The Madness of King George (1994)

Director:

Nicholas Hytner

Writers:

Alan Bennett (play)
Alan Bennett (screenplay)

Release Date:

28 December 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | History

Tagline:

His Majesty was all powerful and all knowing. But he wasn't quite all there.

Plot:

A meditation on power and the metaphor of the body of state, based on the real episode of dementia experienced...

Plot Keywords:

King George III | Porphyria | England | King | Marital Problem

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 14 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

Nigel Hawthorne	...	George III
Helen Mirren	...	Queen Charlotte
Ian Holm	...	Dr. Willis
Rupert Graves	...	Greville
Amanda Donohoe	...	Lady Pembroke
Rupert Everett	...	Prince of Wales
Julian Rhind-Tutt	...	Duke of York
Julian Wadham	...	Pitt
Jim Carter	...	Fox
Geoffrey Palmer	...	Warren
Charlotte Curley	...	Amelia
Anthony Calf	...	Fitzroy
Matthew Lloyd Davies	...	Papandick
Adrian Scarborough	...	Fortnum
Paul Corrigan	...	Braun
John Wood	...	Thurlow
Nick Sampson	...	Sergeant At Arms
Jeremy Child	...	Black Rod
Nicholas Selby	...	Speaker
Barry Stanton	...	Sheridan
Struan Rodger	...	Dundas
Janine Duvitski	...	Margaret Nicholson
Caroline Harker	...	Mrs. Fitzherbert
Iain Mitchell	...	Farmer
Roger Hammond	...	Baker
Celestine Randall	...	Lady Adam
Cyril Shaps	...	Pepys
Michael Grandage	...	Amputee
James Peck	...	Willis' Attendant
Clive Brunt	...	Willis' Attendant
Fergus Webster	...	Willis' Attendant
Barry Gillespie	...	Willis' Attendant
Joe Maddison	...	Willis' Attendant
Selina Cadell	...	Mrs. Cordwell
Dermot Keaney	...	Footman
Peter Woodthorpe	...	Clergyman
Robert Swann	...	1st MP (as Robert Swan)
Alan Bennett	...	2nd MP
Collin Johnson	...	MP
Roger Ashton-Griffiths	...	MP
David Leon	...	Footman
Martin Julier	...	Footman
Dan Hammond	...	Footman
Nicholas Irons	...	Footman (as Nick Irons)
Peter Bride-Kirk	...	Royal Child
Eve Camden	...	Royal Child
Thomas Copeland	...	Royal Child
Joanna Hall	...	Royal Child
Cassandra Halliburton	...	Royal Child
Russell Martin	...	Royal Child
Natalie Palys	...	Royal Child

Directed by
Nicholas Hytner

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Alan Bennett		play "The Madness of George III"
Alan Bennett		screenplay

Produced by
Mark Cooper	....	line producer
Stephen Evans	....	producer
David Parfitt	....	producer

Cinematography by
Andrew Dunn

Film Editing by
Tariq Anwar

Casting by
Celestia Fox

Production Design by
Ken Adam

Art Direction by
Martin Childs		(supervising art director)
John Fenner

Set Decoration by
Carolyn Scott

Costume Design by
Sue Honeybourne
Mark Thompson

Makeup Department
Helen Barrett	....	makeup artist
Françoise Cresson	....	makeup artist
Helen Johnson	....	makeup artist
Di Roberts	....	makeup artist
Deborah Taylor	....	senior makeup assistant
Lisa Westcott	....	hair designer
Lisa Westcott	....	makeup designer

