(1925) King George V reigns over a quarter of the world\'s people.He asks his second son, the Duke of York, to give the closing speech at the Empire Exhibition in hand...Sterilized.
Now...if I may take the liberty? ...insert them into your mouth.Wembley, London.The King\'s Speech You\'re live in two minutes.Your Royal Highne Sir Thank you Let the microphone do the work, sir.I am sure you will be splendid.Just take your time.Time to go.Good afternoon.This is the BBC National Programme and Empire Services taking you to Wembley Stadium for the Closing Ceremony of the Empire Exhibition.where His Royal Highne the Duke of York will read a meage from the his father, his Majesty, King George the fifth.British Colonies and Dominions have taken part, making this the largest Exhibition staged anywhere in the world.Your Majesty, flashes, and steady red means you\'re live.Using the new invention of radio The Opening Ceremony was the first time his Majesty the King addreed his subjects on the wirele.At the close of the first Season The air to the throne His Royal Highne the Prince Wales made his first broadcast And today, his younger brother his Royal Highne, the Duke of York will give his inaugural broadcast to the Nation and the World.I have received from his Majesty the…the…the ...the King Piccadilly, London
Inhale deep into your lungs, your Royal Highne.Relaxes your larynx, does it not? Cigarette smoking calms the nerves and gives you confidence.If Your Highne will be so kind as to open your Excuse me, Doctor.What is the purpose of this? It\'s the claic approach that cured Demosthenes.That was in Ancient Greece.Has it worked since? Now if you would be so kind as to read.A wealth of words.
Fight against those marbles Your Royal Highne.Enunciate!
A little more concentration your Royal Highne.I nearly swallowed the bloody things! Thank you so much, Doctor, it\'s been most interesting.Your Royal Highne Insert marbles!
He can insert his own bloody marbles....! Tick, tock, tick, tock.
You can\'t keep doing this, Bertie.I know.Promise me Promise me: no more.Harley Street
Dr.Chapman, L Logue, Speech Defects
Australia is calling;Sydney bridge celebrations mar Hello.Is anyone there? I\'m just in the loo.
Hello Mrs Johnson, there you are.
Sorry I don\'t have receptionist.I like to keep things simple
“Poor and content is rich and rich enough” For?
Shakespeare.How are you? How do you do Ahh, traveling alone
Now, this is slightly awkward But I\'m afraid you\'re late.Yes, I\'m afraid I am.Where\'s Mr Johnson? He doesn\'t know I\'m here.
That\'s not a very promising start.
No.My husband has seen everyone to no avail.He\'s given up hope.He hasn\'t seen me.
You\'re awfully sure of yourself.
I\'m sure of anyone who wants to be cured.
Of course he wants to be cured.My husband is required to speak publicly.Perhaps he should change jobs.He can\'t.Indentured servitude? Something of that nature.Yes Well we need to have your hubby pop by...Tuesday would be good...He can give me his personal details and I\'ll make a BOVRIL NOURISHES YOU TO RESIST \'FLU Still sounds a bit rough.
You make me drive too slowly, Dad! Did you pick mum up from Bridge?
Yes, I\'ve hardly been out of the car all day.I had a special visitor this afternoon.May I be please leave the table? How special is special?
You must stay, bored stupid,listening to your parents\' frank appraisal.And then we can take it from there Doctor, forgive me.I do not have a “hubby”.We don\'t „pop\'.
And nor do we never talk about our private lives.You must come to us.Sorry, Mrs J, my game, my turf, my rules.You\'ll have to talk over with your husband And then you can speak to me on the telephone Thank you very much for dropping by.Good afternoon And what if my husband were the Duke of York? The Duke of York? Yes the Duke of York.I thought the appointment was for “Johnson”?Highne.Your Royal Highne.Johnson was used during the Great War when the Navy didn\'t want the enemy to know „he\' was aboard.Am I considered the enemy? You will be if you remain un-obliging.You\'ll appreciate the need for absolutely discretion Of course.How did you find me? Your Royal Highne The President of the Society for Speech Therapists Eileen McCleod? She\'s a sport.She warned me your antipodean methods were “unorthodox and controversial”.
