Entertainment : \'The King\'s Speech\' tells every stutterer\'s story

     There was a time when all a King had to do was look good in his uniform and keep from falling off his horse.

     Then the microphone came along.

      Anyone who has ever stood before a microphone, and anyone who has feared that how they speak would interfere with what they were trying to say, will love "The King's Speech.

    The movie opened Friday at the Vinton Palace, a few days after receiving "Best Picture" and other Academy Awards.

    It's certainly one of the best things to come out of Hollywood, and certainly much better than most movies these days. See Marcy Horst's summary Here. But you have to see it this weekend; it's only on through Sunday.

The story

     Bertie was born to a strict family. His parents forced him to use his right hand although he was naturally left-handed. He soon developed other problems, including a serious stammer that lasted well into adulthood. This became apparent to an entire nation when Bertie -- Albert Frederick Arthur George, the Duke of York, and the son of King George V -- had to make a national speech in 1925. And although he was not the first-born son of the King, Bertie soon realized that the throne was a possibility. He hired Lionel Logue, an actor and elocution student who had helped shell-shocked soldiers at the end of The Great War (it was not called World War I until after World War II) to overcome their speech problems. Lionel and Bertie worked daily to help Bertie overcome his speech impediment until Bertie became King George VI.

Why you should go

     The movie is full of history and beautiful photography showing London from the 1920s through 1939. It's thoughtful and clever and funny. Anyone who has overcome any kind of speech impediment will probably see themselves in the story. I did.

What you should know before you go

    The one part of the movie that probably is not historically based shows Lionel getting Bertie to say vulgar American words as a technique to combat his stuttering. These scenes which include the F-word made the audience laugh, but were probably not part of the actual speech therapy sessions.

My favorite part

     "I helped them find their voice, and let them know they had a friend to listen to them."