Film Review: the King's Speech

At first glance, one might not know what to make of the King’s Speech.

That’s because it starts off on an equally uncertain note- the awkward and painful of George the Sixth’s- then Duke of york- speech at the close of the Empire Exhibition. Intimidated by the number of people in the stadium and on the field before, His Royal Highness Prince Albert could not avoid the problem that had plagued him since his early childhood- a persistent and disabling stammer.

                Right from the beginning, I knew this would be a totally different view on royal history than anything that I had ever seen before. Although I have had a lifelong interest in our beloved Royal Family, it is only now, I think, that I can begin to truly appreciate the scope of what they went through. Thanks to the advent of newer and more progressive forms of media, aspects of history are brought to life and stories are told that have never been told before.

                Contrary to modern times, of course, the late twenties didn’t exactly contain a plethora of opportunities and methods of help for a person to explore. Case in point- in one of the film early scenes, one speech therapist is using a method of supposed speech correction originating from Ancient Greece. Translation: the man with the walrus moustache is making the Duke of York stick glass marbles in his mouth, a la Demosthenes.

                It is the futility of these methods and the aggravation that they cause which make the Duke’s wife seek out a different brand of help- an Australian, Lionel Logue, whose methods of correcting speech defects are often referred to with two of the duchess’s least favourite words- ‘unorthodox’ and ‘controversial’. She herself is ambiguous, as is the Duke when he first sees Logue- but to anyone watching, those two words are a sign of the greater things to come.

                It is only after being bullied by his father that the Duke decides to give a second look- or listen, in this case- to the initially frustrating exercise first given him by the Australian. This leads to an epiphany- maybe his stammer can be fixed after all. So he goes back- and there the magic begins.

                For much of the following sequences of the many different therapy sessions, we can see methods that, indeed, many of us might ourselves dismiss as unorthodox and controversial. But they do work, eventually, and His royal Highness’s speech does begin to improve, as do his resolve and his self-confidence.

                Then, however, we are reminded that this is real life and not a fairy tale. First, we are reminded that old kings are mortal, and that they must die like everyone else, even if it means that a father is lost in the process. Then we are forced to go back and re-examine the sadder facts of life- out older siblings are not infallible, and that we might have to take their places if they fall; most of all, we are brought low when we realize that this is a problem caused, not by birth, but by ill treatment as a child. Watching the performances played out on the screen, you can certainly both see and feel something of what the Queen’s father was going through- losing a brother, being abused by a nanny, being forced to conform to uncomfortable behaviours. This is a turning point; though it is an actor on the screen, we begin to see something of the actual George the Sixth- not the king, but the man. And so we start to feel for him, and feel very deeply.

                We feel for him when he pushes a true friend away in fear and vulnerability; we feel for him when he walks into his home after the change of power and his daughters drop curtseys instead of giving him a hug. We feel for him, most of all, when he breaks down and cries because he is scared of the job that he’s been thrust into.

                Then, of course, humanity rears its head and we realize the better aspects of life- he took the opportunity to apologize; he asked for help; he even forgave, forgave Logue for not being an actual ‘doctor’, even more so because he was able to raise his voice and assert himself, and realize how good a man he has become.

                The greatest and final reminder of royal humanity comes quickly after this- there is a war on, and the monarch is expected to be a symbol of unity for the people. Yes, the people around him try and ultimately succeed in helping him do that- his wife giving him a kiss before his speech, Logue staying with him throughout- but it is a different perspective than the one that we are perhaps used to. Even when we see that a monarch is graciously and selflessly accepting help from others, he always seems set a little bit above them all- until now. Now, he is an equal.

                In a time period when the role our loved Royals has often been questioned, this is a fresh outlook on life, so to speak. His Majesty is given believability to a new generation, and a generation is given the ability to look back and gain a new understanding and respect for a thoroughly normal man who was thrust into greatness against his will but refused to crack under pressure.

(A Sidebar- this is a potential tear jerker, due to the sheer realism. Even if you aren’t an ardent Royalist.)

Comments

[Moira Farr]

I thought this review was well written, but marred by style and spelling gltiches, and some word usage problems. Please revise the title to conform to our Spine style (discussed ad nauseum in class). Proofread for correct capitalization and spelling. Also - when you use a dash in a sentence, it should be a hyphen and there need to be spaces on either side.
You use the word "ambiguous" where I believe you mean "amblvalent."

[jkroua jkroua]

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