UNITED KINGDOM: Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush attend premiere of The King's Speech at the London Film Festival

Record ID: 724365

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush attend premiere of The King's Speech at the London Film Festival
  • Date: 23rd October 2010
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (FILE - MAY 14, 1945) (CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL) (GAUMONT BRITISH NEWSREEL) KING GEORGE VI'S SPEECH ON VICTORY IN EUROPE DAY DELIVERED FROM BUCKINGHAM PALACE WITH FILM OF CROWDS GATHERED OUTSIDE BUCKINGHAM PALACE
  • Embargoed: 7th November 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVAA9RWVQOVU8C71KKPFXY2JEMHN
  • Story Text: "The King's Speech", heavily-tipped for Oscar glory, gets its homegrown premiere at the BFI London Film Festival.
    The biopic heavily tipped for an Academy Award about King George VI's stammering problems, "The King's Speech," made its premiere before a home crowd at the BFI London Film Festival on Thursday (October 21).
    The film, which stars Colin Firth as Britain's reluctant King George VI, and Geoffrey Rush as his speech therapist Lionel Logue, won the Toronto Film Festival's People's Choice award last month.
    Other films that won that prize -- "American Beauty," "Crash," and "Slumdog Millionaire" -- later walked off with best picture Oscars.
    Firth's King George, the father of Queen Elizabeth II, is initially reluctant to ascend to the crown following the abdication of his brother Edward VIII to marry U.S. socialite Wallace Simpson. Plagued by a nervous stammer, King George enlists the help of Logue and is eventually able to lead the country into World War II.
    After receiving a nod for his performance in last year's "A Single Man," directed by Tom Ford, Firth remained humble about his chances the second time round.
    "It's encouraging. You can't really answer any questions on it but only that it's had two screenings and it's off to a great start," he told reporters.
    He added the film opened up the prejudices against therapy in the 1930s, especially with a British royal seeking the help of a "commoner": "It was an extraordinary insight into that therapeutic process, particularly for that generation of men in 1937 and the obstacles and their suspicions of therapy and their suspicions of all psychology really. So in the evolution of men and what they're like, it's been a very interesting thing to observe."
    Rush plays the irreverent speech therapist who through unconventional and controversial methods, attempts to tackle the king's speech. When asked what he thought the reaction of the royal family would be to the film, he joked to Reuters Television: "I don't know whether Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II ever saw Helen Mirren's performance (in "The Queen"), I don't know. But it's better to say look, we're really trying to honour this story with a lot of integrity because we believe in it. We think the Duke of York becoming the king and battling his own frightening disability and being up against someone like Hitler, who was a great orator, you know what I mean, it's better for us to create what story we want to tell and hopefully they like it."
    Helena Bonham Carter was joined by her partner director Tim Burton at the gala screening who signed autographs for fans.
    She said both Firth and Rush deserved Oscar gold.
    "I think it can actually quite do the opposite because people have expectations, they resent being told what to think of a film. People have to discover a film for themselves so although I do think Colin should get one. And Geoffrey actually," but played down any notions of herself being tipped for an Academy Award, "No I hope not. I really don't believe that because I just see the film and I just see this round thing wobbling around in the background and being really sympathetic, you know?"
    The movie is director by Briton Tom Hooper, whose previous work includes "The Damned United" and British soap opera "Eastenders". He's slated to direct a remake of "East of Eden" set for release next year.
    "Colin and I both really became very fond of King George VI through making this film. I don't think we had a preconceived idea of whether we would and it's a very, very fun portrait of the man and of (speech therapist) Lionel Logue so all I can say is, it's the queen's father, we are very respectful of that. We hope she likes it and they like it," he said.
    Executive producer Harvey Weinstein also attended the premiere, with Time magazine writing that "The King's Speech" could restore his reputation as "a brilliant, indefatigable entrepreneur and … propel him on stage for one more Oscar night."
    "It's quality and it's a human story. In an era where Hollywood makes superhero movies, it's good to know the special effects are the words," he said about the movie.
    "The King's Speech" will be released in the United States on November 26, Australia and New Zealand on December 26, and in the United Kingdom on January 7, 2011.
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