The King Speaks

Finding one's own voice, figuratively speaking, can be difficult, even under the best circumstances. It can be that much worse when the challenge is literal, as was the case with England's King George VI (1895–1952), who reluctantly assumed the throne in 1936 following his older brother's abdication—and did so with the hindrance of a debilitating stutter. His inspiring story, popularized in the award-winning film The King's Speech, is now supplemented with this documentary that reveals further details about the monarch's triumphs and struggles through interviews with royal insiders and with former patients of Lionel Logue, the unorthodox speech therapist who treated the king's condition. Extensive, rare archival footage illustrates the king's quiet personal battle to sound composed at a time when his country needed a strong leader to shepherd it through economic upheaval and war. Despite a somewhat abrupt ending, the film covers its material well, making it a fine companion piece to its theatrical counterpart. Recommended for a wide range of audiences, from history buffs to royal watchers to seekers of inspirational tales.—Brent Marchant, Chicago