I warned her...they were not my favorite words.I can cure your husband.But for my method to work I need trust and total equality here in the safety of my consultation room.No exceptions.Well then, in that case...When can you start? inane conversation.Thanks, dad!
- And mum.You\'re meeting Jean? No, someone else
Doctor? Doctor? Don\'t you help you brother with the washing up I\'m fine
Who is it Lionel?
Why bring it up if you can\'t talk about it?
Myrtle, just a woman looking to help her husband.And I had a „call\'.For an audition
- One of my favourates.- Aren\'t they all.
- Could be a lot of fun – I\'m sure you\'ll be splendid In the amateur scene, they\'re a highly regarded group From Putney.
That\'s all girls.Tomorrow, Chapter ,The FlightI can\'t wait Oh, to fly away! Weren\'t they lucky! Now Papa tell a story!
Could I be a penguin instead? Now I want to a penguin story.Very quickly
Once there were two princees
Princees Elisabeth, and Princees Margret Their papa was a penguin
This was because he been turned into by a wicked witch
This was inconvenient for him because he loved to hold his princees in his arms
and you can\'t do that if you\'re a penguin, because you have wings like herrings.Herrings don\'t have wings.
Penguins have wings which like the shape of herrings.And what make matters worse she sent him to the South Pole
which is an awfully long walk back if you can\'t fly.When he reached the water He dived in, through the depth so fast that he was in Southampton Waters by lunchtime.From there he took the .to Weybridge, changed at Clapham Junction and asked a paing Mallard the way to Buckingham Palace.He swam up the Thames and out through the plughole, giving the cook mama and Mrs Whittaker quite a Logue.Lionel Logue.Well, Mr Logue,
I\'m not hearing the cries of a deformed creature yearning to be King.
Nor did I realize Richard the Third was King of the Colonies.
I do know all the lines.I\'ve played the role before.Perth.
- Major theater town, is it?Ah.You\'re playing music.let me play it back to youjust take your time form your words carefully Science, I am enabled, this C Relax! Just try it!
...this Christmas Day, to speak to all my p- Do it!
Lying bastard.
- You\'re playing music.that is the question:yes this is actually quite good fun.Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmother.Short the humming each time Manufacturing…the district…
- Another deep breath and “jack and Jill”went up the hill Just sway… perfect
We are not permit to ask…to Loosen the shoulder
Ding dong bell, Puy\'s in the well Who put her in? Little Johnny Green Have a short memory Bertie? Come oncowking
Anyone who can shout vowels in an open window can learn to deliver a speech.it is ...fatherfather Sandringham Estate
- Hello, Bertie.I see you\'ve been coming outwhat\'s going on here?… what you\'re taking about would you do that?Let me help you sirthank you sirDavid, the dinnerYou sure?Oh! For heaven\'s sake..that was a lucky gue! Don\'t listen to egghead.Go on, Dad. “the isle is full of noises, Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not.Sometimes a thousand twanging instruments Will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That, if then I had waked after long sleep, Will make“Swanee River”
- I love that song.Sing me the chorus.I\'m not going to sit me sleep again:”
Alright, clever clogs, what comes next?the clouds me thought “The clouds me thought would open, And show riches Ready to drop upon me; that...”” ...when I waked, I cried to dream again.” It\'s such a sad thought.My next patient must be a bit early.You better go lads, I\'m sorry.Won\'t be a moment, Clifford.Bertie, they told me not to expect you.Sorry about your father.I don\'t wish to intrude..No..Not at all, please come in I\'ve been practising.One hour a day.In spite of everything.What\'s going on there? I was, sorry, mucking around with my kids.Do you feel like working today? A Curtis bi-plane.I\'ll put on some hot milk.Logue, I\'d kill for something stronger.I wasn\'t there for my father\'s death.Still makes me sad.I can imagine so.He was brewer.At least there was free beer.Here\'s to the memory of your father.I was informed, after the fact, my father\'s …last words were:
“Bertie has more..guts than the rest of his brothers..put together.”
