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ComedyDramaHistory

The Madness of King George

- His Majesty was all powerful and all knowing. But he wasn't quite all there.

Aging King George III of England is exhibiting signs of madness, a problem little understood in 1788. As the monarch alternates between bouts of confusion and near-violent outbursts of temper, his hapless doctors attempt the ineffectual cures of the day. Meanwhile, Queen Charlotte and Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger attempt to prevent the king's political enemies, led by the Prince of Wales, from usurping the throne.

Release Date : 1994-12-28

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : The Samuel Goldwyn CompanyClose Call FilmsFilm4 Productions

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Nigel Hawthorne

Character Name : George III

Original Name : Nigel Hawthorne

Gender : Male

Helen Mirren

Character Name : Queen Charlotte

Original Name : Helen Mirren

Gender : Female

Ian Holm

Character Name : Willis

Original Name : Ian Holm

Gender : Male

Anthony Calf

Character Name : Fitzroy

Original Name : Anthony Calf

Gender : Male

Amanda Donohoe

Character Name : Lady Pembroke

Original Name : Amanda Donohoe

Gender : Female

Rupert Graves

Character Name : Greville

Original Name : Rupert Graves

Gender : Male

Geoffrey Palmer

Character Name : Warren

Original Name : Geoffrey Palmer

Gender : Male

Julian Wadham

Character Name : Pitt

Original Name : Julian Wadham

Gender : Male

John Wood

Character Name : Thurlow

Original Name : John Wood

Gender : Male

Rupert Everett

Character Name : Prince of Wales

Original Name : Rupert Everett

Gender : Male

Jim Carter

Character Name : Fox

Original Name : Jim Carter

Gender : Male

Roger Hammond

Character Name : Baker

Original Name : Roger Hammond

Gender : Male

Cyril Shaps

Character Name : Pepys

Original Name : Cyril Shaps

Gender : Male

Selina Cadell

Character Name : Mrs Cordwell

Original Name : Selina Cadell

Gender : Female

Paul Corrigan

Character Name : Braun

Original Name : Paul Corrigan

Gender : Male

Matthew Lloyd Davies

Character Name : Papandick

Original Name : Matthew Lloyd Davies

Gender : Male

Caroline Harker

Character Name : Mrs Fitzherbert

Original Name : Caroline Harker

Gender : Female

Julian Rhind-Tutt

Character Name : Duke of York

Original Name : Julian Rhind-Tutt

Gender : Male

Struan Rodger

Character Name : Dundas

Original Name : Struan Rodger

Gender : Male

Adrian Scarborough

Character Name : Fortnum

Original Name : Adrian Scarborough

Gender : Male

Barry Stanton

Character Name : Sheridan

Original Name : Barry Stanton

Gender : Male

Peter Woodthorpe

Character Name : Clergyman

Original Name : Peter Woodthorpe

Gender : Male

Charlotte Curley

Character Name : Amelia

Original Name : Charlotte Curley

Gender : Female

Peter Bride-Kirk

Character Name : Royal Child

Original Name : Peter Bride-Kirk

Gender : Male

Eve Cadman

Character Name : Royal Child

Original Name : Eve Cadman

Gender : Male

Thomas Copeland

Character Name : Royal Child

Original Name : Thomas Copeland

Gender : Male

Joanna Hall

Character Name : Royal Child

Original Name : Joanna Hall

Gender : Female

Cassandra Halliburton

Character Name : Royal Child

Original Name : Cassandra Halliburton

Gender : Male

Russell Martin

Character Name : Royal Child

Original Name : Russell Martin

Gender : Male

Natalie Palys

Character Name : Royal Child

Original Name : Natalie Palys

Gender : Male

David Leon

Character Name : Footman

Original Name : David Leon

Gender : Male

Martin Julier

Character Name : Footman

Original Name : Martin Julier

Gender : Male

Dan Hammond

Character Name : Footman

Original Name : Dan Hammond

Gender : Male

Nicholas Irons

Character Name : Footman

Original Name : Nicholas Irons

Gender : Male

Nick Sampson

Character Name : Sergeant at Arms

Original Name : Nick Sampson

Gender : Male

Jeremy Child

Character Name : Black Rod

Original Name : Jeremy Child

Gender : Male

Nicholas Selby

Character Name : Speaker

Original Name : Nicholas Selby

Gender : Male

Janine Duvitski

Character Name : Margaret Nicholson

Original Name : Janine Duvitski

Gender : Female

Iain Mitchell

Character Name : Farmer

Original Name : Iain Mitchell

Gender : Male

Celestine Randall

Character Name : Lady Adam

Original Name : Celestine Randall

Gender : Male

Michael Grandage

Character Name : Amputee

Original Name : Michael Grandage

Gender : Male

James Peck

Character Name : Willis' Attendant

Original Name : James Peck

Gender : Male

Clive Brunt

Character Name : Willis' Attendant

Original Name : Clive Brunt

Gender : Male

Fergus Webster

Character Name : Willis' Attendant

Original Name : Fergus Webster

Gender : Male

Barry Gillespie

Character Name : Willis' Attendant

Original Name : Barry Gillespie

Gender : Male

Joe Maddison

Character Name : Willis' Attendant

Original Name : Joe Maddison

Gender : Male

Dermot Keaney

Character Name : Footman

Original Name : Dermot Keaney

Gender : Male

Colin McPhillamy

Character Name : MP

Original Name : Colin McPhillamy

Gender : Male

Roger Ashton-Griffiths

Character Name : MP

Original Name : Roger Ashton-Griffiths

Gender : Male

Robert Swann

Character Name : 1st MP

Original Name : Robert Swann

Gender : Male

Alan Bennett

Character Name : 2nd MP

Original Name : Alan Bennett

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

jw

@jw

2022-09-27

As monarchs go, King George is of the better kind. He's gruff and has annoying quirks, but he cares for people and country. He's neither a cruel tyrant, nor a wasteful peacock - which the prince is. Trouble is, King George is not well any more. In his head. What we can diagnose to be likely porphyria today, was simply madness back then. The Madness of King George has its aspects of tragedy, family drama, intrigue, comedy; but always present are the reflections about politics, power, monarchy and what it is, can be, should be (and whether at all). It presents itself as a period piece, but written as a theatre play in 1994, it is at the same time a contemporary deliberation, with some jibes and jokes about things which seem to never change... in the UK, at least. Viewers in The Colonies might enjoy it as well. I sure did, not least because of the great Nigel Hawthorne, who won the Best Leading Actor BAFTA for this, and plays Mr. King in a very touching way. The not-only-supporting cast is both well known, and gives excellent performances throughout. Very much recommended, if the genre doesn't put you off.

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2023-08-26

A little like Keith Michell in "Henry VIII and his Six Wives"; this was a role Nigel Hawthorne had perfected earlier (he won an Olivier award for the stage play) and so he took to the cinematic version like a duck to water. This telling of his "madness" is superb - ably reflecting the unpredictable and vacillating behaviour of the King in a plausible and engaging manner. Rupert Everett, Helen Mirren and Ian Holm lead a very capable supporting cast and the incorporation of Handel's wonderful, rousing, Georgian themes adds to this sumptuous, if at times a little overly theatrical, production.