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DVD Special Features: Theatrical Trailer Director's Commentary Featurette Language: English, Dolby Digital Subtitles: English for hard of hearing Videa Aspect Ratio - 16:9 Anamorphic From .co.uk ----------- More wit than wisdom? More style than substance? Both these charges have been levelled at The Madness of King George, but neither are entirely fair. It could be that the notional subject matter--the psychological collapse of George III, later attributed to the neurological disease porphyria--implies a profound, analytical approach of the kind associated with Oliver Sachs. However, as the screenplay was written by Alan Bennett, based upon his stage play The Madness of George III, what we have here is a typically shrewd, elegant and poignant depiction of how the world seems when viewed by someone who sees things in their own unique way. And as it is by Bennett, who allows himself a brief, bumbling cameo appearance, the dialogue is of course scalpel-sharp throughout and often extremely moving. The historical accuracy is strong on detail, but there's an element of artistic license, such as the depiction of HRH's apparent partial recovery at the close of the film (although the scene itself, in which Hawthorne's befuddled monarch rallies himself to address his subjects, is a joy). In the end, though, we really don't mind. On the DVD: the widescreen DVD extras include the theatrical trailer, a featurette and a lucid commentary by director Nicholas Hytner. --Roger Thomas P.when('A').execute(function(A) { A.on('a:expander:toggle_description:toggle:collapse', function(data) { window.scroll(0, data.expander.$expander[0].offsetTop-100); }); }); From the Back Cover ------------------- His Majesty was all powerful and all knowing. But he wasn't all there. 1788-King George III (Nigel Hawthorne-Demolition Man, Yes Minister) is almost 30 years into his reign and is once again preparing for the opening of Parliament. Queen Charlotte (Helen Mirren-Where Angels Fear to Tread, Prime Suspect) skillfully divides her role as both devoted wife and mother to their 15 children. Yet, depite the apparent veneer of respectability, something is going sadly awry with the walls of Windsor Castle. The king's behaviour is becoming increasingly irrational, he is babbling ceaselessly, spewing obscenities and attacking the Queen's Mistress of Robes, Lady Pembroke (Amanda Donohoe-Castaway, LA Law) Has the King of England gone....mad? As the King's condition deteriorates, his son, the Prince of Wales (Rupert Everett-Dance with a Stranger, Pret-a-Porter) sets out to have his her declared unfit in order that he should be procled Regent. The Queen is denied access to her husband and the King consequently becomes an isolated figure at the mercy of his own inept physicians. Not until he is persuaded to engage a new doctor, Dr. Willis (Ian Holm-Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Henry V) odes the King show any signs of improvement. Yet the King's only true salvation relies on the support of the most potent medicines-the Queen herself. See more ( javascript:void(0) )