History Film / TheMadnessOfKingGeorge

* AdiposeRex:
** Prince George. He just gets bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger.
** The Duke of York puts on weight too.

* StrawmanPolitical: Republicanism (as in opposition to monarchical government, not the GOP) is the film's whipping boy.

* TheGoodKing: King George III, despite his madness is this.

* TheLancer: Lady Pembroke, to Queen Charlotte. Even when George's madness has him assaulting Pembroke in public, the Lady still proves herself loyal to Charlotte. And the Queen knows it, which is why she entrusts the Lady to [[spoiler:seduce Greville.]]

-->'''King''': Did we ever forget ourselves utterly, because if we did forget ourselves I would so like to remember. What, what?

* NiceGirl: Mrs. Fitzherbert, despite her religious differences, still loves and respects king George III and queen Charlotte. She even prays that George III gets better and is shocked and disgusted at George IV for wishing that king George III dies so he can be king instead.

** The Prince of Wales' response when the King shows up again, defusing the crisis.

* SecretRelationship: The Prince of Wales' marriage to Mrs. Fitzherbert, which has to be kept secret because [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Marriages_Act_1772 British royals can't get married without permission from the Crown]], and there's no chance in hell of permission being given in ''this'' case because Mrs. Fitzherbert is both a commoner and a devoted Catholic. (For an heir to the British throne, marrying a commoner was obviously very much frowned upon, and [[http://www.britroyals.com/succession.htm marrying a Catholic was actually forbidden by law between 1701 and 2013]].)

* WhiteAndGreyMorality: The Prince of Wales and Charles Fox want to get the king out of the way and create a new regime, but they're doing it for understandable reasons: the prince wants to be able to marry his Catholic mistress which would otherwise ''never'' be allowed, and Fox wants to form friendlier relations with America and abolish the slave trade.

* SecretRelationship: The Prince of Wales' marriage to Mrs. Fitzherbert, which has to be kept secret because [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Marriages_Act_1772 British royals can't get married without permission from the Crown]], and there's no chance in hell of permission being given in ''this'' case because Mrs. Fitzherbert is both a commoner and a devoted Catholic. (For an heir to the British throne, marrying a commoner was obviously frowned upon, and [[http://www.britroyals.com/succession.htm marrying a Catholic was actually forbidden by law between 1701 and 2013]].)

In late 1788, George III once again began showing signs of the mysterious mental illness that had first plagued him in the 1760s. Politicians, scenting the possibility of change, homed in for the kill. So, for that matter, did the king's much-disliked son and heir, the Prince of Wales. But in 1789, just as the Prince was on the verge of becoming Regent...the king made a miraculous (and mysterious) recovery.

* TheGoodKing: King George III, despite his madness is this.

* HistoricalBeautyUpdate: In the film, Queen Charlotte and Lady Pembroke. William Pitt the Younger, too, although that's a matter of casting instead of the script.

* AssassinationAttempt: An early scene depicts the King descending from a podium, where he is set upon by a madwoman, who attempts to stab him. His Majesty is remarkably composed during this affront, and is unhurt by it. He mentions to a minister that a butter knife is a poor weapon, which is what the dotty widow used. The scene establishes that King George was observant and rational during the early stages of his affliction; this lucidity is slowly eroded as his condition worsens.

* RoyallyScrewedUp: By porphyria.

A little over two centuries later, the playwright Alan Bennett turned this material into ''Theatre/TheMadnessOfGeorgeIII'' (1991), which proved to be an international hit. Bennett and director Nicholas Hytner adapted it to film as ''The Madness of King George'' (1994); the film had a successful art house run and earned an Oscar nomination (not to mention some very belated recognition) for its star, Creator/NigelHawthorne. Creator/HelenMirren was also nominated for an Oscar as "Best Actress in a Supporting Role", for her portrayal of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, George III's Queen consort.

'''Pitt''': I don't know. But why not? He has his reputation to consider, after all. He has never been on the losing side yet. (from ''The Madness of George III'')

* BoundAndGagged: In a cruel mockery of the coronation, George III is gagged and bound to a chair when he "misbehaves." The whole treatment of King George in the hands of Francis Willis (and other doctors) is sadly [[TruthInTelevision Truth in Television]]. Obviously Willis was the first to use straightjacketing, and it made scandal at the time because it violated the person of the King. But when George went better and was declared cured Willis was acclaimed as a hero.

A little over two centuries later, the playwright Alan Bennett turned this material into ''Theatre/TheMadnessOfGeorgeIII'' (1991), which proved to be an international hit. Bennett and director Nicholas Hytner adapted it to film as ''The Madness of King George'' (1994); the film had a successful art house run and earned an Oscar nomination (not to mention some very belated recognition) for its star, Nigel Hawthorne. Creator/HelenMirren was also nominated for an Oscar as "Best Actress in a Supporting Role", for her portrayal of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, George III's Queen consort.

* AssassinationAttempt:An early scene scene depicts the King descending from a podium, where he s set upon by a madwoman, who attempts to stab him. His Majesty is remarkably composed during this affront, and is unhurt by it. He mentions to a minister that a butter knife is a poor weapon, which is what the dotty widow used. The scene establishes that King George was observant and rational during the early stages of his affliction; this lucidity is slowly eroded as his condition worsens.

A little over two centuries later, the playwright Alan Bennett turned this material into ''Theatre/TheMadnessOfGeorgeIII'' (1991), which proved to be an international hit. Bennett and director Nicholas Hytner adapted it to film as ''The Madness of King George'' (1994); the film had a successful art house run and earned an Oscar nomination (not to mention some very belated recognition) for its star, Nigel Hawthorne. Creator/HelenMirren was also nominated for an Oscar as "Best Actress in a Supporting Role", for her portayal of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, George III's Queen consort.

[[quoteright:333:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/MadnessofKingGeorge_6098.jpg]]

* WhiteAndGreyMorality: The Prince of Wales and Charles Fox want to get the king out of the way and create a new regime, but they're doing for understandable reasons: the prince wants to be able to marry his Catholic mistress which would otherwise ''never'' be allowed, and Fox wants to form friendlier relations with America and abolish the slave trade.

* ViewersAreMorons: NOT an example, despite what many will tell you. There is persistent rumour that the title was changed from ''The Madness of George III'' to ''The Madness of King George'' because they thought American audiences would think it was a sequel. The change was for American eyes, but the intent was merely to make it clear to a country that's never had royalty that the movie was about a king. When English audiences see a first name followed by a Roman numeral, they immediately think 'king'. Americans have no such coding. Also, George III is the single person who Americans are most likely to think of if you mention "King George", for [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution obvious reasons]].