The King's Speech

DS and I went to see The King's Speech the other night at our suburban multiplex. It was excellent indeed. I had been apprehensive that it wouldn't measure up as Colin Firth is physically so unlike George VI. But he really pulled it off and I'm glad he got the Golden Globe for it.
Not surprisingly the audience was largely middle class and middle aged. I was struck at how much outright laughter there was throughout the movie. I mean I thought there was a lot to chuckle at -- but not guffaw. DS's theory is that they're all used to the Brit Wit programmes on PBS and just assume anything a Brit says is hysterically funny and react automatically. I'd be curious to know how British audiences reacted to this film.
Rather more embarrassing was an overheard conversation in the lobby afterwards. A group was discussing the role of Churchill and someone must have explained that he wasn't Prime Minister at this time. So this woman commented "Oh, so he was in charge of the Navy when he was in the bunkers." [Shudder!] Actually, I didn't really see why Churchill's role was so prominent anyway. The story would have been just as strong without him.

I loved, loved, loved it!!  It was interesting because the British audience did laugh quite a bit and probably at the same points when they were doing the silly excercises and the like.  But, I did find myself laughing sometimes when no one else was, though I suspect that was just me.  I have to say I really felt upset for Rush's character when he was turned down for Shakespeare because he was supposedly Australian.  I wonder if my reaction was so pronounced though because I'm a British immigrant.  But, anyway, back to your question, people were laughing throughout including the moments where stiff formality met with easy-going informality.    This film is going on my amazon wishlist though, highest priority!

Yes, there was quite a bit of anti-colonialism, wasn't there! I wonder if that was true to the times.
Our audience broke into applause at the end of it -- which is fairly unusual. It's definitely going on my list of favourites.
I always sit there until all the credits have run and we noticed there were thanks to Leeds United. Was the Wembley scene really Elland Road?

I suspect that they tried to accurately portray what it was like for an Australian in Britain at the time.  I guess I was so surprised at my reaction to it after 5 years here.  I did not think I would still feel that strongly about a scene like that even if it was based on someone's actual life.  I can't remember being an Australian shown as a disadvantage except in that scene so I don't think it was an overarching theme or something.  And I don't think my British friends I went with even thought about that as a theme. 

Thing is that Logue didn't even seem that obviously an Australian. And you would think that artsy types wouldn't have given a toss so long as his accent wasn't overbearing. But I guess they were "amateurs" so more snooty about it.
But yeah, I'm sure there's always going to be some people who make a big deal about foreigners. Back in the '70's I was hired at a book shop and the owner (Yorkshire through and through) seemed very proud that he had an American and a South African on his staff! But at the same time I was getting the Keep-those-foreigners-out-oh-I-didn't-mean-you comments from other people.

We watched this last night and were very impressed. I'm usually ambivalent about Colin Firth but I thought he was spectacular in this.

My husband and I immediately sat up and recognised the room that Geoffory Rush's office is set in though - it's an ex-African embassy building that was hired out for a big Christmas party we went to a few years back! We couldn't believe it when it came up on screen - they literally just added furniture (the walls are that peeling all the time)! I've just gone and done a bit of research now and indeed it was the same place used in the film - 33 Portland Place!!

Wow! That is really interesting, Squirrely! That room was so derelict you would have thought it was a set  I always wonder where they film these things.

Very interesting info about the office setting, squirrelypoo. I loved the movie although I think I missed some punchlines since I saw it at mum and baby cinema and there were some loud babies (including mine  )

I'll definitely be seeing it again. I'm a huge fan of Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush. I agree about the audition scene. Rush was amazing.

I always sit there until all the credits have run and we noticed there were thanks to Leeds United. Was the Wembley scene really Elland Road?

Yes it was.  I saw a piece in the newspaper about it.
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Dummies-line-terraces-of-Elland.6683357.jp

Yes it was.  I saw a piece in the newspaper about it.
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Dummies-line-terraces-of-Elland.6683357.jp

Aha!  "Inflatable Crowd Company"! Love it! 

DH and I saw The King's Speech this afternoon.  Most of the audience including us were OAP's.  Many people wept during the film.  The majority of the audience were children when George VI was King.  They remember him, some remember the war, and all would have suffered the after effects of the war.  For us it was extremely moving.  This is not a movie to miss.

DH and I saw The King's Speech this afternoon.  Most of the audience including us were OAP's.  Many people wept during the film.  The majority of the audience were children when George VI was King.  They remember him, some remember the war, and all would have suffered the after effects of the war.  For us it was extremely moving.  This is not a movie to miss.

That's interesting. That's sort of more how I felt -- rather than the laughter most of our audience was producing. I didn't live in the UK during his reign but I do remember seeing him in newsreels and I do remember the Queen's Coronation.

I saw this yesterday and thought it was brilliant. Like everyone else, there were a lot of older people in the cinema, but I didn't see anyone crying and there was no clapping or anything. I went with my friend and her inlaws, so they were able to fill us in on the story of Wallis Simpson and David, and where they ended up after they married.

I'm fairly ambivalent over Colin Firth, but I love Geoffrey Rush in pretty much everything he does and Colin Firth didn't disappoint. Squirrelly, thanks for the info on Logue's office. That's really interesting! I had to laugh at HBC's portrayal of the Queen Mum and how she was always eating sweets and biscuits with her tea. We all know she didn't die a slender woman.    It also made me laugh when the Logue's boys were sitting around in their coats and scarves. I thought how things haven't really changed that much! 

Wallis and David certainly didn't come off as very admirable characters!

I finally got a chance to see this and I loved it. I think it's the first thing I've seen EBC in that I really liked.