The King's Speech

2010

The King's Speech

Critics Consensus

Colin Firth gives a masterful performance in The King's Speech, a predictable but stylishly produced and rousing period drama.

95%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 291

92%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 144,302
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Movie Info

After the death of his father King George V (Michael Gambon) and the scandalous abdication of King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), Bertie (Colin Firth) who has suffered from a debilitating speech impediment all his life, is suddenly crowned King George VI of England. With his country on the brink of war and in desperate need of a leader, his wife, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), the future Queen Mother, arranges for her husband to see an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). After a rough start, the two delve into an unorthodox course of treatment and eventually form an unbreakable bond. With the support of Logue, his family, his government and Winston Churchill (Timothy Spall), the King will overcome his stammer and deliver a radio-address that inspires his people and unites them in battle. Based on the true story of King George VI, THE KING'S SPEECH follows the Royal Monarch's quest to find his voice. -- (C) Weinstein
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (for some language)
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Directed By:
    Tom Hooper
  • Written By:
    David Seidler
  • In Theaters:
     limited
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $138,300,000
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    The Weinstein Company

Cast

Colin Firth
as King George 'Bertie' VI
Helena Bonham Carter
as Queen Elizabeth
Geoffrey Rush
as Lionel Logue
Derek Jacobi
as Archbishop Cosmo Lang
Guy Pearce
as King Edward VIII
Timothy Spall
as Winston Churchill
Jennifer Ehle
as Myrtle Logue
Anthony Andrews
as Stanley Baldwin
Claire Bloom
as Queen Mary
Eve Best
as Wallis Simpson
Michael Gambon
as King George V
Robert Portal
as Equerry
Richard M. Dixon
as Private Secretary
Paul Trussell
as Chauffeur
Adrian Scarborough
as BBC Radio Announcer
Andrew Havill
as Robert Wood
Charles Armstrong
as BBC Technician
Roger Hammond
as Dr. Blandine-Bentham
Calum Gittins
as Laurie Logue
Dominic Applewhite
as Valentine Logue
Ben Wimsett
as Anthony Logue
Freya Wilson
as Princess Elizabeth
Ramona Marquez
as Princess Margaret
David Bamber
as Theatre Director
Jake Hathaway
as Willie
Patrick Ryecart
as Lord Wigram
Teresa Gallagher
as Nurse
Simon Chandler
as Lord Dawson
Orlando Wells
as Duke of Kent
Tim Downie
as Duke of Gloucester
Dick Ward
as Butler
John Albasiny
as Footman
Danny Emes
as Boy in Regent's Park
John Warnaby
as Steward
Roger Parrott
as Neville Chamberlain
Terry Davies
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Critic Reviews for The King's Speech

All Critics (291) | Top Critics (56) | Fresh (275) | Rotten (16)

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Audience Reviews for The King's Speech

  • Feb 05, 2016
    A true masterwork of modern cinema laced with exceptional acting and a story which makes for a nearly perfect period piece. One of the best films of the 21st Century by far.
    Kal X. A Super Reviewer
  • Aug 13, 2013
    The Duke Of York hires an unconventional speech therapist when faced with Royal duties in the burgeoning media age to help him with a stammer that prevents his public speaking. The premise behind The King's Speech is a rather dry one and the trailers themselves make it seem to be a cross between The Madness Of King George and Pygmalion, but thanks to some winning performances and an interesting script portraying a behind the scenes window onto recent history it transcends the traditional comedy of manners formula that nearly all British films seem obliged to follow. Colin Firth's portrayal of a man thrust into the public eye by events beyond his control is sublime and it's fascinating to see a snapshot of the man behind a public face completely controlled by propriety and social convention. There's a real warmth in his unlikely friendship with a brewer's son from Australia and the gentle humour and subtle direction makes a very refreshing change from the ADHD firework displays that seem to make up the vast majority of modern cinema. Maybe not the masterpiece its multi-award winning reputation suggests, but a quality cast and sensitive storytelling make for a fine lightly comic and insightful historical character study.
    xGary X Super Reviewer
  • Jul 22, 2013
    Please spell me out the "clichéd" and "formulaic" elements in The King's Speech, because even if it is a doubtful Academy Awards conqueror, Tom Hooper built a proper historical account about the struggle of a man to become a symbol of national resistance in imminent war times that were about to shape the world. It has been accused of being "predictable" as well. Maybe that's because the story was based on true events? The art of cinema retelling true stories resides in the ability to properly, yet respectfully carry on the task of dramatization, one of the main successes of <i>The King's Speech</i>. I applaud the performances and the execution. Dialogue handling was impeccable, and the cinematography was worthy of a disciple of Carol Reed, capturing the size of the scenarios, the tension of the situations and the psychological difficulties faced by King George VI. I wonder, therefore, what would the opinion of the audiences be if this had been a film directed by Carol Reed in the 40s. Perhaps they would have been quicker to applaud. Do not let the debated Academy Awards be distractions to you. 78/100
    Edgar C Super Reviewer
  • Jan 17, 2013
    It's the sign of a talented director that a bunch of scenes of people talking (or stammering) in rooms can look cinematic.
    Daniel P Super Reviewer
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