He couldn\'t say that to my face.My brother.What about him?I\'m sorry? What songs do you know? here wobbling You can with me.
Because… you\'re peculiar.I take that as a compliment.Rules are rules
I\'m not…crooning “Swanee River!” Try “Camptown Races” then.
“My brother D, he said to me, doodah doo-dah...”No
Does it feel strange, now that David\'s on the throne? Tell you the truth, It was a relief...Knowing..I wouldn\'t be ..King.
But unle he produces an heir, you\'re next in line.And your daughter, Elizabeth, would then succeed you.
“You\'re barking up the wrong tree now, Doctor, Doctor.”
“Lionel,” You didn\'t stammer.
Of course I didn\'t stammer, I was singing! Well, as a little reward,
you get to put some glue on these struts.No, not at all David and I were very close.Young bucks...You know.Did you chase the same girls?
David was always very helpful in arranging introductions.
We shared… the expert ministrations of “Paulette” in Paris.
Not at the same time of course.Did David ever tease you? Oh yes they all did.
“Buh-buh-buh-Bertie”.Father encouraged it. “Get it out, boy!”
Said it would make me stop.” Said...”I was afraid of my father,
and my children are damn well going to be afraid of
8 me”.
Are you naturally right handed? Left.I was… punished.Now I use the right.Yes, that\'s very common with stammerers.Anything other corrections? Knock knees.Metal… splints were made...worn…day and night That must have been painful.Bloody agony.Straight legs now.Who were you closest to in your family? Nannies.Not my first nanny..she loved David...hated me.When I..was presented to my parents for the daily viewing, she\'d...She pinch me so I\'d cry, and be…handed back to her immediately, then she wouldn\'t…
- sing itDo you want a top-up?you\'re the first ordinary Englishman...Thank youI have to keep doing this This is your fault.Oh no One hundred year old spruces removed to improve the
view!
Who do you think she is?
Nonethele...we must try to be pleasant towards Mrs Simpson.
You know she calls me “The Fat Scottish Cook”? You\'re not fat.I\'m getting plump.You seldom cook.
- I sifted seven.Their Royal Highnees the Duke and Duche of York.
How lovely to see you both.
Welcome to our little country shack.I came at the invitation of the King.Your Majesty
- All rightThank you.DavidDoing what?Haven\'t I any rights?where have you been all this time? I\'ve been talking to.Never mind.I tried to be All that work, down the drain.My own ..brother...I couldn\'t say..a single word to him in reply! Why do you stammer more with David than you do with me?
Because you\'re bloody well paid to listen! Bertie I\'m not a geisha girl.
Stop trying to be so bloody clever!
What is it about David that stops you speaking?
What is it about you that bloody well make you want to go on about it the whole bloody time?
Vulgar but fluent.You don\'t stammer when you swear.Bugger off!
Is that the best you can do?
Well bloody bugger to you, you beastly bastard.A public school prig can do better than that.Shit.Shit, shit, shit!
Defecation flows trippingly from the tongue? Because I\'m angry! Ah.Know the f-word? F..Fornication(通奸)？ Fornication? Oh Bertie.(Fuck)
Fuck.Fuck, fucking, fuck! Bugger, bugger, bugger! Fuck Fuck a
- Balls Balls FuckityAbsolutely not.
But he\'s going to anyway.All hell\'s broken loose.Can\'t they carry on privately? If only they would.
Where does that leave you?
I know my place! I\'ll… do anything within my power to keep my brother on the throne.Is it that serious? Your place may be on the throne.I am not an alternative to my brother.Don\'t take liberties! That\'s bordering on treason.I\'m just saying you could be King.You could do it! That is treason! I\'m trying to get you to realize you need not be government?
Does the King do what he wants,
or does he do what his people expect him to do?
As crowds on Donning Street watch Ministers come and go
There raised an age-old problem.
Can the King separate his personal life from his public duty?
