The King Speaks

As last year's Oscar winner for Best Picture demonstrated, England's Duke of York (called “Bertie” by family members and eventually known to the world as King George VI), suffered from shyness, stammering, and a crippling fear of public speaking that was only exacerbated by his father's forceful demands to “get it out!” Directed by David Barrie and narrated by Laurence Fox, this documentary covers much of the same territory as its Hollywood counterpart—Bertie's unexpected ascendancy to the throne after his brother's abdication, the loving support of his wife, Elizabeth (the Queen Mother)—while also filling in some of the informational gaps. Most notably, The King Speaks features archival footage of King George, including clips of him delivering several radio speeches, as well as interviews with some of the former patients of Lionel Logue—the Australian speech therapist (and occasional actor) who helped the monarch overcome his disability (their observations shed light on Logue's unorthodox teaching methods). As in the feature film, viewers learn of the unlikely but heartfelt friendship that developed between Logue and his royal patient, and of the lengthening shadow of Nazi domination in Europe—a situation requiring all of the oratorical skills the ruler could command. Combining archival material with first-hand accounts, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)