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The Kings Speech (New Film)

Bernard67Arnold

Bernard67Arnold

master brummie
Am looking forward to the film about the Queens father and how he overcome his
stammer. One review I read said that Colin Firth, the actor playing the the King
physically resembled him, I would disagree with that, he was quite a small person.I saw him close up on a parade in 1950 and thought he looked really ill, but even
wearing a bearskin and on a horse he was never a big man. Bernard
 
He was my Birth Monach, and I remember him fondly as our King and was apprehensive about the film but after seeing a bit of the trailors I thought Colin Frith portrayed him admirably.
paul
 
just waiting for my grandaughter to come then we will go see it, I did see the King several times during my
army days at Windsor etc; i must be old if I am part of history, Bernard
 
Ref. Kings Speech.
I suffered with him all the way through the film. I had Rheumatic fever at 9 years old and it brought on a very bad stutter. I went through all the agonising times that he must have had. My wife said she had never seen me wipe my eyes seeing a film before. I still live with one problem, my sir name begins with a B and I have never been able to say it, I have a printed card with my name on it and its always there if needed. The general public have never been made aware of the affliction as much as they should have been. People will avoid you or take the micky. Having got that of my chest, I have had a good life, and a loving wife and I am in my 85 year. I hated school.
Geff
 
Saw the film last week and would recommend to anyone. It gives a little insight into overcoming a stammer - hopefully we've moved on and these days people get the help they need. It's an uplifting film and also helped me to better appreciate the possible consequences if Edward had remained king. Viv.
 
Ever since I can remember I have had a stammer which made me shy. Socialising was agony because of the micky tacking. I learned of the great men in history who overcame this problem and started to tackle it my way as no one appeared interested in doing so. I became so good at hiding it only when I became very stressed would it re appear. I pushed myself forward into public speaking refusing to be intimidated by the sight of an audience , which even to a confident speaker can be terrifying. My jobs have included policeman, team leader, shop steward/ convenor and barman. All of which can be stressful and all come with a critical audience.. OK may be it was not the King Of England but it was my own personal mountain to climb. It seems stammerers come in two types. Both start with the same handicap but handle it differently . Nervous breakdowns are common amongst us as I know to my cost.
Next time a stranger with stammer speaks to you please try to imagine the screwed up courage it has taken that person to merely approach you. Some will laugh , others loose patience and walk away. But as every stammerer knows.......there is always someone worse off.
 
GEFF said:
Ref. Kings Speech.
I suffered with him all the way through the film. I had Rheumatic fever at 9 years old and it brought on a very bad stutter. I went through all the agonizing times that he must have had. My wife said she had never seen me wipe my eyes seeing a film before. I still live with one problem, my sir name begins with a B and I have never been able to say it, I have a printed card with my name on it and its always there if needed. The general public have never been made aware of the affliction as much as they should have been. People will avoid you or take the micky. Having got that of my chest, I have had a good life, and a loving wife and I am in my 85 year. I hated school.
Geff
Click to expand...

Geff people like you are an inspiration especially to the younger people. Thank goodness now they do get some help. I used to cut a lads hair who had a terrible stammer but as time went on he would relax and it was hardly noticeable. I was once told not to finish a sentence for someone who has a stammer as it makes it worse for them. I can remember feeling great pity for this lad but I never let him know. He eventually got a job and settled down with a young lady. They moved away which is why I don't see him now. I hope he will be as happy as you Geff. You use a computer at 85 which is a wonderful achievement your a star!
 
Hi Geff, I too had an awlful stammer for most of my adult life, I will be 81 in March, I was lucky, in 1968
I was elected to be a branch official at Burton on Trent, the UPW as it was then sent me on a weeks
induction course at Blackpool,one of the tutors there was a speech therapist, and amazingly I almost
learned how to, not overpower it, but control how I spoke, it really changed my life, I am looking forward
to seeing the film,
I did see the King several times whilst I was in the Guards, mainly at Windsor. take care Bernard
 
It just goes to show by the posts here how common a stammer is. Geff Arkright and Bernard just show us how to "get on with it" so many winge about minor problems this just proves what can be achieved. Well done all of you and I hope the film highlights the problem and more get help and don't suffer as our forum friends did.
 
