Colin Firth’s portrayal of the young King George VI, forced to overcome his stuttering in order to make a speech that would rouse his countrymen to fight the Germans, won him the Oscar. This true story of personal courage won the Oscars for Best Picture, Actor, Original Screenplay, and Director. The King seeks help from an Australian speech therapist with a new, unproven treatment. The result was not only an inspiring speech, but also a rich friendship. The Oscar winning original screenplay, was written by David Seidler, who had to overcome stuttering himself.

Critical raves:

NPR, Bob Mondello: It’s the relationship between the two men that makes the film work: Geoffrey Rush’s teacher cracking the quip, and Colin Firth so persuasive as the panicky king that by the time he gets to his crucial speech about going to war, you’ll be panicking right along with him.

San Francisco Chronicle, Amy Biancolli: The King’s Speech is a warm, wise film – the best period movie of the year and one of the year’s best movies.

Portland Oregonian, Shawn LevyDec 24, 2010 100 It’s a fine, absorbing work, built with brilliance and without excessive showiness or flash. It feels, in fact, like a classic virtually upon its arrival.
Washington Post, Ann Hornaday: It’s the kind of absorbing, attractive, unfailingly tasteful enterprise that a critic can recommend without caveat.
Rolling Stone, Peter Travers: Two men alone create an epic landscape of feeling in one of the very best movies of the year.
Miami Herald, Connie Ogle: Tom Hooper’s terrific, Oscar-worthy film is not merely a spot-on period piece; it’s also a heartfelt study in the shadings of courage, a film about duty and friendship that’s often warmly funny and sometimes painful to watch.
Orlando Sentinel, Roger Moore: Engrossing and moving story of a alternately warm and combative relationship.
Philadelphia Inquirer, Carrie Rickey: Under Hooper’s deft direction, it packs the suspense of a thriller.
Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert: What we have here is a superior historical drama and a powerful personal one.
New York Post, Lou Lumenick: Old-school filmmaking at its best.
New York Observer, Rex Reed: As the actor of the year in the film of the year, I can’t think of enough adjectives to praise Firth properly. The King’s Speech has left me speechless.
New York Daily News, Joe Neumaier: Despite being about a royal family at a critical moment in history, The King’s Speech doesn’t shout about its many strengths. Rather, it urges you to lean in close, where its intelligence and heart come through loud and clear.
Christian Science Monitor, Peter Rainer: A remarkable movie about a remarkable friendship. It honors the audience’s intelligence, which makes it a double rarity.
Wall Street Journal, Joe Morgenstern: No screen portrait of a king has ever been more stirring-heartbreaking at first, then stirring. That’s partly due to the screenplay, which contains two of the best-written roles in recent memory, and to Mr. Hooper’s superb direction.