Production Management
John Bard Manulis	....	executive in charge of production: Samuel Goldwyn Films (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tariq Anwar	....	second unit director
Paul Higgins	....	third assistant director
Finn McGrath	....	second assistant director
Jez Murrell	....	third assistant director
Stuart Renfrew	....	third assistant director
Mary Soan	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jason Babcock	....	plasterer
Nathan Batterbee	....	stagehand
Ronald Bede	....	chargehand stagehand
John Behan	....	carpenter
Malcolm Bensted	....	stand-by propman
Thomas Alexis Bhanji	....	construction runner (as Tom Bhanji)
Roy Biggs	....	stagehand
Leith Boler	....	props buyer
Dennis Bosher	....	draughtsman
Dave Buckingham	....	carpenter
Bob Cann	....	carpenter (as Robert Cann)
Eamon Cann	....	carpenter
Alan Cheevers	....	plasterer
Jane Clark	....	storyboard artist
John Clements	....	art stand-by
Darren Conway	....	plasterer laborer
Bill Dady	....	stagehand
Tony D'Amato	....	carpenter
Trevor Dyer	....	carpenter
Paul Garner	....	storyboard artist
Anthony Goddard	....	painter (as Tony Goddard)
Lee Goddard	....	painter
Jane Henwood	....	art department assistant
Matthew Higgins	....	painter
Kevin Huse	....	stagehand
Mark Impey	....	stand-by stagehand
Bryce Johnston	....	carpenter (as Bruce Johnston)
David Jones	....	stagehand
Maurice Jones	....	property master
Richard Jones	....	carpenter
Reginald Keywood	....	carpenter
Reginald Keywood	....	chargehand carpenter (as Regininald Wood)
Sabrina Lamonica	....	art department assistant
Bernard Leadbitter	....	carpenter
Mark Lee	....	plasterer
Bill Lowe	....	stand-by painter
Peter Mackey	....	plasterer
Roy Martin	....	painter
Binky Morrice	....	art stand-by
Philip Morris	....	stagehand
Jim Parker	....	stand-by propman
David Pitt	....	carpenter
Ken Powell	....	supervising plasterer
Doug Purdy	....	props storeman
Mark Raggett	....	stand-by art director
Robert Ramsey	....	plasterer
Simon Reeves	....	carpenter
Eric Regan	....	supervising painter
Syd Regan	....	painter (as Sidney Regan)
Anthony Rhone	....	painter (as Tony Rhone)
Bob Rose	....	plasterer (as Robert Rose)
Richard Shackleton	....	supervising carpenter
John Siddall	....	draughtsman
Vic Simpson	....	construction coordinator
Danny Skundric	....	dressing propsman
John Starkey	....	painter laborer
Anita St. John	....	art stand-by
Andrew Tombs	....	plasterer
Des Wallace	....	carpenter
Stephen T. Walsh	....	plasterer laborer (as Steven Walsh)
Steve Watts	....	plasterer (as Stephen Watts)
Jamie Wilkinson	....	propman
John Woods	....	plasterer
Steve Wotton	....	carpenter
Edwin Young	....	stand-by carpenter

Sound Department
Christopher Ackland	....	supervising sound editor
Roy Baker	....	foley artist
John Casali	....	sound recordist
Clive Copland	....	sound maintenance engineer
David Crozier	....	sound mixer
David Crozier	....	sound
Graham Farrow	....	assistant foley editor
Stan Fiferman	....	foley editor
Pat Gilbert	....	assistant dialogue editor
Dominic Lester	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard Margoschis	....	sound atmosphere
Robin O'Donoghue	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jean Sheffield	....	foley artist
Jim Shields	....	dialogue editor
Elaine 'Chucks' Thomas	....	assistant sound editor

Special Effects by
Alastair Vardy	....	special effects technician
Stuart Conran	....	special effects makeup (uncredited)
Dave Crownshaw	....	snow effects supervisor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Peter Govey	....	opticals
Kent Houston	....	visual effects
Nigel Stone	....	visual effects: VistaVision
Jonathan Taylor	....	visual effects: VistaVision
Dean Yurke	....	digital artist

