The king's speech

Summary: "The King's Speech" presents a sideways glance at a crucial period in 20th-century history--as the monumentally awkward Prince Albert, or Bertie, becomes King George VI unexpectedly in 1936 when his older brother Edward VIII abdicates to marry American divorcée Wallis Simpson. In imperial Britain between the wars, that was problem enough, but Bertie suffered from a chronic stammer that made his public appearances painful for everyone. In an age of radio, the monarch has become a symbol, which means that the King speaks to his people--regularly. Bertie and his wife, the high-spirited Princess Elizabeth find their way to an Australian-born speech therapist and amateur actor named Lionel Logue. Logue isn't a doctor, has no academic credentials, and is viewed by proper authorities as a charlatan. Oddly enough, each of these men is a desperate misfit badly in need of a new friend and a bit more self-esteem. A real friend, it seems, was exactly the medicine the future king required.

Record details

Physical Description: videorecording
videodisc
1 videodisc (119 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.
Publisher: [London] : UK Film Council ; Beverly Hills, CA : Distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment, c2011.

Content descriptions

General Note:	Originally produced as a British motion picture in 2010. Special features: Feature commentary with director Tom Hooper [audio feature]; Featurettes The king's speech: an inspirational story of an unlikely friendship (24 min.); Q & A with the director and cast (22 min.); Speeches from the real King George VI (8 min.); The real Lionel Logue (11 min.); The Stuttering Foundation (public service announcement) (1 min.); Previews (4 min.). "The Weinstein Company Home Entertainment"--Disc label.
Creation/Production Credits Note:	Director of photography, Danny Cohen ; film editor, Tariq Anwar ; composer, Alexandre Desplat ; production designer, Eve Stewart ; costume designer, Jenny Beavan ; make-up and hair design, Frances Hannon ; executive producers, Geoffrey Rush, Tim Smith, Paul Brett, Mark Foligno, Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein ; co-producers, Peter Heslop, Simon Egan.
Participant or Performer Note:	Colin Firth (King George VI), Geoffrey Rush (Lionel Logue), Helena Bonham Carter (Queen Elizabeth), Guy Pearce (King Edward VIII), Timothy Spall (Winston Churchill), Derek Jacobi (Archbishop Cosmo Long), Jennifer Ehle (Myrtle Logue), Anthony Andrews (Stanley Baldwin), Claire Bloom (Queen Mary), Eve Best (Wallis Simpson), Michael Gambon (King George V).
Target Audience Note:	MPAA rating: Rated R for some language.
System Details Note:	DVD, region 1; NTSC; Dolby Digital surround 5.1; anamorphic widescreen presentation (aspect ratio: 1.78:1).
Language Note:	In English with optional subtitles in English for the hearing impaired or optional Spanish subtitles.
Awards Note:	Academy Awards, 2010: Best Picture (Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers); Best Actor in a Leading Role (Colin Firth); Best Director (Tom Hooper); Best Writing (Original Screenplay) (Screenplay by David Seidler). Golden Globe Awards, 2011: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama (Colin Firth). BAFTA Film Awards, 2011: Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music (Alexandre Desplat); Best Screenplay (Original) (David Seidler); Best Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush); Best Supporting Actress (Helena Bonham Carter); Best Actor (Colin Firth); Best Film (Gareth Unwin, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Producers); Alexander Korda Award for Outstanding British Film of the Year.