Film possesses the power to transport us to different places and times: some real, some imagined. When filmmakers choose real stories, they face difficult artistic decisions that may or may not be supported by reality. In the award-winning film, The King’s Speech, director Tom Hooper mirrors many events from the actual speech therapy engagement between King George VI and Leonard Logue. King George VI needs to find his voice to encourage his nation during the horrors of world war with Hitler. With this terrifying time as a backdrop when radio was key to national unity, Hooper alters some elements of the relationship between king and therapist, including character behaviors and treatment methods, for dramatic purposes and audience enjoyment.
Similarities between real life evidence and the film reveal how the two main characters treated each other and the delivery of speech therapy. The first similarity emerges from the well-documented, life-long friendship of King George VI and Lionel Logue, as noted by many via “a copiously researched account of the friendship between King …show more content…
First, dramatic purposes are achieved as the King shouted curse words for an extended period of time as a part of his speech therapy. Although Professor Howell indicated that the curse words were not part of a real speech therapy treatment, having the king swear was not only dramatic, it contributed to audience enjoyment. Pleasing the audience is another reason for some of the differences between film and real life. With Lionel calling the King, “Bertie,” his childhood nickname, the audience could imagine themselves having a friendly relationship with someone of importance, like royalty. Thus, the director included the similarities and differences to attain peak dramatic impact and maximize audience