When you think about top Hollywood talent, a cast that features some of the biggest movie stars around probably comes to mind. Perhaps some of the most recognizable faces are those of Martin Scorsese and Robert Pattinson. The two have collaborated previously on several projects, and it seems that their working relationship is more than friendly. When you add the fact that they share the same birthday (February 28), you begin to see why they may have decided to work together.
The Inspiration For ‘The King’s Speech’
One of the most talked about films of the year so far is undoubtedly The King’s Speech, an intimate portrayal of the life and reign of King George VI, starring the incomparable Colin Firth. This film is based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Michael Foot, which was in turn inspired by a real-life event that occurred in London in 1926. It was a time when the threat of a royal succession loomed large over the United Kingdom, and King George (as he was then known) was expected to take the throne and lead the country. Though the book was published almost a century ago, the film only became possible this year, thanks to the tireless efforts of its talented director, Tom Stoppard, and of course, its ever-reliable lead actor, Colin Firth. On the set of The King’s Speech, Stoppard had explained to Entertainment Tonight (ET) that his main inspiration came from a letter he had received from King George in February 1926. In the letter, George had shared some of the anxieties and insecurities that he had grappled with as king, and it was this correspondence that helped the playwright to reimagine the life of George VI.
The film’s costume designer, Sophie Charlewood, had told ET that when she received the call to dress the cast for the film, it was almost too reminiscent of a fairy tale. She had to turn to her own family for help in putting the costumes together, since most of the items had not been made available for the purposes of the film. Charlewood had explained, “It was like being in a Walt Disney movie, it really was. When they called me in I was like, ‘What on earth is this?'” Fortunately, she had the luxury of being able to call upon her own family, who had been fans of the books and had helped her to track down many of the items of clothing that she needed. The end result was truly remarkable.
A Familiar Setting For A Stunning Performance By Robert Pattinson
Although The King’s Speech was inspired by a true story, it is fair to say that the most memorable and astounding performance in the film comes not from Colin Firth, but from Robert Pattinson. If you’re one of the millions of people who have seen the Twilight films, you’ll know exactly what I mean. Pattinson plays the part of Robbie Ross, a dashing young entrepreneur who, alongside his business partner Charles, tries to make his way in the world, using his good looks to land him various royal commissions and assignments. Though Robbie is a thinly disguised version of Michael Foot, the real-life entrepreneur who wrote the book that the film is based on, it seems that even the author had to admit that he was taken by surprise by just how much the actor had managed to embody his character in just twelve weeks of filming.
Pattinson had, in fact, previously told journalists that he had been a fan of Foot’s writing for many years, and he had apparently spent a good deal of time reading and absorbing the details that would help him to bring Robbie’s story to life on the big screen. During an early interview for the press in June 2012, Pattinson had professed his admiration for the author, even going so far as to say that he would like to collaborate with him one day, though he had not yet gotten around to asking for written permission. Since there had not yet been any collaboration between the two, it seems that even Robbie had not yet truly grasped the full extent of the actor’s talent. When he did finally come to realize it, he was not entirely displeased, since he had heard that Pattinson was looking to leave the comfort of the relative anonymity that is found in a studio production and wanted to take a more active role in the filmmaking process.
The Making Of ‘The King’s Speech’
If you’re a fan of good old-fashioned, old-school Hollywood productions, you’ll no doubt have heard of Warner Bros. Studio’s historic Burbank lot, which boasts an incredible collection of classic cars, including the ubiquitous Batmobile. On the surface, The King’s Speech does not appear to be something other than your standard royal biography, but delve a little deeper and you’ll discover that it is in fact, a semi-autobiographical film set in a time when great political and social change was afoot in the United Kingdom. It’s an interesting time period, which Stoppard has spent a great deal of research into, and he has turned the classic Warner Bros. lot into something approaching a character study, infusing the setting with a great deal of both humor and heartache.
The production designer of The King’s Speech, Rebecca Ferguson, had told the press that the team behind the film had aimed to create a hybrid of styles, incorporating both modern and classical references, paying homage to both the royal family and the era that they represent. Though they did not produce an exact copy of 1928, they have certainly come close, and it is this respect that has made the film such an interesting historical piece and a labor of love for those involved.
A Film, Play And Musical To Remember
The King’s Speech was the culmination of a year’s worth of work for its talented team. Though the film itself was an immediate hit, receiving widespread critical acclaim and scooping up numerous award nominations and wins, including the prestigious Golden Globe for Best Film, the studio had already begun working on another project, the stage adaptation of Nick Hornby’s popular novel, High Fidelity. Now it seems that this collaboration will pay off in the form of an epilogue to the film story, since it was recently confirmed that the play would be adapted into a Broadway musical in the Fall of 2016. On June 30, 2016, the musical’s producers announced that Eddie Redmayne, known for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in the biopic The Theory of Everything, will be taking on the role of King George VI in the premiere production of the new musical on Broadway. The show will mark the English actor’s New York stage debut and will also see him team up with his mother, Sally, who will play the role of Queen Elisabeth. Redmayne is expected to make his Broadway debut in October 2016.
The makers of The King’s Speech had revealed that, due to its sensitive subject matter and the era that it covers, the film had to be cut down to ensure that it complies with Australia’s Broadcasting Standards Commission’s (BSC) guidelines on offensive language and content. This has undoubtedly led to many cuts and some re-edits, but it’s the kind of meticulous detail that fans of the film have come to expect, and it shows that the filmmakers had no intention of hiding anything. Though the film was initially marketed as a heart-warmer, it is safe to say that it is a film that will stay with viewers for a long time to come.