Freedom of ‘Speech’

England’s George VI was an underdog king if there ever was such a thing. Recent Best Picture Oscar-winner The King’s Speech brings his near-forgotten story to the fore in triumphant detail and is new in stores this week on DVD. After King Edward VI abdicates the throne to marry a twice-divorced American actress, his stammering brother “Bertie” Windsor is called to the crown and to give regular radio addresses and pride-rallying wartime speeches despite his lifelong, debilitating stutter. Colin Firth plays the king with halting, bottled-up verve while Geoffery Rush challenges him at every turn as a quirky but demanding actor-turned-speech-therapist who readies the king for public appearances. Helena Bonham Carter and Guy Pearce co-star. Rated R.