The film is directed by Tom Hooper who made the Brian Clough movie -one of the very few decent Brit movies since time began.
I don't think people apprecaite how severe stammering can be and how it has such a brutal impact on everyday life
 
Bernard67Arnold said:
Am looking forward to the film about the Queens father and how he overcome his
stammer. One review I read said that Colin Firth, the actor playing the the King
physically resembled him, I would disagree with that, he was quite a small person.I saw him close up on a parade in 1950 and thought he looked really ill, but even
wearing a bearskin and on a horse he was never a big man. Bernard
Click to expand...
I believe that Michael Palins father had a very bad stammer and supports a school
that was set up in London for children with speech problems. It is very difficult for
people who have never had a stammer to understand how it affects your
everyday life, I always made sure I had the right fare on a bus, because I was unable to
tell the conductor where I was going. I knew it was quite common, Bernard
 
Hallo Bernard, Your message about the correct fare on the bus reminded me of the same situation long ago, I would catch the No.8 tram from the Pelham Pub to Ashted row, the fare was 2.1/2d which I could not say, by the time I had learnt how to get it out they put the fare up to 3d. Thank you Wendy for your comments. Geff
 
my son had a terrible stammer..had loads of speech therepy.when he was younger and still stammers now occasionally .my granddaughter also has quite a bad stammer and it really makes me mad when people try to finish off their sentences for them...off to see the film this weekend
 
Hope you enjoy it Maggie. Can't get my other half to go to the pictures these days even though there is a pensioners special in Sutton every Wednesday evening. Jean.
 
We are off to see it tomoprrow so don't let on how it ends please.
 
my grandaughter Naomi has been to see the film and really enjoyed it she said "Its history grandad," dont I know it, I was there!!! We used to see quite a lot of the Royal family when I was stationed at Windsor, and I was in Egypt
when he died in 1952, they got everyone on parade and told us we had a new Queen, it all seems so very long ago,
Bernard
 
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Hallo Wendy, Forgot to mention that our granddaughter is now taking a degree course in Speech Therapy at Birmingham University, she wanted to work with people and she is enjoying it very much. I hope she can teach me a few things before I pop off. Geff
 
How wonderful something positive came from the problems you have. Good luck to your granddaughter I am sure she will do well.
 
Forumers may well have missed an overnight programme last night(4.30 am today) on BBC Radio 4 where the director of the film Tom Hooper discusses the relevance of the subject to today's politics. Broadcast on the "Politics UK" programme, here is the BBC i-player link:-

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00d1xhh
 
maggieuk said:
my son had a terrible stammer..had loads of speech therepy.when he was younger and still stammers now occasionally .my granddaughter also has quite a bad stammer and it really makes me mad when people try to finish off their sentences for them...off to see the film this weekend
Click to expand...
Hi Maggie. unusual for a girl to stammer, although years ago I did work at Royal
Mail with a young lady who had a dreadful stammer but mainly it affects males,
no pun intended, hope you well, Bernard
 
Richie said:
Forumers may well have missed an overnight programme last night(4.30 am today) on BBC Radio 4 where the director of the film Tom Hooper discusses the relevance of the subject to today's politics. Broadcast on the "Politics UK" programme, here is the BBC i-player link:-

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00d1xhh
Click to expand...
Hi Richie, there was a full page article on the film in the Mail on Sunday a couple of weeks
back, it was written for a book, when the publishers saw it they told the authur it would make a better
film, first choice for the King? Hugh Grant, oh no!, Bernard
 
GEFF said:
Hallo Wendy, Forgot to mention that our granddaughter is now taking a degree course in Speech Therapy at Birmingham University, she wanted to work with people and she is enjoying it very much. I hope she can teach me a few things before I pop off. Geff
Click to expand...
Hi Geff, its a good course to take, my neighbours daughter Bibi, her mother is Italian, speaks six
languages and took a degree at Sheffield, she works with children and stroke patients, the private
rate, non NHS is £45 per hour, wish her all the best, Bernard
 
I have not seen the film, in fact it was a very long time ago when I was in a movie theater.

I was speaking with a friend who saw the film in Milwaukee this week. He enjoyed the film very much but did comment that for him, as an American, it did put the focus of The Duke of Windsor and Mrs. Simpson into a perspective he could now understand.

Personally I liked King George VI and thought him a very good person; as did most of his subjects its seems. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother was also very likeable person and a great asset to this Country during her long lifetime.

Regarding stammer. I have posted elsewhere (in a football thread) about one of my firefighter colleagues who had a stammer.
 
I have not yet managed to see the film however I read an article by Peter Hitchens in which he states
that the film is full of inaccuracies and asks "Does it Matter?" He says if you go and see it remember it is
fiction. The swearing incident for example, never happened. Bernard
 
A few members of the family have watched it and my sister in law went again Thursday. Not heard a bad word about it YET. Jean.
 
We thought it excellent entertainment Jean - well worth the money.
 
I am trying to get Pete to go to Sutton to see it on Wednesday but I don't think he will. We will see Bernard and Bernie. Jean.
 
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