As monarchs go, King George is of the better kind. He's gruff and has annoying quirks, but he cares for people and country. He's neither a cruel tyrant, nor a wasteful peacock - which the prince is. Trouble is, King George is not well any more. In his head. What we can diagnose to be likely porphyria today, was simply madness back then. The Madness of King George has its aspects of tragedy, family drama,…
His Majesty was all powerful and all knowing. But he wasn't quite all there.
Aging King George III of England is exhibiting signs of madness, a problem little understood in 1788. As the monarch alternates between bouts of confusion and near-violent outbursts of temper, his hapless doctors attempt the ineffectual cures of the day. Meanwhile, Queen Charlotte and Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger attempt to prevent the king's political enemies, led by the Prince of Wales, from usurping the throne.
Top Cast
Nigel Hawthorne
George III
Helen Mirren
Queen Charlotte
Ian Holm
Willis
Anthony Calf
Fitzroy
Amanda Donohoe
Lady Pembroke
Rupert Graves
Greville
Geoffrey Palmer
Warren
Julian Wadham
Pitt
John Wood
Thurlow
Rupert Everett
Prince of Wales
Jim Carter
Fox
Roger Hammond
Baker
Cyril Shaps
Pepys
Selina Cadell
Mrs Cordwell
Paul Corrigan
Braun
Matthew Lloyd Davies
Papandick
Reviews
A little like Keith Michell in "Henry VIII and his Six Wives"; this was a role Nigel Hawthorne had perfected earlier (he won an Olivier award for the stage play) and so he took to the cinematic version like a duck to water. This telling of his "madness" is superb - ably reflecting the unpredictable and vacillating behaviour of the King in a plausible and engaging manner. Rupert Everett, Helen Mirren and Ian Holm…
FAQ about The Madness of King George
What is The Madness of King George about?
Aging King George III of England is exhibiting signs of madness, a problem little understood in 1788. As the monarch alternates between bouts of confusion and near-violent outbursts of temper, his hapless doctors attempt the ineffectual cures of the day. Meanwhile, Queen…
When was The Madness of King George released?
The Madness of King George was released in 1994.
What genres does The Madness of King George belong to?
The Madness of King George is categorised as Comedy, Drama, History.
Who stars in The Madness of King George?
The cast of The Madness of King George includes Nigel Hawthorne, Helen Mirren, Ian Holm, Anthony Calf, Amanda Donohoe.