Madness of King George (StyleForum 18th cen.?)

[clarinetplayer]

Last night on the CBC, I saw the movie, "The Madness of King George". I haven't seen it since it came out more than a decade ago. Starring Nigel Hawthorne, Helen Mirren, Rupert Everett, etc.... it has dream cast that lives up to its reputation. The story line (about the "madness" of George III) is part true, part fiction, but what a great story. Glorious music by Handel is heard throughout the movie. Besides the great acting and the engaging story line, the costumes are wonderful. The foppish attire and acting of George III's son, the Prince of Wales played by Everett, is dandyism to the nth degree. Oh, imagine what the StyleForum would have been like had it existed in the late 18th century?

Recently, it was discovered that King George's "madness" was due to arsenic in his wigs!

Also, on the CBC on Sunday nights, is a mini series on the story of Canadian hockey. Told in a Ken Burns fashion, this is a great production--if one can stand the constant intrusion of commercials.

 

[imageWIS]

Forget about SF, imagine AA! OMG!

Jon.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by imageWIS

Forget about SF, imagine AA! OMG!

Jon.
They would have been the Puritans.

 

[Lucky Strike]

I like the sub-plot where Fortnum & Mason set up shop.

 

[RJman]

I believe the Fortnum & Mason part is true.

Of course the Regency period is when Brummell was in flower. The Prince of Wales was a friend and patron of Brummell until, one day, he wasn't. However, apparently the Price was not a great student of Brummell's school of simplicity. I always imagined the Prince as altogether more brutish than Rupert Everett, but Everett is enjoyably camp.

 

[javyn]

That was a good one, but nothing can beat Barry Lyndon as far as period pieces go. One of my favorite movies of all time! Dangerous Liaisons (w/ Glenn Close) can't be missed, either.

I remember I played Dangerous Liaisons for a group of drunk high school jocks...they started out asking "what is this ****** ****?!"...but 30 minutes into the movie, someone would say something and they'd be like "shut up, i'm trying to hear!". It amused me.

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by javyn

That was a good one, but nothing can beat Barry Lyndon as far as period pieces go. One of my favorite movies of all time! Dangerous Liaisons (w/ Glenn Close) can't be missed, either.

The cinematography in Barry Lyndon is probably the finest I have ever seen...it captures a period of time that in my mind is only rivaled by Stefan Zweig's written narrative in the World of Yesterday.

Jon.

 

[javyn]

I agree...visually it was gorgeous. Nothing can compare. Watching it is like looking at an oil painting lit by candlelight. Schubert's piano trio in E flat is another of the many reasons I love this film.