SPEECH THERAPY FINDS VOICE IN THE KING’S SPEECH
Fear is the primary cause of stuttering, according to Lionel Loque (played by Geoffrey Rush) in The King’s Speech. Loque, an Australian, learned how to be a speech therapist by working with his World War I comrades in Britain who had post-traumatic stress syndrome due to the war. He learned that results would emerge from rebuilding their self-esteem and relaxing their muscles. He never expected that one day he would be a therapist for the future King George VI (played by Colin Firth). More than a biopic, The King’s Speech reveals many secrets about the royal family, including the abdication of Edward VIII (played by Guy Pearce). Americans may envy the fact that the English monarch is the one person who can talk to everyone in the country in a truly grandparently manner because kings and queens are above partisan politics and set the cultural tone. Although the setting is often supposed to be somewhere in royal castles, a variety of lesser buildings serve to give the impression of regal opulence. The story is based on the 2010 book of the same title (subtitled How One Main Saved the British Monarchy) by Loque and coauthor Peter Conradi. Directed by Tom Hooper, titles at the film’s end indicate how the king rewarded the man who gave him his voice. MH