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Mad monarchies
by William Killeen
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Nigel Hawthorne received an Oscar nomination for his 1995 portrayal of George III in The Madness of King George. |
The Madness of King George chronicles the mental deficiencies of one of England's more notorious monarchs. The film centers on King George III, the British king who reigned during the American Revolution, and his documented cases of delirium following the war's end. The result is something that is not quite a historical drama and not quite a comedy: A treat for fans of all things British, historical, or psychological.
King George III, under the stress of losing the American colonies in the fight for independence, has become secluded from the English aristocracy. Rumors quickly circulate as to the King's mental state, with many of George's enemies waiting patiently for an opportunity to dethrone or otherwise weaken the unfortunate king. His few public appearances, marked by erratic outbursts of behavior, do little to balance the growing political opposition to the monarch's rule. The King's supporters quickly begin taking drastic action to ensure that the madness of King George does not bring an end their majesty's rule and, hence, the stability of England's government.
The Madness of King George carries the expected Anglo trappings: The costumes, the powdered wigs, and the acerbic dialogues are all here. The film even showcases Nigel Hawthorne, an accomplished British stage actor, as King George. He adds his own force of personality into the role, giving the king a whimsical edge, a frightening temper, and an endearing honesty all at once.
Despite its comedic gloss, The Madness of King George , ultimately succeeds because of its frank--and at times disturbing--portrayal of psychological illness.
The Lion in Winter is a 1968 movie featuring the acrimonious relationship between King Henry II of England and his wife, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Despite their disagreements, the two are bound to each other: Not only as husband and wife, but as the deciders of Britain's future. The Lion in Winter is a true love story, albeit with backstabbing, coup d'etats, and murder attempts. But be prepared for the plot to take a backseat to the acting and cutthroat dialogue in this film.
Having lost their firstborn son long ago, King Henry and Queen Eleanor entered into a dispute as to who among their remaining sons should inherit the throne: Henry's favorite son, John, or Eleanor's favorite and second-born son, Richard. As a response to the argument, Henry has Eleanor imprisoned, with the provision of being released every Christmas to celebrate with the family. During these visits, Henry and Eleanor quickly begin scheming against each other for the future of the English throne, encouraging their sons and friends to join in.
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Throughout, the camera creates an atmosphere of suspicion. The narrow passageways, the hushed meetings on darkened rapports, the overhead view of Eleanor and Henry's bed are all filled with symbolic underpinnings and dubious overtones. The close-up shots of the characters delivering their incriminating lines are equally effective in alluding to the treachery inherent in the storyline.
While the plot and 12 th century setting bustles with courtly intrigue and deviously subtle plot twists, the sell-baby of this movie are the conversations between Henry and Eleanor. Peter O'Toole (Henry II) and Katharine Hepburn (Eleanor of Aquitaine) portray the caustic couple brilliantly, each giving the character his or her own style of villainy. The dialogue is at times dramatic, at others comedic but always clever and precise. |
The Lion in Winter seems at first to be the story of a bitterly separated couple who just happen to be the most powerful two people in a nation. Hidden beneath the shadowy camera angles and the stinging dialogues is the story of a marriage that has lasted despite every conceivable factor to the contrary. A fine film for that "Happily, angrily married" couple to watch.
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