Kilt on Colin Firth in movie "The King's Speech"

**BoldHighlander** · 16th January 11, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by MacGuffin

On another note, the film is really good and I highly recommend it.

I hadn't heard of it until this thread. Now I want to see it!

**xman** · 16th January 11, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by BoldHighlander

I hadn't heard of it until this thread. Now I want to see it!

Oh, yes do. You'll like it, Terry.

**OftKilted** · 16th January 11, 08:57 PM

He actually won an award for his acting in the film as well. :-)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0...06.html?ref=tw

**Dale Seago** · 16th January 11, 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

My doctor explained to me once that he can't watch House or any other medical drama for the same reason.

I have the same problem with films incorporating martial arts ranging from empty-hand stuff to swords, polearms, and CQB with automatic weapons.

But back to the kilt, as a Morton on my mother's side I often wear Douglas setts, and that isn't quite one.

Those things being said, this was probably the best movie I saw last year. HIGHLY recommended!!!

**figheadair** · 17th January 11, 12:38 AM

Originally Posted by macewan

we are wondering if that is the Macewan tartan kilt that he wears in the movie

No, it's not McEwan. The debate rages.

**figheadair** · 17th January 11, 12:52 AM

Originally Posted by MacMillan of Rathdown

I can fully understand "tartan spotting". What I don't get is (a) being angry when the tartan in a movie isn't 100% "accurate" and (b) impugning the professional integrity of the costumer as a result, or rather the cause of that inaccuracy.

Ouch.

The point is, assuming the use of stock material, then the cost of cloth is the same irrespective of the tartan. Tartan wore by the Royal Family is one of the easiest things to research, especially 20th century Royals. It's a personal and professional thing but I feel there's no excuse to get it wrong.

Supposing for one minute you were in Jenny Bevean's place, and you had to come up with a kilt and a matching suit in Balmoral tartan, which, for whatever reason, was unavailable given the time constraints placed on her. What would you have done? You have, at best 28 days.

Rather changes the perspective, doesn't it?

It doesn't change a thing actually. There are plenty of alternatives that are available and would have been historically correct. Htg Stewart would have probably been the simplest.

**macwilkin** · 17th January 11, 06:56 AM

Originally Posted by Biathlonman

That's got to be right - the Modern Douglas I mean. The producers seemed such sticklers for accuracy that they would go to great lengths to not make a mistake. You have good eyes and patience to spare to pick that detail up. Funny, in that clip of the drive to Balmoral, one just knew something was up when they passed those trees coming down.

I am not sure many Americans understand the titanic nature of the abdication crisis in its day but I've studied the period intensively and the movie gets the politics right, and the portraits of caddish conflicted Edward and his gorgonish girlfriend are bang on. Or is that a violation of Forum Rule #5? (Perhaps I'll be complained about by someone from Baltimore now. Another welcome for a new guy! )

The Cameronians had a long and distinguished history going back to the days of the Scottish covenant and elected for total disbandment rather than take their chances in an amalgamation.

Video of their final passing out parade and laying up of their colours is on Utube somewhere.

Information: http://cameronians.org/gallery/index.html#3

We need more men like Padre MacDonald these days.

"gorgonish"...wow.

T.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 17th January 11, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by figheadair

Tartan wore by the Royal Family is one of the easiest things to research, especially 20th century Royals. It's a personal and professional thing but I feel there's no excuse to get it wrong.

The reason for getting it "wrong" is that some times the "right" thing doesn't work.

Using something different doesn't indicate either a lack of research, or that the result is somehow "wrong" due to ignorance, or indifference.

Originally Posted by figheadair

...There are plenty of alternatives that are available and would have been historically correct. Htg Stewart would have probably been the simplest.

Okay, for those who aren't in the film industry, here's what actually happens:

Whatever tartan is going to be used, it has to look good under a variety of circumstances (and ideally be historically accurate) -- it's all down to the rather arcane art of colour matching to the scene. (In the early days of Technicolor this was done by Natalie Camus, nowadays it's done by the picture's designer, in consultation with the director of photography and the costumer.)

The tartan in question had to look "right" in four key shots: (1) in the back of the Rolls-Royce, which established the change of location from London to Scotland; (2) in the hall waiting to be greeted by the king, showing the difference in attitude and manners (formal); (3) at the party where the king is in a tartan suit, not a kilt, which goes a long way toward establishing his character (louche); and (4) in the cellars, where the king and his kilted brother have it out. In all four scenes the tartan is there to underscore the fact that they are in Scotland. It has to be seen, but not noticed, to subliminally reinforce location and character-- that's why the king is in a tartan suit and his brother is in a kilt.

The actual selection would have been made by viewing large swatches of tartan in each of those settings (and lit more-or-less in the same way each scene would be lighted) to see which one would be the best compromise for the four continuous scenes in which it would appear. I'm sure any number of tartans would have been considered-- even Royal Stewart which was a particular favorite of Edward VIII's, and which he often wore both as a kilt and a suit. At the end of the day, the final decision would largely rest with the production designer and the DP based solely on what would look best up on the screen.

To them, it's both a personal and professional thing as well.

**Bigkahuna** · 17th January 11, 10:55 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

Whilst members of the Royal family do serve as Colonels-in-Chief of British & Commonwealth regiments, in the case of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), the only C-i-C of that particular regiment was HM King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden.

T.

Sorry for butting in so late but wasn't Czar Nicholas the C-i-C of the Scots Greys at one point and the donor of their white Bearskin for their bass drummer/kettltdrummer?

**BoldHighlander** · 18th January 11, 01:41 AM

Originally Posted by Bigkahuna

Sorry for butting in so late but wasn't Czar Nicholas the C-i-C of the Scots Greys at one point and the donor of their white Bearskin for their bass drummer/kettltdrummer?

Yes. As I understand it, the white bearskin was presented to the regiment by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia in 1894, on his becoming the Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Scots Greys.