Stunts
Wayne Michaels	....	stunt coordinator
Gareth Milne	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Alex Bailey	....	still photographer
Keith Batterbee	....	rigger
Jim Beeby	....	gaffer
Steve Brooke Smith	....	focus puller: second unit (as Stephen Brook-Smith)
Trevor Coop	....	camera operator: second unit
David Cozens	....	clapper loader: second unit
Mike Frift	....	camera operator: second unit
Pat Garrett	....	grip: second unit
Robert Gurney	....	rigger
Keith Hamshere	....	still photographer
Philip Hill	....	camera trainee
Sid Hinson	....	rigger
Mike House	....	key grip
Ian Jackson	....	camera operator: second unit
Nigel Kirton	....	Steadicam operator
Brad Larner	....	focus puller
Simon Mills	....	focus puller: second unit
Jimmy Mullins	....	grip: second unit
Nick Penn	....	second assistant camera
Ronnie Rampton	....	best boy
William Richards	....	stand-by rigger (as Bill Richards)
Bill Sansom	....	chargehand rigger
Mel Sansom	....	rigger
Colin Strachan	....	grip: second unit
Brian Taylor	....	grip: second unit
David Toft	....	video operator
Robert Toft	....	video operator: second unit
John Turner	....	electrician
Patricia Van Over	....	first assistant camera (as Pattie Vanover)
George White Jr.	....	electrician (as George White)
Paul Wood	....	electrician
Danny Young	....	electrician
Alan Grayley	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sasha Robertson	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kate Allen	....	costume maker
William Baboo	....	costume maker
Irene Bohan	....	assistant costume designer
Anthony Brookman	....	wardrobe master
Naomi Critcher	....	production wardrobe
Ronald M. Davis	....	costume maker (as Ron Davis)
Judith Edgley	....	wardrobe
Amanda Hall	....	costume maker
Victoria Harwood	....	costume assistant
Sue Honeybourne	....	costume supervisor
Naomi Isaacs	....	costume maker
Sacha Keir	....	costume maker
Anna Kot	....	wardrobe mistress (as Anna Koy)
Jane Law	....	costume maker
Peter Lewis	....	costume maker
Sue Long	....	costume maker
Debbie Marchant	....	costume maker
Sabine McCrudden	....	costume maker
Stephen Miles	....	costume assistant
Steve Pokol	....	costume assistant
Meinir Roberts	....	costume maker
Alan Selzer	....	costume maker
Frank Simon	....	costume assistant
Brigid Strowbridge	....	costume maker

Editorial Department
Christopher Lloyd	....	first assistant editor
John Stanborough	....	color grader
Adrian Trent	....	second assistant editor
Sylvia Wheeler	....	negative cutter

Music Department
George Fenton	....	music adaptor: from the works of G F Handel
George Fenton	....	orchestrator
Keith Grant	....	music recordist
Isobel Griffiths	....	music contractor
Nicholas Kraemer	....	conductor: baroque music
Adrian Thomas	....	music post-production
Adrian Thomas	....	musician: synthesizer
Eliza Thompson	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Dominic Barlow	....	driver
Tony Bird	....	transportation manager
John Clarke	....	driver: bus dining
Stephen Cranny	....	driver
Mike Cuddy	....	driver: props car
Peter Gristwood	....	driver: props stand-by car
David Kipling	....	driver: wardrobe car
Joanna Lipper	....	driver
Richard Maurice	....	driver: crowd car
Cliff Raddley	....	driver: camera car
Simon Saunders	....	unit driver
Charlie Simpson	....	driver: road train
Brian Skeels	....	driver: make-up car
Terry Tapping	....	unit driver
John Vaughan	....	driver: bus dining
John Vaughan	....	driver: bus dining
Mark White	....	driver: construction car

