Mary Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 Just saw it - was a very good film. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 Mary, My grandson acquired the DVD last night and we'll watch it on our widescreen HD TV tonight. He saw it at a theater and praises it and Colin Firth's performance as a 'best of 2010'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Posted January 13, 2011 Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 OK, I viewed The King's Speech last night -- and it was lovely. A good teacher-pupil story where the teacher is innovative, lacking credentials and letters after his name. Geoffrey was a terrific Lionel - his Aussie accent was almost American (can there be any higher praise for an actor?) All the minor players were outstanding. Gambon was a great George V -- HBC was extremely wonderful as the Duchess of York and Mrs. Johnson, Guy Pearce (another Aussie) was surprisingly adept at Bertie's older brother, David. Derek Jacobi as Archbishop was practically type casting. I was puzzled at seeing the name Claire Bloom in the credits -- did I miss her? Did I doze off? No, later in the cast credits she was named Queen Mary. Very well, very regal indeed. Of course the two princesses were adorable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted January 13, 2011 Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 Can't say I find a film about stuttering has any appeal. Reminds me of a Sgt Major we once had, who had a stammer. One day on morning parade, he called the "p-p-p- ar- ar- de" to attention, and the Captain shouted "Never mind Sgt Major, post us a letter"! Needless to say, we all fell about laughing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted January 13, 2011 Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 Not seen the film - nor likely to until it comes on TV. But I did hear an excellent play on the same subject on Radio 4. Actually Obs, I think you are wrong. It is much more than a story about stuttering - it's a story about a man ill equipped for the job being thrust into the limelight at King. A job he never expected to have, nor indeed particularly wanted. I found it quite a moving play and one which portrayed George VI as a warm human being. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted January 14, 2011 Report Share Posted January 14, 2011 Not my cup of tea I'm afraid, so I doubt I'll watch it on TV either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 Interesting topic on Newsnight tonight, arising from discussion on this film - IE memorable speeches. Possibly the most iconic was the Martin Luther King "I have a dream speech" - what speech sticks in your memory? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 Very apropos comment, Obs, since today (the 17th) we celebrate his birthday with a 3-day weekend, although I believe the actual date was the 15th. I was privileged to hear him deliver a sermon at a Presbyterian Church in Pasadena in the early 60s. I believe the part that comes after "I have a dream" was "when my children will be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin." With each passing year I feel our culture, our people get more and more superficial with their "that's hot! that's not!" assessments of strangers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 the one i would most like to hear is "well done on getting all six numbers on the lottery rollover" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 Can't wait for your speech Sid, when you do win! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Christopher Hitchens, acknowledging the excellence of The King's Speech film, suggests that Churchill's part in this movie is not historically accurate. Chris says Edward VIII was too friendly to Germany and Churchill admired him for that. Says Churchill tried his best to keep the king on his throne, never having any admiration for Bertie at all. (Today's Salon.com) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Well Churchill may have been biased in favour of Wallace-Simpson - as his mother was a Yank! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 I was astonished to hear Colin Firth say his mother was a yank, also. Said she brought him to the states and he spent one middle school year here. By the way, Chris also said Churchill thought the two biggest threats to the Brits came from Hitler and Gandhi -- back in the 30s I expect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 He tended to be quite far sighted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 I was astonished to read today that Albert Windsor died at age 56 of lung cancer -- possibly due to his habit of heavy cigarette smoking. So that's why Princess Elizabeth has had such a long reign as Queen. Hadn't realized that before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 Think the Queen Mother liked a fag too - and she lived to over 90! Wonder if Queen Liz suffered from passive smoking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted February 8, 2011 Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 Great movie, wonderful casting and a couple of wonderful Beethoven interludes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 Crap movie, b b b b boring and inaccurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 10, 2011 Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 As I've assumed! Keep hearing the ad for this film on radio, and the squeaky clipped accent of Bonham-Carter - " I think I'll make a very good Queen" - joke! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Posted February 11, 2011 Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 The Ovation TV network showed BERTIE AND ELIZABETH tonight with newsreels of the actual events and dramatizations of the 'inside' story. Covers the ground where he first met the daughter of an Earl and when David met Mrs. Simpson -- to George VI death from lung cancer. The final credits said 'Elizabeth was a widow for 50 years.' There were no scenes of her smoking but many including Bertie dragging on those noxious fags so popular with the smart set. Was interesting to see Elizabeth firing a pistol at a range on the palace grounds for self defense should German paratroopers drop in. Mrs. Simpson was portrayed thus: Hitler invaded the Rheinland? How can you invade what you already own? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 11, 2011 Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 You had a King once Jezz - George III ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 If you count my ancestors under Goerge III -- they lived in Vermont and were named Johnson. However, I have great great grandfathers from Southwest England, named Cutliff, who came to America in the 1800s. Perhaps they lived under kings that I don't know much about. I'm still distressed that the Restoration went Catholic and the Duke of Monmouth failed to ascend the throne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 27, 2011 Report Share Posted February 27, 2011 Charles II's brother James was the Catholic; and his sister's husband Billy, sorted him out at the Battle of the Boyne. Ever since, it's been stricly Protestants - even if they were Germans! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 Assuming you missed the red carpet interviews before the Oscars tonight, I just wanted to say when almost unrecognizable Russell Brand (clean shaven!!!) was asked who would win the Best Actor he replied: C-C-C-C- Colin Firth. I didn't get the joke until five minutes later. I've always said I'm slow but sure, get there eventually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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