Bertie And Elizabeth [2002]

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Editorial reviews

Synopsis
A portayal of the life of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, focusing on her courtship with the future George VI, the birth of their daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret and the war years finally leading to Bertie's early death in 1952.

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2004-09-01 rating:
Very enjoyable production
This was a high-quality production and pretty accurate historically, at least as far as I can tell from my reading of various biographies and other books relating to the British Royal Family. The only problem I had with this teleplay was its presentation of the character of Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor.

There is one scene in particular, which shows him grabbing Wallis Simpson's backside, which is completely out of character for him. Anyway SHE would have bitten his head off if he'd tried anything like that with her in "real life", because she was always (despite anything else that can be said about her) very conscious of her dignity, as he was also...I suppose the filmmaker needed to "dramatize" what a selfish, self-centered person Edward was, but the characterization given to him in this teleplay is just not accurate, & for me, it stuck out like a sore thumb. Just showing Edward as the weak, stubborn, manipulated man he was, would have been enough -- the teleplay made him downright sleazy, which I don't think is a fault you can put down to the Duke of Windsor, tho' he had many others!

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review by: date: 2004-08-26 rating:
Good, but
I am no "fan" of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, but the way they are portrayed here is just false to historical fact. This is a good film, but it's somewhat on the "loyal" side; i.e. we're not shown any quarrels that George VI & Elizabeth had (and you can't tell me that their marriage was a storybook every single second!) Believe me, I wasn't looking for a trashy tell-all, but a little more realism and a little less schmaltz would have made a better teleplay.

I wish someone would create a teleplay about how George VI overcame his severe stammer with the help of Lionel Logue (as told by David Duff in his excellent biography of George VI). I think this would be very interesting to people who stammer, as well as reminding us what a courageous person George VI was.

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review by: man_utd_mad_nikki date: 2004-01-16 rating:
A Right Royal Knockout
The lives of George 6th and his consort Queen Elizabeth are brought to life in this stunning adaptation of theire lives. From the moment they first meet to the tragic and early death of the king.
Juliet Aubrey is first class as the late Queen Mother, while James Wilby is wonderfull as her adoring and devoted husband, and popular monarch.
The story if not a little unaccurate in the sense of theire engagemnet and the feelings with which they project to the family at the time of Edward the 8ths abdication givs a stunning portrayal of devoted couple were to one another and gives meaning to to the term the "Happy Couple"

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review by: date: 2003-10-25 rating:
Fitting tribute to British Empire's Greatest King-Emperor
This has got to be the drama event of the year and a tribute to the loyalty and service King George and The Queen Mother performed for us and the country. The film portrays Edward VIII as a playboy who deserts his duty for a woman of no importance and showing the imence burden thrust upon King George VI. The King proves all those who doubt his ability wrong with the help of his devoted wife. The characters who play the King and the Queen Mother have performed theit task well.

The film portrays the Monarchy as a normal wartime family, with the added comedy of remarks from King George V and Queen Mary. A must for all ages.


review by: jnscav date: 2002-11-28 rating:
20th century fairytale with nuances
The love story that began awkwardly. The younger brother with no higher expectations than to perhaps be left to pursue its hobbies.

And then the Abdication of Edward VIII and the Royals are in quite a panic. Hence the enthronement of George VI (Bertie) played very subtly by the much under-appreciated James Wilby - making his Elizabeth of the title (tour-de-force performance again this time by Juliet Aubrey). Elizabeth that many generations after the events here depicted knew only as the sweet old Queen Mother.

But there's more to each of the main characters' lives than struggling with Bertie's horror of speaking in public because of his stutter. And we don't get to see Elizabeth, The Queen Mother much in her retiring years.
We do get to see a romantic, epic story against the backdrop of war-torn England.

The supporting cast (if we can call it that and not diminish their achievement) features the likes of Eileen Atkins as Queen Mary to Alan Bates' George V. Robert Hardy as President Roosevelt has less to work with, but it is a pleasure to watch him at anytime.

I admit it. I was moved by this syrupy view of History! And yet I am not so sure the essential tale was not well told.

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Similar products

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Nicholas And Alexandra [1971]
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Edward The Seventh [1975]

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Similar categories

Video . Video . Categories . Drama . General
Video . Video . Categories . Drama . Period
Video . Video . Refinements . Condition (condition-type)
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Drama . Historical
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . BBFC Rating (intended_use_browse-bin) . PG
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 2000 and later
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Editions (feature_two_browse-bin) . Standard Edition
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . VHS

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