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

[JSFMACLJR]

Jeannie and I saw this movie yesterday afternoon and it was wonderful. I was really taken by Colin Firth's ability to play someone who stammers so convincingly. He and Geoffery Rush had a convincing on-screen friendship and other roles, such as Helena Bonham Carter's and the actress portraying Wallis Simpson, were well done.

I took special note during the Balmoral scenes and am convinced that the tartan that Colin Firth is wearing is County Kerry. He also appears to be wearing a basic Charcoal tweed kilt jacket/waistcoat, a modern seal dress sporran, dark kilt hose (black?) and ghillie brogues. The rest of the costuming, though, seemed to be very well thought out and Guy Pierce's tweed suit during these scenes looks very much like that the the Duke of Windsor wore.

Funny how we note the same things, David. I wasn't so much bothered by the tartan as I was the sporran, tweed kilt jacket, and hose. No Royal gentleman would have worn such a jacket. And the sporran! I guess those are pretty popular today, but in 1936 they were unheard of amongst the Highland grandees! The Duke of York would NEVER have worn a sporran with a cantle like that.

[McMurdo]

Sandford, I thought the very same thing regarding the sporran the hose and especially the jacket. when they obviously did their homework on the other costuming the Highland wear seemed to me to be an after thought. it seemed to me like they went down the Royal Mile to Heritage of Scotland and bought an entire outfit in the one place without doing any other research.

[NewEnglander]

We also saw the film yesterday afternoon. This afternoon when I brought up the possibility of going to a Burns Supper at some point in the future and mentioned more formal attire like a Prince Charlie, my fiancée asked if that was the jacket she saw in the movie. I told her that it was not and that I had been surprised to see it. A quick comparison to black tie attire cleared it up for her.
Enough about jackets...back to nit-picking about tartans!

[davidlpope]

when they obviously did their homework on the other costuming the Highland wear seemed to me to be an after thought. it seemed to me like they went down the Royal Mile to Heritage of Scotland and bought an entire outfit in the one place without doing any other research.

This was my reaction as well. I'm sure there were time/budget constraints, but the rest of the costuming seemed so spot-on and well thought, it was a bit of a shame given all the wonderful photos showing the Duke of York kilted.

Funny how we note the same things, David. I wasn't so much bothered by the tartan as I was the sporran, tweed kilt jacket, and hose. No Royal gentleman would have worn such a jacket. And the sporran! I guess those are pretty popular today, but in 1936 they were unheard of amongst the Highland grandees! The Duke of York would NEVER have worn a sporran with a cantle like that.

I agree. I was also a little surprised that they costumed Kind Edward VIII in a tweed suit at Balmoral. After reading the biography of the Duke of Windsor I got the feeling that he, more than any of his family, enjoyed wearing the kilt. IIRC, he even learned the pipes a bit...

David

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

As to what was worn in the movie... who cares?

I realize the above is taken slightly out of context (for which I apologize), but in light of other's comments re: formal attire, which tartan, the king in a suit, etc., I think a few observations may be in order.

First, no one is in formal attire because the party is taking place in the afternoon, not the evening. The Yorks arrive by car during the day and go straight to the party.

The king is in a suit to visually re-enforce that he has broken with all tradition, unlike his brother who is traditionally attired. (And, unless my eyes deceive me, I believe the king's suit is the same tartan as York's kilt.)

As to which tartan is being worn... well to quote Sandy, "who cares?" The tartan, what ever it is, only helps to define the character of those in this scene and advance the plot of the story-- it is not central to the theme of the film.

It is always possible to pick apart any movie-- did anyone notice how poorly King George VI's dress RN uniform fit, or notice that the sleeve stripes were the wrong width on both uniforms? And if you did, did it spoil the picture?

And, for what it's worth, the actual confrontation between York and the King took place on the terrace at Balmoral, during the Royals' regular visit, not in the winter.

The question that I'd ask is this: Did Colin Firth look well dressed in the kilt? If the answer is "no" then I think we all have something to complain about.

[figheadair]

FYI - A Glasgow journalist is looking into this issue as a possible media story there - he's read our thread and will try to get info on the mystery tartan direct from the production company.

I won't reveal his name and embarrass him if the story is never published, (many such story ideas never fly with an editor) but it isn't just enthusiasts who are curious about this. The King's Speech isn't just any movie, but an Oscar contender. Could also be nominated for costume design. That makes this question pretty newsworthy.

He contacted me too and, as is often the case with journalists writing on tartan and Highland Dress, misquoted me completely but hey-ho.

[OC Richard]

Just saw the movie yesterday. It was fantastic. Little statues of Golden men are in those people's futures.

As has been pointed out, costumers don't think like we 'tartan spotters' do. They are concerned with the colour palette of the various scenes the kilt will appear in. And the kilt in question looked lovely in its scenes, and thus accomplished its purpose.

A costumer based in London is probably more knowing about tartans than the typical Hollywood costumer. I'm quite sure that many Hollywood films featuring kilts were costumed by people who don't even realise that the various tartans have names or significance. (I've met and worked with some of those people.)

Anyhow if you haven't seen the movie you owe it to yourself to see it!

The film has a lush "look" which belies its relatively low budget, a great script, and stellar acting.

(One quibble: the actor who plays Churchill seems like he's in a different film than everyone else.)

[Jimmy]

I saw it.

I'm pretty sure he's wearing County Kerry in the car.



I had to laugh since that one can't even be twenty years old. I recently saw The Queen and remarked that Charles was wearing a very modern tartan at one point as well and wondered if the designer hadn't chosen something to represent the Balmoral tartan which the actors, of course, wouldn't be permitted to wear.

Do I get a cracker?

According to this morning's newspapers, you've got it right, it is county Kerry tartan and the producers have admitted this was a massive blunder allowing him to wear this Irish tartan in the film, Royals have never worn such a tartan

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

(One quibble: the actor who plays Churchill seems like he's in a different film than everyone else.)

Yes, the usually redoubtable Timothy Spall... his turn in "Topsy-Turvey" is brilliant, as is his film work in general. In all fairness I suspect his very recent bout with leukemia (now in remission) may have had something to do with his rather disconnected performance in "The King's Speech".

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Congratulations are in order for Jenny Beavan for her Oscar nomination for Best Costumes in a Motion Picture for her work on the film, "The King's Speech".