Posted on 04/02/2011 6:08:20 AM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
On April 1, a re-edited, PG-13 version of the Oscar-winning film "The King's Speech" opens in 1,000 theaters, minus a scene of swearing.
That one scene, in which speech therapist Geoffrey Rush advises tongue-tied king-to-be Colin Firth to unleash a stream of obscenities, originally earned the film an R rating.
But after winning the Academy Award for best picture--and earning more than $300 million worldwide--the Weinstein Company decided to trim the offending scene and re-release the film for family consumption.
The Weinstein Company hopes that the new verson, which will replace all the R-rated prints that have been running in U.S. theaters since December, will attract students who have dealt with speech impediments.
The new release, offically titled "The King's Speech Rated PG-13," is endorsed by the Stuttering Foundation, which notes that children who stutter have often been taunted or bullied and that the movie has helped eased the stigma.
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
What a stupid, stupid idea. The use of the f-bomb was not gratuitous. The movie is not improved by its removal.
I recommend The King’s Speech. Take the pre-teens and teens. It’s beautifully done, and the kids will learn some history.
It’s this type of movie that gives me hope Hollywood won’t become an entire cultural sewer.
I saw The King’s Speech a few weeks ago, and thought it was great. I don’t watch a lot of movies, but I would highly recommend this one.
Some parents don’t take kids to R-rated movies, so it’s a fine, IMO. Heck, back in the day, all movies were G, and we survived.
They removed it not to improve the movie, but so kids don’t have to hear it.
Absolutely right! The audience applauded when I saw it.
Like it's something they haven't heard. Any person, teen or younger, who sits through "The King's Speech" and appreciates the movie will not be turned off by the brief use of that word. But I would be amazed to find that the movie has had much of an audience below the adult level.
Except that Hollywood didn't produce it, the Brits did. Hollywood marketed it and, from what I've heard, never imagined that it would become a money maker. They distributed it for Oscar purposes only.
I just think it was unnecessary. This is the first movie in decades that I actually went to more than once, and I look forward to watching it again and again on Blueray. It is a movie without any real flaws. It was well written, spectacularly acted, and well filmed.
Bookmark.
Many parents AND grandparents look for the opportunity to find a movie where they can share HISTORY with their children and grandchildren.
What a stupid, stupid idea. The use of the f-bomb was not gratuitous. The movie is not improved by its removal.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I don’t agree. That scene was totally unnecessary. The f-bomb used to be a rarity in polite conversation. It is now, thanks to the motion picture industry, our most popular adjective. Dumbing down the English language is NOT a good thing.
It’s amazing how movies managed to successfully portray life and tell a convincing story without the use of profanity, nudity, or smut in general from the 20’s through the mid-60’s.
I believe you will be able to buy the original version if you want.
I saw it when it first came out and the audience I was in applauded it, too.
It's coming to an historic theater nearby next week. This theater plays movies for $3 after they leave the multiplex. We're going to see it again and are looking forward to it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.