The King’s Speech, a low budget movie not expected to please the masses, slowly emerged on the scene and touched the heart of all who saw it. It’s been a long time since I was excited to see a movie walk away with several academy awards, but it was worth sitting through Franco and Hathaway to see The King’s Speech take director, writer, and picture of the year awards – and of course best actor winner Colin Firth.
I must admit I, like so many women, have had a “thing” for Firth ever since the A&E mini-series Pride and Prejudice. It was nice to see him perform in something again worthy of his talent. A myriad of people contributed to the success of this movie, but it was the subject matter itself that had so many giving standing ovations in movie theaters across America.
King George VI of England
The King’s Speech is the true story of how King George VI, father of the current Queen Elizabeth, became king when his brother David abdicated the throne to marry Wallace Simpson. Years ago, I remember people romanticizing the debonair brother who gave up everything for love. Yet, to me, the greater courage and sacrifice came from the man who reluctantly became king in spite of his debilitating stutter.
There was a time when stuttering would not impede a personae. Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton, Aristotle, Roman Emperor Claudius, and Lewis Carroll were just a few famous stutterers. And perhaps King George VI would not have been as terrified if it weren’t for the advent of radio, which magnified his problem for all to hear. In spite of his trepidation, he chose duty over preference and became the king who leads his country through World War 2.
I had a beloved uncle who stuttered so I saw firsthand how difficult it could be to just get through one sentence. With speech therapy and developing certain speaking habits many people have learned to survive and even overcome this obstacle, but it’s not an easy process. Here are a few people who did just that: Theodore Roosevelt (president), Winston Churchill (British statesman), Bruce Willis (actor), James Earl Jones (voice of Darth Vader), Carly Simon (singer), Tiger Woods (golfer), and Joe Biden (vice-president). This list could go on and on.
Another man with a speech impediment went on to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. His name was Moses. He didn’t want his job either. He told God, “But my Lord, never in my life have I been a man of eloquence, either before or since you have spoken to your servant. I am a slow speaker and not able to speak well.” (Exodus 4:10) However, God assured him he was the man for the job and helped him fulfill his destiny.
I guess that’s kind of what happened to King George VI.
