Early reports suggest this movie is going to be a strong contender for numerous academy awards for Firth, Bonham Carter and possibly Best Film. After speaking with him on the phone after his screening, Jon told me this was the ‘film of the festival so far’. You can keep tabs on all our London Film Festival coverage here and keep your eyes peeled for his review.
Synopsis: THE KING’S SPEECH is based on the true story of Queen Elizabeth II’s father and his remarkable friendship with maverick speech therapist Lionel Logue. Fascinating, moving and often humorous it charts the personal relationship that developed between England’s reluctant King George VI, plagued by a nervous stammer, and his irreverent Australian speech therapist.
As the second son of George V, Prince Albert “Bertie” was not expected to ascend to the throne, but when his brother Edward abdicates to marry American Wallis Simpson, Bertie, as his successor, is crowned King George VI.
George becomes King as radio is taking off as a mass medium and the Second World War looms. Thrust into the international spotlight he must speak not only to the nation but to the people of the British Empire, across the world. His wife, Queen Elizabeth – the future Queen Mother – is tireless in her belief in him. Having tried all the traditional doctors she engages unorthodox outsider, Logue, to help him find a voice that can inspire a nation on the brink of war.
This new trailer is similar to the domestic trailer that we saw a couple of weeks ago but has quite a bit of new footage. The King’s Speech is released in the UK, 7th January.