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The King's Speech (2010, UK)
In director Tom Hooper's historical British drama -
an intelligent Best Picture-winner about the speech disability of
a future King - and during treatment, the development of the royal
patient's relationship with his therapist:
- in the film's opening, the portrayal of the painful-to-watch
stuttering of Prince Albert, the Duke of York (and second son of
the King George V) (future King George VI (Oscar-winning Colin
Firth)), who was stammering through the closing ceremony speech
of the British Empire Exhibition delivered at Wembley Stadium in
1925; it was his "inaugural broadcast" - using the new
invention of wireless BBC radio
- the intercession of Albert's wife Elizabeth (Helena
Bonham Carter), the Duchess of York, negotiating that her husband
meet with unorthodox Australian speech-defect therapist Lionel Logue
(Geoffrey Rush), who insisted that the Duke come to his office: "My
game, my turf, my rules"; when he learned that his client was
the Duke of York who required
"absolute discretion" and confidentiality, he agreed to help,
but specified: "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 paused, then added: "When can you
start?"
- the first meeting between the Duke and Lionel, the
Duke admitted he wasn't good at starting conversations: "Waiting
for me to commence a conversation, one can wait rather a long wait....Timing
isn't my strong suit"; it was decided that the doctor would
be known simply as "Lionel," and the Duke would be called
"Bertie" (instead of the formal "Your Royal Highness");
Lionel stressed:
"In here, it's better if we're equals"
The First Therapy Consultation: The Establishment
of Names: Lionel and Bertie
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- the montage sequence in which the future king practiced
muscle relaxation exercises and breath control techniques
- the revelation of the underlying reasons for the Duke's
stuttering - from early childhood pressures due to favoritism and
special treatment; and his honest confession and his distance from
the 'common man': "Lionel, you're - you're the first ordinary
Englishman, Australian, I've ever really spoken to. When I'm driven
through the streets and I see the, you know, the common man staring
at me, I-I'm struck by how little I know of his life and how little
he knows of mine"; Lionel responded: "What are friends
for?" to which the Duke answered: "I wouldn't know"
- the rivalry between the Duke and his mean older brother
David (Guy Pearce), who had ascended to the throne as King Edward
VIII, but was soon to abdicate the throne due to his prospective
marriage with the twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson
(Eve Best); the Duke was intimidated by David, who mocked his stuttering,
his elocution lessons, and his potential to be king: "Younger
brother trying to push older brother off the throne. P-P-Positively
medieval"
- the scene of the angry Duke's unorthodox spouting
of a string of swear words - without hesitation: (Lionel: "You
don't stammer when you swear!")
- during a foggy walk, the dramatic scene of the split
between Bertie/the Duke and Lionel, when Lionel insisted that Bertie
himself could make a good king: ("Your place may well be on
the throne....You can outshine, David...I'm just saying you could
be King. You could do it"); Bertie accused Lionel of speaking
treason ("I am not an alternative to my brother....Don't take
liberties! That's bordering on treason") - and the Duke quit
Lionel in anger ("Don't attempt to instruct me on my duties!
I am the son of a King. And the brother of, of a King. You're the
disappointing son of a brewer. A jumped-up jackeroo from the outback.
You're a nobody. These sessions are over")
- after reconciling, the scene of the newly-ascended
King and Queen at Lionel's home having tea, when Mrs. Myrtle Logue
(Jennifer Ehle) was shocked to see the Queen having tea at her dining
room table (Lionel to the King: "I haven't told her about us");
Lionel nervously introduced his wife to the King - she knew him only
as a patient: "I believe you two have met, but I don't think
you know - King George the Sixth"
- later, after the Duke was coronated as the new King,
the King's climactic and tense wartime radio broadcast at Buckingham
Palace, delivered from a private chamber, when Britain declared war
on Germany in 1939, with Lionel coaching him from the side: ("Forget
everything else and just say it to me. Say it to me as a friend")
The Declaration of War Speech - 1939 -
Coached From the Side by Lionel
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- the aftermath of the speech, with the more confident,
assured King waving to applauding crowds from the palace's balcony
with his family and wife, Queen Elizabeth
- the final postscript (title card): "Lionel and
Bertie remained friends for the rest of their lives"
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Stuttering Duke of York at Wembly Stadium in 1925
Duchess Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) Setting Up Private
Speech Therapy for Duke of York with Lionel Logue
Practice of Breathing Control Techniques
The Duke's Revelation of Childhood Roots of Stuttering
The Duke's Mocking of Older Brother David/King
Edward VIII (Guy Pearce)
The Duke's Angry String of Swear Words including
the F-word
The Duke to Lionel: "Don't take liberties!...These
sessions are over!"
Mrs. Logue - Shocked at the Sight of the Queen Having
Tea in her Home
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