Other crew
Jenny Adely	....	milliner
Dominic Barlow	....	runner
Steve Barrett	....	milliner
Bill Barringer	....	location finder
Liz Barron	....	financial consultant
Miles Barton	....	researcher
Thomas Alexis Bhanji	....	runner
Jean Bourne	....	script supervisor
Claire Chapman	....	production assistant
Cleone Clarke	....	floor runner
Paola Colpani	....	accountant
Stephen Cranny	....	runner
Frances Delmar-Morgan	....	production runner
Andrew Fox	....	military advisor
Joe Friedman	....	location scout
Lucy Gaiger	....	milliner
Francesca Gentili	....	production assistant
Jonathan Glendening	....	assistant to director
Dave Goodey	....	horse coordinator
Peter Govey	....	title designer: main title
Line Hilton	....	nurse
Vivien Jordan	....	production coordinator
Debbie Kaye	....	horse coordinator (as Debby Kaye)
Julie Linnane	....	accounting assistant
Joanna Lipper	....	runner
Lorraine McKee	....	milliner
Michael Mendelsohn	....	production financing
Rachel Neale	....	location manager
Ron Nichols	....	machinist
Howard Rayner	....	milliner
Lorraine Richards	....	milliner
Fran Robertson	....	location manager (as Francesca Robertson)
Patric Scott	....	unit publicist
Brian Shemmings	....	health advisor
Brian Shemmings	....	safety advisor
Ron Stenner	....	medical advisor
Amanda Stevens	....	assistant location manager
Harry Teacher	....	assistant: Mr. Adam
Peter Thompson	....	press representative

Production Companies

• Channel Four Films (present)
• Close Call Films
• Mad George Films
• Samuel Goldwyn Company, The (present)

Distributors

• Samuel Goldwyn Company, The (1994) (USA) (theatrical)
• Concorde-Castle Rock/Turner (1995) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (1995) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Sociedad Kino Visión (1995) (Spain) (theatrical)
• EDKO Film (Hong Kong)
• Hallmark Home Entertainment
• MGM Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (Australia) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Snow Business International
• Vendetta FX

Other Companies

• Shepperton Studios  movie studio
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Set Meals  catering

Also Known As:

The Madness of George III (Australia)
The Madness of King George III (Australia)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

Brazil:14 | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Germany:12 (w) | Hong Kong:IIA | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Arundel Castle, Arundel, West Sussex, England, UK

Company:

Channel Four Films

Trivia:

One bit of business that failed to survive the transition from stage to film: Pitt's drinking. While in the film George III briefly mentions Pitt's drinking habits to his wife, on stage, as Alan Bennett puts it, "Pitt takes a swig from a hip flask, such a regular feature of his behaviour it is not noted in the stage directions." (The historical Pitt was considered a heavy drinker even by eighteenth-century standards, especially as he got older; modern biographers agree that his alcohol intake probably contributed to his early death.)

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The modern royal coat of arms (adopted during the reign of Queen Victoria) is visible.

Quotes:

George III: What of the colonies, Mr. Pitt?
Pitt: America is now a nation, sir.
George III: Is it? Well. We must try and get used to it. I have known stranger things. I once saw a sheep with five legs...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Madagascar (2005)

Soundtrack:

Zadok the Priest

A great fun story full of colourful characters and performances

Already upset by the loss of America to independence, King George III of England's position is made more difficult by the onset of an illness that causes him to act wildly and babble uncontrollably. While the Prime Minister places him in the hands of Dr Willis to keep him in power, The Prince of Wales and the leader of the opposition both plan to replace the king with the prince by way of a parliamentary bill.

Based on the great little play that is historically based, this film went down very well with the awards season since it is very English and well acted. The plot is well written, I'm not sure if it is totally accurate but it is surely based on facts even if it has been coloured for artistic and entertainment reasons. The film embraces both the internal workings of the royal family and the politics of parliament really well; again, it may not be totally true but it is colourful, dissenting and enjoyably. The film is involving but yet still manages to be enjoyable and funny. It is a great story and it is lavishly brought to the big screen in this great production.

The sets and costumes are really good and establish the period and setting of the story very well, but it is the performances that really make it work. Hawthorne is wonderfully cast and delivers a great performance in the lead - both as the cruel monarch or the madman. He is totally believable all the way and never lets his performance become comical or silly even when it is amusing in delivery. Mirren and Donohoe both have less to do but make impacts in their scenes. Everett, Holm, Wadham and Graves support the film to great effect, their performances are colourful, impacting and very enjoyable.

Overall, historical films will quite often be viewed as lifeless, dull and overlong. Here this film goes against all those old clichés and is lively, colourful and enjoyable. The rich sets and costumes add value to some great performances in an engaging story that is very enjoyable.