The King's Speech, a film well worth watching ****

The King's Speech, directed by Tom Hooper, is enjoying deserved success at the box office and among critics.
The cast, which includes Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Sir Michael Gambon, Anthony Andrews, Sir Derek Jacobi, Timothy Spall and Claire Bloom,  is very strong and the acting is superb.
There are some excellent cameo performances. Colin Firth will be undoubtedly nominated for an Oscar; he has already won awards, including a BAFTA, for his role in this fine film.

The subject of a stammering king trying to overcome his speech impediment would seem to have a limited chance of commercial success, but the film is utterly charming, moving and uplifting.  It is very sympathetic to King George VI (Colin Firth) and his Queen Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), showing Edward VIII (Guy Pearce) and Mrs Simpson (Eve Best) in a bad light as odious, selfish and shallow hedonists.