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(More customer reviews)Bertie and Elizabeth is the story of the courtship and marriage of Prince Albert, Duke of York and second son of King George V, and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. This has historical significance in that Bertie and Elizabeth became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in December 1936 upon the abdication of Bertie's older brother King Edward VIII, who became Duke of Windsor. George VI and his Queen led the British monarchy through World War II and the beginning of the dissolution of the British Empire before the King died in his sleep in 1952.
The first segments of this story are well done but a bit thin in historical detail. I would like to have seen more of the difficult relations between Bertie and his parents, and I feel personally that the character of Edward VIII was drawn to be crueler than he deserved. (While there is no doubt that the Duke of Windsor was self-absorbed, he was kinder to his siblings, particularly Bertie and his stuttering problems, than this film depicts.) I also think Elizabeth's character comes off as superficial too much of the time, and that Wallis Simpson is made out to be far nastier than she deserves (I don't have much use for the Duchess of Windsor, but most of her missteps were out of ignorance rather than malevolence.) I enjoyed the scenes showing Elizabeth's working to help her husband overcome his stammer, though I rather doubt they really spent much time on the floor of the doctor's office.
The Abdication scenes and the early years of George VI's reign are well done, particularly the Royal Visit to President Roosevelt in 1939, but things get skimpy again in the World War II years. I don't understand why Elizabeth's famous comment that she could at last look the East End in the face after Buckingham Palace was bombed was left out. I also don't quite see the point of spending so much time focussed on Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and her wartime travails. Some of the characterizations of generals and politicians are very well done indeed, particularly Montgomery and Churchill. (Its nice to be reminded of Churchill's sense of humor!!) The last few segments showing the King's final years are also nice. Queen Mary's shocked reactions are used to good effect to emphasize the advent of change in the late 1940s with the election of a Labour Government. (Clement Attlee is also very well done.) I also thought Elizabeth Dermot Walsh's portrayal of Princess Elizabeth (the present Queen) as a cool headed pragmatist extremely well done.
My only real disappointment with this film is that it is too short. A six hour mini series would have covered the period with far more detail and historical accuracy. But this film does reveal the humanity and courage of a King who did his duty and of the Queen who loved and supported him. Its a nice reminder these Windsor-bashing days.
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Wars, kings, and politicians come and go, but love endures in Bertie & Elizabeth, the story of one of the most enchanting and successful marriages in the annals of royal relationships.Albert, the Duke of York, was a quiet young man second in line to the throne when he met Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, a beautiful and fun-loving young woman from an aristocratic Scottish family.Married in 1923, they expected to lead a life of genteel obscurity when they were suddenly thrust into the limelight in 1936 when Bertie's older brother, Edward VIII, created an international scandal when he abdicated to marry the twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson.Shy, modest, and a habitual stutterer, Bertie was crowned George VI just as his country faced the onslaught of World War II.With the help of his devoted wife, and their daughters Elizabeth and Margaret, Bertie was able to rise magnificently to the challenges of being king, and together they inspired a nation soon embroiled in a horrific world war.James Wilby (Gosford Park) and Juliet Aubrey (Middlemarch) portray the reluctant royals who became the beloved king and queen of England.
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