Synopsis
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.
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Cast
- Nigel HawthorneGeorge III
- Helen MirrenQueen Charlotte
- Ian HolmWillis
- Anthony CalfFitzroy
- Amanda DonohoeLady Pembroke
- Rupert GravesGreville
- Geoffrey PalmerWarren
- Julian WadhamPitt
- John WoodThurlow
- Rupert EverettPrince of Wales
Recommendations
- 100
Chicago Sun-Times
The Madness of King George tells the story of the disintegration of a fond and foolish old man, who rules England, yet cannot find his way through the tangle of his own mind. I am not sure anyone but Nigel Hawthorne could have brought such qualities to this role. - 100
Rolling Stone
Comedy and tragedy cohere in this extraordinary film of Alan Bennett's play. - 90
The Guardian
The 1994 film of the play by Alan Bennett is a model of historical accuracy and psychological tact. A triumph. - 90
The New York Times
The Madness of King George mixes the ebullience of Tom Jones with a pop-theatrical royal back-stabbing that is reminiscent of films like The Lion in Winter. That makes it a deft, mischievous, beautifully acted historical drama with exceptionally broad appeal. - 88
ReelViews
The Madness of King George is much more than a simple study of one man's descent into insanity. With a style that's more tongue-in-cheek than melodramatic, the film is always witty and occasionally satirical. The characterizations are flawless (as well as historically accurate), and the political wrangling of the Tories and Whigs (led by PM Pitt and Charles Fox, respectively) provide a deliciously complex backdrop. - 88
Washington Post
Riotous adaptation of Alan Bennett's comedy about monarchal frailty. - 83
Entertainment Weekly
The humor built into this sharp-witted human comedy is enhanced in the translation. Meanwhile, the arrestingly stylized imagery of the original Madness has not been lost. - 80
Empire
An excellent debut from director Hytner. The real treat, though, is Hawthorne who, whether lecturing his family on regal responsibility or taking a dump in front of the PM, gives what is undoubtedly the performance of his career.
