Bertie and Elizabeth (2002) (TV)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Giles Foster

Writer:

Nigel Williams (writer)

Release Date:

2 April 2002 (New Zealand)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The duke of York, nicknamed Bertie, was born as royal 'spare heir', younger brother to the prince of Wales...

Plot Keywords:

Queen | Resignation | Great Britain | Windsor | Windsor Castle

Cast

James Wilby	...	King George VI, aka 'Bertie'
Alan Bates	...	King George V
Eileen Atkins	...	Queen Mary
Dolly Wells	...	Princess Mary
William Mickleburgh	...	James Stuart
Juliet Aubrey	...	Queen Elizabeth
Barbara Leigh-Hunt	...	Lady Mabel Airlie
Rupert Wickham	...	Equerry
Charles Edwards	...	David - Edward VIII
Alexandra Staden	...	Young Woman
Nicholas Pritchard	...	J.C. Davidson
Oliver Ford Davies	...	Archbishop Lang
Geoffrey Beevers	...	Earl of Strathmore
Deborah Cornelius	...	Thelma Furness
Michael Elwyn	...	Lionel Logue
Amber Sealey	...	Wallis Simpson
Anthony Smee	...	Ernest Simpson
Naomi Martin	...	Young Lillibet
Jenna Molloy	...	Young Margaret
Moray Watson	...	Lord Dawson
Gabrielle Lloyd	...	Alah
Peter Eyre	...	Butler Simpson
Jeremy Child	...	Sir Samuel Hoare
David Ryall	...	Winston Churchill
Paul Brooke	...	Tommy Lascelles
Osmund Bullock	...	Radio Commentator
David Hatton	...	Bishop of Norwich
David Burke	...	Lord Reith
Simon Day	...	Robert Wood
Robert Hardy	...	President Roosevelt
Irene Richards	...	Eleanor Roosevelt
Jeremy Swift	...	Royal Page
Helen Ryan	...	Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands
Joanna Hole	...	East End Woman
Michael Sherlock	...	East End Child
Ted Shepherd	...	East End Man
Elisabeth Dermot Walsh	...	Lillibet
Hannah Wiltshire	...	Margaret
Corin Redgrave	...	General Montgomery
Denis Lill	...	Clement Attlee
Terence Harvey	...	Sir Clement Price Thomas
Graham Bill	...	James MacDonald
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Aubrey-Rees	...	Press Photographer (uncredited)
Simon Day	...	Arthur Wood (uncredited)

Directed by
Giles Foster

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Nigel Williams		writer

Produced by
Hilary Benson	....	associate producer
Rebecca Eaton	....	executive producer
Jonathan Powell	....	executive producer
Michael Whitehall	....	executive producer
Jo Willett	....	producer

Original Music by
Ilona Sekacz

Cinematography by
Rex Maidment

Film Editing by
Catherine Creed

Casting by
Kate Rhodes James

Production Design by
Martyn John

Set Decoration by
Charlotte Watts

Costume Design by
Frances Tempest

Makeup Department
Christine Blundell	....	hair stylist
Christine Blundell	....	makeup designer
Jemma Scott-Knox-Gore	....	contact lens technician

Production Management
Shelley Powell	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Toby Sherborne	....	second assistant director
Peter Stenning	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Ben Ansell	....	art department assistant
Russell Hanson	....	property master
Rob MacPherson	....	props
Claire Pidgeon	....	graphic designer
Stuart Read	....	stand-by props
Robert Wischhusen-Hayes	....	production buyer
Ashley Winter	....	draftsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Keith Batten	....	boom operator
Alistair Crocker	....	sound recordist
Jennie Evans	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Garth Inns	....	special effects supervisor
Jeremy Lovett	....	special effects senior technician

Visual Effects by
Jim Allen	....	visual effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Jason Coop	....	clapper loader
Ian Franklin	....	gaffer
Tom Maslen	....	grip
Roger Pearce	....	camera operator
Dean Thompson	....	first assistant camera

Casting Department
Stephen Moore	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Shirley Nevin	....	assistant costume designer
Gerald Moulin	....	costume assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Gerry O'Riordan	....	music recording engineer

Other crew
Kevin Badgery	....	assistant production accountant
Julie Burnell	....	production executive
Wim De Greef	....	production accountant
Dave Evans	....	armorer
Fiona Francombe	....	location manager
Pauline Harlow	....	script supervisor
Sue Lefton	....	choreographer
Ceri Meyrick	....	script editor
Donald Sabourin	....	production coordinator
Diana Scrivener	....	assistant choreographer

Production Companies

• Carlton Television
• WGBH
• Whitehall Films

Special Effects

• Effects Associates

Runtime:

USA:120 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Bath Abbey, Bath, Somerset, England, UK

Company:

Carlton Television

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Montgomery comes to the palace after the Battle of Alamein, Princess Elizabeth is wearing ATS uniform. Alamein was in 1942. Elizabeth didn't join the Army until 1945 (she was only 16 in 1942).

Movie Connections:

Follows "Edward & Mrs. Simpson" (1978)

A significantly condensed version, but charming

The film is missing some of Elizabeth's most famous remarks, even though they are alluded to, such as (and these are facsimiles): "I can now look the east end in the face." and "They {the Princesses} won't leave without me. I won't leave without the King. And the King will never leave." etc.

It flies through history as a series of vignettes, arguably not necessarily the most important ones. It explains little about the psychology of the major characters, especially George VI's stutter, how instrumental his wife was helping him during his reign, her deep antipathy for Wallis, and Wallis's lack of understanding of her surroundings, England and the court. Wallis is portrayed with a complete lack of sympathy. ("Edward and Mrs. Simpson" this isn't!)

The movie seems to contain glaring inaccuracies. If a royal highness by marriage, Wallis couldn't have passed this title on to any subsequent husband and, surely, the King would know this. The title was withheld - against custom and precedent - for many other reasons which are not explored at all. This is unfortunate.

Nevertheless, the performances are wonderful, especially James Wilby as George VI; Juliet Aubrey as Elizabeth;, Alan Bates as George V; Eileen Atkins as Queen Mary; and Charles Edwards as an Edward VIII with a complete lack of appreciation that with great advantages from birth come great obligations.

For the knowledgeable viewer, it's like looking through bits of a sentimental picture book. It's comfort food: sentimental, warm, and lacking in much nutritional value. Remember, however, the subjects (George VI and Queen Elizabeth) were, and remain, tremendously popular and this view may be very much a reflection of its time. And, having no idea of what really went on behind the walls of the royal residences, it is fun to have the illusion of being able to look.