The King's Speech

Right, so, here goes...
My first entry is concentrating on The King's Speech, mainly because it has a double interest for me as; i. One of the best films I've seen in the last decade, and, ii. As a mainstream production on a massively interesting period of British history. It stars Colin Firth (who is brilliant throughout) as the stammering King George VI in the build up to World War Two and details the relationship between him and his speech therapist, Lionel Logue – played excellently by Geoffrey Rush. We are introduced to the leading political and royal figures of the time, including the Queen Mother (the then Queen Elizabeth) – portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter, who it was good to see outside of Tim Burton's eccentric imaginations - and Winston Churchill (Timothy Spall). It culminates with Firth delivering King George’s 9-minute radio address to the nation upon the declaration of war with Nazi Germany - a touching finale that manages to create a sense of sympathy and  for the British elite, which is an unusual emotion for most cinema-goers. Historical inaccuracies aside, The King's Speech holds the audience from the first moment and personally, as a history geek, I found it very difficult not to exclaim in joy every time an interesting personality or recognisable factoid was presented. This was one of the best films I’ve seen in a long while – certainly the best non-fictional, historical representation that I can recall in the recent past, which explains the accolades it has received in the last few months.


In contrast to my opinion as a history-nerd, I've heard this film criticised for being both historically inaccurate and slow paced throughout. It is true that there are, perhaps unnecessary, inaccuracies in The King's Speech and that it's producers have pandered to common perceptions of historical figures - especially with regards to The Queen Mother and Winston Churchill, the latter of which it may not have been necessary to include but for the interest created by his appearance. Although these criticisms have a fair point, they are swallowed up by the film's watchability - undiminished by it's pace - and the wide audience it reached, as well as the box office success it achieved, which prevents criticisms being taken too seriously.