- What\'s the matter, love?Don\'t attempt to instruct me on my duties! I\'m the son of a… King...the brother of a King.You\'re the disappointing son of a brewer! A jumped-up jackeroo from the outback! You\'re nobody.These seions are over! Through here sir.Garden Entrance.Prime Minister\'s Office.Dawning Street It\'s not just because she\'s an American.That the least of it, it\'s because she is soon to be a twice divorced American and the King, as the head of Church of England… can not marry a divorced woman.And sir, I apologize for the nature of this, but...according to Scotland Yard, the King has not always poe exclusive rights to Mrs.Simpson\'s favours and affections, sharing them with a married used car salesman a certain Mr Guy Trundle.In addition, it is also rumored that Hitler\'s ambaador, Count von Ribbentrop, sends her carnations every day......Should His Majesty continue to ignore the advice of His Government, He must abdicate.Otherwise His Government has no choice but to resign.Prime Minister, you\'d leave the country without a…He\'s scared.Frightened of his own shadow.Isn\'t that why they come to you?
This fellow could really be somebody great.He\'s fighting me.
Perhaps he doesn\'t want to be great.Perhaps that\'s what you want.
I might have overstepped the mark.Apologize.Deep of good.
I\'m very sorry, Mr Logue,the Duke is busy I\'m happy to wait.Or I could come back later.As I said, the Duke is terribly busy.Thank you Thank you
Parliament will not support the marriage.But there were other reasons for concern.He was carele with state papers.He lacked commitment and resolve.
There were those that worried where he would stand when war with Germany.We\'re not coming to that?
Indeed we are, Sir.Prime Minister Baldwin may deny this,
but Hitler\'s intent is crystal clear.War with Germany will come,
and we will need a King we can all stand behind united.
I fear..my brother is of sound mind at this time Have you thought what you will call yourself? I…I…
Certainly not Albert, Sir.Too Germanic.What about George? After your father George the sixth.
It has rather a nice continuity to it, don\'t you think.David! Thank God.You look exhausted!
without the help and support of the woman I love...
And I want you to know, this decision has been made le difficult to me by the sure knowledge that my brother, with his long training in the public affairs of this country......and with his fine qualities......will be able to take my place forthwith without interruption or injury to the life and progre of the empire.Acceion Council.St James\'s Palace.th Dec, I meet you today..in..in circumstances which are ..I\'m sure you\'ll love it.Thank you darling, saddles, Margret Yes mom.Good boy.thank you Don\'t worry, we\'ll get you food in a minute Mama, will we have space for our horses in our new home? Of course we will, darling, we\'ll have a palace of rooms.Curtsey.Your Majesty.How was it? I\'m trying to… familiarise myself with what a state paper looks like.A despatch from Mr Baldwin which I don\'t understand a word of.David\'s finances.The Christmas broadcast – I think that might be a mistake.Don\'t worry about that Plans for the Coronation.I think that\'s an even bigger mistake.I\'m not a King.I\'m a naval officer.That\'s all I know I\'m not a King, not a king.No.Dear.Dear, dear man...I\'m sorry.You know, I refused your first two marriage proposals, Not because I didn\'t love you, but because I couldn\'t bear the idea of a royal life Could bear the idea of a life of tours and public duties, a life that no longer was really to be my own.Then I thought...he stammers so beautifully...they\'ll leave us alone.
STAND BY THE KING.GOD SAVE THE KING Waiting for a king to apologize, one can wait rather a long wait.I\'m afraid we\'re slightly late.This is home.Myrtle\'s at bridge.I\'ve made sure the boys are out.It\'s lovely.Absolutely lovely.Yes, of course Would you like some tea, Ma\'am? Yes.I\'ll help myself.
Off you go now.Or must I knock your heads together? Here\'s your shilling
I..understand what you were trying to say, Logue.I went about it the wrong way.I\'m sorry.So here I am.
Is the nation ready for two minutes of radio silence? Every stammer always fears they will fall back to square one.
I don\'t let that happen.
If I fail in my duty...David could come back.I\'ve seen the placards
“God Save Our… King!” They don\'t mean me.
