The King's Speech

Colin Firth stars in this magnificent film that takes an obscure footnote from history and transforms it into an enthralling human drama

A magnificent film that takes an obscure footnote from  history and transforms it into an enthralling human drama.

It's the 1930s, the era of the wireless, but future King George VI (Colin Firth) suffers from a debilitating stutter and stammer that renders him speechless. He's just about given up hope but then his wife (Helena Bonham Carter), the future Queen Mum, visits eccentric Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) and talks the reluctant prince into going along.

With its superb script (beware the surprisingly strong language as Firth is encouraged to swear as part of his therapy), this instant classic is as moving, witty, clever, informative and dramatic as you could wish for. Firth is word-perfect, as profoundly touching as he is effortlessly amusing, the warm and funny Bonham Carter offers brilliant support and Rush is a right royal scene-stealer.

The film won four Oscars, for Firth, director Tom Hooper, David Seidler's screenplay and Best Film, and was nominated for eight more.