. Ah, Mr. Wood. Splendid fellow. Chap who taught me everything I know. Let the microphone do the work. Thank you. Sit up. Straight back. Face boldly up to the bloody thing and stare it square in the eye, as would any decent Englishman. Show who’s in command. This devilish device will change everything if you don’t. In the past, all a king had to do was look respectable in uniform and not fall off his horse. Now we must invade people’s homes and ingratiate ourselves with them. This family’s been reduced to those lowest, basest of all creatures. We’ve become actors. Yet at any moment, some of us may be out of work. Your darling brother and future king, the only wife he appears interested in is invariably the wife of another. And taken up with Mrs. Simpson, a woman with two husbands living. I told him straight. No divorced person can ever be received at court. He said it made him sublimely happy. I imagine that was because she was sleeping with him. I give you my word this is what he said. ‘I give you my word, we’ve never had immoral relations.’ Stared square into his father’s face and lied. When I’m dead, that boy will ruin himself, this family and this nation within 12 months. Who’ll pick up the pieces? Hm? Herr Hitler intimidating half of Europe. Marshal Stalin, the other half. Who will stand between us, the jackboots, and the proletarian abyss? You? Well? With your older brother shirking his duties, you’re going to have to do a lot more of this. Have a go yourself. Get it out, boy. ‘Modern.’ Just take your time. Form your words carefully. Relax. Just try it! Do it!”
“What’s going on here? I cannot follow you. I’m confused and I don’t understand.”
King Edward VIII
“Hello, Bertie. Nice of you to come out. Been waiting long? Christ, bloody freezing. I’ve been busy. Oh, I’m sorry. She’ll recover. I’ll drive. Old bugger’s doing this on purpose. Departing prematurely. To complicate matters with Wallis. Wallis explained. She’s terribly clever about these things.”
Speech Doctors
“Inhale deep into your lungs, Your Royal Highness. Relaxes your larynx, does it not? Cigarette smoking calms the nerves and gives your confidence. Now, if Your Royal Highness would be so kind as to open your hand? Sterilized. One, two, three… …four, five… …six, seven. Now if I may take the liberty, insert them into your mouth. It’s the classic approach. It cured Demosthenes. Now, if you would be so kind as to read, A Wealth of Words. Fight against those marbles, Your Royal Highness. Enunciate. A little more concentration, Your Royal Highness. Your Royal Highness.”
London, England
“Now. Thank you. Lovely diction, Mr…. well, Mr. Logue, I’m not hearing the cries or a deformed creature yearning to be king. Nor did I realize Richard III was king of the colonies. Sydney? Major theatre town is it? Ah. Yes. Well, Lionel. I think our dramatic society is looking for someone slightly younger. And a… …little more regal.”
“You can go in now, Mr. Johnson. Lionel says wait here if you wish, Mrs. Johnson. Or, it being a… …pleasant day… …perhaps take a stroll. Was that all right, Lionel?”
“And off air. Sir? Congratulations, sir. Sir… gentlemen.”
“Whereas my letters patent under the Great Seal, bearing date of Westminster the 11th day of June 1912, His Majesty King George the Fifth did constitute order and declare that there should be a Guardian of the Realm… …custos regne… it’s the Order of the Council of State, sir.”
Wembley Stadium
“You’re live in two minutes, Your Royal Highness. Sir? Thank you. Let the microphone do the work, sir.”
“Good afternoon. This is the BBC National Program and Empire Service, taking you to Wembley Stadium for the closing ceremony for the Empire Exhibition, where His Royal Highness, the Duke of York, will read a message from his father, His Majesty King George V. Fifty-eight British colonies and dominions have taken part making this the largest exhibition staged anywhere in the world.”
“Remember, sir, three flashes, then steady red means your live. Using the new invention of radio, the opening ceremony was the first time His Majesty the King addressed his subjects on the wireless. At the close of the first season, the heir to the throne, His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, made his first broadcast. And today, his younger brother, His Royal Highness, the Duke of York, will give his inaugural broadcast to the nation and the world.”
The Archbishop
“I’m sure you’ll be splendid. Just take your time.”