Every other monarch in history succeeded someone who was dead, Or about to be.
My predeceor is not only alive, but very much so.Bloody me! I can\'t even give them a Christmas Speech.
- Like your Dad used to do?Yes.Bertie, come here
12Yes Shall we go through? Trust me it\'s important.What is it? Your...your...It\'s “Your Majesty”, the first time.
After that, “Ma\'am”, as in ham, not Ma\'lm as in palm.I haven\'t told her about us.Sit down, relax.I\'m told your husband calls my husband Bertie and my husband calls your husband Lionel.I trust you won\'t call me Liz.Your Majesty, you may call me Mrs Logue, Ma\'am.Very nice to meet you, Mrs LogueYes we can.Look, I need to wait for the opportune moment.You\'re damn right.Get out there, man! Oh! Hello, Myrtle darling! You\'re early.I believe you two have met! I don\'t believe you know....King George VI? It\'s very nice to meet you Will their Majesties be staying to dinner? We would love to, such a treat, but alas...a previous engagement.What a pity.Archbishop.Welcome your Majesty.What a glorious transformation, Sir.I hope you\'ll forgive us if we continue our preparations.Now, allow me to guide you through the ceremony.We begin, of course at the West Door, then into the nave.I see all your pronouncements are to be broadcast, Archbishop.Ah, yes, wirele is indeed a Pandora\'s Box.I\'m afraid I\'ve also had to permit the newsreel cameras.The product of which I shall personally edit.Without momentary hesitation.This is Dr.Logue from Harley Street.He\'s… my speech therapist.Your Grace Had I known Your Majesty was seeking aistance I would\'ve made my own recommendation.Dr.Logue will be attending the Coronation.
Well of course I shall speak to the Dean, but it will be extremely difficult.
I should like… the Doctor to be seated in the… King\'s Box.
But members of your Family will be seated there, Sir.That why it\'s suitable.
And now, if you don\'t mind, your grace we need the premises.
My dear fellow, this is Westminster Abbey! The Church must prepare his Majesty.My preparations are equally important.With complete privacy.If you don\'t mind.Those are my wishes, Your Grace.
I will place the Abbey at Your Majesty\'s disposal...this evening.
Your Majesty.
Look, he again.Come on.
I can\'t believe I\'m walking on Chaucer and Handel and Dickens.
Everything alright? Let\'s get cracking.I\'m not here to rehearse, \"Doctor\" Logue.Call me Lionel True, you never…
called yourself \'Doctor\'.I did that for you.no training, no diploma, no..qualifications.Just a great deal of nerve.
the star chamber inquisition, is it? You asked for trust and..total equality.Bertie, I heard you at Wembley, I was there.
My son Laurie said “Do you think you could help that poor man?”
What, as a failed actor!?
It\'s true, I\'m not a doctor, and yes I acted a bit, I recited in pubs and taught elocution in schools.
When the Great War came, our soldiers were pouring back from the front,
shell-shocked and unable to speak
and somebody said,\"Lionel, you\'re very good at all this speech stuff.
Do you think you could poibly help these poor buggers”.
I did muscle therapy, exercise, relaxation, but I knew I had to go deeper.
Those poor young blokes had cried out in fear, and no-one was listening to them.
My job was to give them faith in their voice and let them know that a friend was listening.That must ring a few bells with you, Bertie.You give a very noble account of yourself.Make inquiries.It\'s all true. Inquiries have been made! You have no idea who I have breathing down my you\'re the bravest man I know.you\'ll make a bloody good king.What on earth\'s going on, Sir? It\'s quite all right, Archbishop.
