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King George The IV

Decent Essays

In the opening scenes, the viewer is exposed to a stadium filled with people and two men preparing a microphone for the Duke of York to make his speech on behalf of King George the V to 58 countries. The colours illustrated ranged from light greys to a slate blue, both to capture the emotion of dreariness and add a somber undertone, adding to the dilapidation of England during the Great Depression. Considering this the radical changes in the setting around King George the IV occur in the middle of the film before the war is waged against Germany. The background characters and the landscape remained drab for the remainder of the film so you can both focus on the characters rather than the backgrounds and to show change isn't immediate.
In the …show more content…

He presents himself to the people the way he understands is expected of him, but around Lionel and his wife, his weaknesses (other than his stammer) become more apparent. With his children, he is playful and loving, unlike the emotionally flat character that we first saw in the beginning of the film. It is suggested that George is afraid failing and also his brother and father who were cruel towards him. Lionel is an instigator for the change that happened in George’s life which made him become a more dynamic character on the screen. He was a support for George, who then become a friend. Lionel is seen as a normal man who wanted to do different things and help people who many thought couldn't be helped. He was a playwright, who looked after his children and sat down with his family. David’s daily life was speaking to his lover while drinking and disregarding his duty. He would focus on his needs rather than the needs of his people all the while being cruel to his brother. He enjoys his affluent lifestyle and shows that throughout the film.

The opening scene of radio (at the time was the biggest technological advancement of communication) and preparation showed the tremendous weight the Duke of York had to carry on his shoulders. With the camera panning across the stadium, the viewer is able to see the disappointed faces, which sets up the premise of this film. As time advances we are shown both the current King and Duke of Wales speak perfectly over the radio, making the failure of the Duke of York substantial. I was floored by this

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