Mr Logue, you should know that I have found a replacement English specialist
with impeccable credentials.Hence, your services will neck.I vouched for you and you have no…credentials.But lots of succe! I can\'t show you a certificate there was no training then.All I know I know by experience, and that war was some experience”
May plaque says, „L.Logue, Speech Defects\'.No Dr., no letters after my name.Lock me in the Tower.I would if I could! On what charge? Fraud! With war looming, you\'ve saddle this nation with a voicele King.You destroyed the happine of my family...all for the sake of ensnaring a star patient you couldn\'t poibly hope to aist! It\'ll be like mad …King George the Third, there\'ll be…Mad King George the Stammerer,
who let his people down so badly in their hour of need What\'re you doing? Get up! You can\'t sit there! Get up Why not? It\'s a chair.No, it\'s not, that is… Saint Edward\'s Chair- People have carved their name into it! That chair is the seat on which every King and Queen It\'s held in place by a large rock! That is the Stone of Scone,I don\'t care.I don\'t care how many Royal arses have sat in this chair- Listen to me...! Listen to me...! Listen to me...!Lionel Logue, Major Harding is expecting me
This is my son Laurie
- Thank you Laurie -Good luck dad
- The King\'s speech, we have about minutes to the broadcast...”
In your head, now: “I have a right to be bloody well heard!”
Bloody well heard, bloody well heard, bloody well heard myself! Now Waltz.Move! Get continuous movement. “For the second time in the lives of most of us we are at waArchbishopPrime Minister.Congratulations.First Lord of the Admiralty.I didn\'t.Thank you, Mr Churchill.I made it cozy.Some fresh air.
There you are, darling.
I am thistle sifter, I have a sieve of sifted thistles and a sieve on unsifted thistles..
I am thistle sifter, I have a sieve of sifted thistles Bertie, darling, make sure it\'s not switched on!
Remember the red light will blink four times and then I\'ve asked them to turn it off,
because we don\'t want that evil eye staring at you all the way through.One minute, sir.
I am sure you will be splendid.second, sir
Logue, however this turns out,
I don\'t know how to thank you for what you\'ve done.Knighthood? Twenty seconds.
Forget everything else and just say it to me.Say it to me, as a friend.
In this grave hour, perhaps the most fateful in our history,
I send to every household of my peoples, both at home and overseas this meage
spoken with the same depth of feeling for each one of you
as if I were able to cro your threshold and speak to you myself.
For the second time in the lives of most of us we are at war.
Over and over again we have tried to find a peaceful way out
of the differences between ourselves and those who are now our enemies.
But it has been in vain.We have been forced into a conflict.
For we are called, to meet the challenge of a principle which,
if it were to prevail, would be fatal to any civilized order in the world.
Such a principle, stripped of all disguise,
is surely the mere primitive doctrine that might is right.
For the sake of all that we ourselves hold dear,
it is unthinkable that we should refuse to meet the challenge.It is to this high purpose that I now call my people at home and my peoples acro the seas, who will make our cause their own.I ask them to stand calm and firm, and united in this time of trial.The task will be hard.There may be dark days ahead, and war can no longer be confined to the battlefield.King George VI made Lionel Logue
a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in .
This high honour from a grateful King made Lionel part of
the only order of chivalry that specifically rewards acts of personal service to the Monarch.
Lionel was with the King for every wartime speech.Through his broadcasts, George VI became a symbol of national resistance.
Lionel and Bertie remained friends for the rest of their But we can only do the right as we see the right and reverently commit our cause to God.If one and all we keep resolutely faithful to it, then, with God\'s help, we shall prevail.That was very good, Bertie.You still stammered on the “w”.
Had to throw in a few so they knew it was me.Congratulations, your Majesty.A true broadcaster.Thank you, Mr Wood.Congratulations, your Majesty.Congratulations, your Majesty.Thank you.Good Perfect Your first war time speech.Congratulation.Expect I shall have to do a great deal more.Thank you, Logue.Well done.My friend.Thank you...Your Majesty.I knew you\'d be good.Thank you......Lionel.(first time call Lionel) Onwards? Congratulations, Sir Couldn\'t have said it better myself, Sir Your Majesty, I\'m speechle.Congratulations, Sir Gentlemen.So how was Papa, Elizabeth? Halting at first, but you got much better Papa.Ble you.And how about you, Margret? You were just splendid, Papa.Of course I was.You\'re all ready? Come on girls.
lives.
