@@tzetzat The king's death. The stress of the war took it's toll on George VI's health and it was made worse by his smoking which we see him doing in this scene. It resulted in him dying in 1952 from a combination of diseases including lung cancer, arteriosclerosis, and Buerger's disease.
I've seen this scene and watched this episode countless times. Yet only now at 1:48 I notice Churchill very briefly showing signs of emotion and grief for his dear friend the King while taking a swig of his drink knowing full well what's to come shortly thereafter.
The looks on Churchil's face: 1:25 : Your majesty, you look like death has run you over then hit you in the face with a shovel 1:53: holy crap, he's worse than I thought 2:07: Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the little donkey this is really bad, what isn't he telling me? 2:15 Distant future? Holy crap in a hand basket, he better not mean next week, I have three drinks parties to go to and I have the only invitation to them
My one criticism of this show is how Attlee’s time as Prime Minister was glossed over. Attlee and George VI got on very well, they were similar personalities
A large part of it is that they start the show with Elizabeth and Philip’s wedding and then the King is dead by the second episode. They moved quick at the beginning in that aspect.
I hear there is talks of a prequel show depicting the four Kings after Queen Victoria, Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII & George VI until the start of this show, so for all we know we will see it.
@@benjamineckford1718 They got on OK at best. The problem was that Atlee really wasn't talkative--the joke Churchill tells in this scene is true. Reportedly, during Atlee's first meeting with the King, they sat in silence for over a minute because neither was comfortable striking up a conversation. They may have agreed well with each other, but they were never as friendly as the King was with Churchill.
Richard Harris would have been so proud of how good an actor Jared became, I feel he’s very underrated and most only know him from the Chernobyl miniseries, he has many, many more excellent roles.
Jared Harris should have been the guy to play Young Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beasts films, not Jude Law. Not that Law did a bad job, but I feel like Jared would have been perfect as a younger version of one of his father’s most iconic roles. No shade to the late, great Michael Gambon, but Richard Harris was PERFECT as Dumbledore, portraying his firm yet soft-spoken gravitas with aplomb.
I like Gary Ildman’s Churchill, but I got to admit This Churchill is by far the best, he captured almost everything with the real one, the way he talks, face expressions, what a great performance!
The acting of both of these men is just absolutely magnificent. Jared Harris didn’t look much like the real King, but by God, you certainly believed he was the king in every episode he was in! And Lithguwvis wonderful as the older version of Churchill.
I think it took the war for Churchill and the King to get on - initially they clashed. Churchill had defended Edward VIII - the opposite of what you see in The King's Speech, possibly because they didn't think the audience would like it.
They've grown. Going from resembling Gary Oldman and Ben Mendelsohn to resembling John Lithgow and Jared Harris. Plus not to mention Lord Halifax is now Winston's painter.
The subtle absolute horror mixed with utter sadness on Churchil's face when the King lit up his cigarette... only while watching this clip I have seen it, he probably realized that his good friend doesn't have long and he will have two Sovereigns during his tenure.
Yeah, word gets around in such circles. Some official at MI-5 or MI-6 would probably be finding out for the Cabinet what George's health really was either from doctors or staff.
I noted that some people were commenting about Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher and i only learned in the past 8 years that Gillian, while born in Chicago and raised in Michigan was also raised in London England. She has dual citizenship (i believe) in both the USA and UK and can switch effortlessly between speaking the King's English (my quaint if outdated commentary on "British" English) and Yankee English. I saw her in an interview on TH-cam from several years for Harper's Bazaar and I fell over in my chair as she spoke like a Brit. Amazing with Americans speaking as Brits and Brits speaking as Americans but Gillian lives, breathes and does both. What a classy lady. I think she upstages Lithgow's performance as Churchill.
This audience with the King would have taken place on or about Friday 26 October 1951 as Churchill won the General Election held the day before. The trip that Princess Elizabeth and Philip, Duke Of Edinburgh took, was a month long tour of Canada. King George VI had just under six weeks to live.
I think a big part of the problem is that she was a woman crowned in the 50’s. Even to this day people love to question a woman’s ability to lead so I think her shutting down emotionally was her way of showing pragmatism as a monarch. Showing that she understood her role while trying to be solution driven. It’s sad but women tend to have to give 200% in order to receive half of the respect a man gets if he only gives 50% 🤷🏾♂️
The position doesn’t leave too much room for individuality does it. Being a symbol of a nation of various backgrounds, cultures, political ideologies, religion, ethnicities. But of course the late Queen left her mark regardless. I mean how many monarchs allowed themselves to be included in short films aka James Bond and Paddington Bear? The British Royal Family is such tabloid fodder with many members acting out of line but the Queen was always seem as honorable though some would call her old-fashioned and boring. The present King will never ever shake off the specter of Diana for as long as he reigns and may he reign till the end of his life.
@@Roderick_LaMar Same thing could be said with Thatcher! I imagine it was a similar situation with Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I. Although they commanded far more authority in the 16th century.
Considering the "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation for women in that time period, I'd say she picked the wiser of the two paths with regards to ensuring the stability and survival of her institution. What was qualified as natural and warm for men was considered inappropriate and unprofessional for women. What was qualified as confident and tough leadership for men was considered bland and out of touch for women. Only one of those two paths could be distilled into incompetence by the public opinion. She picked the competent but cold/dispassionate approach, and the result is a monarchy which survived 70 years under her reign through many existential crises.
I wonder how much was known about a link between smoking and cancer back then. Not as much as we know now, of course. Cigarettes were still allowed to be advertised on television.
As far as breathing was concerned I’m pretty sure the link between smoking and coughing/breathing troubles spoke for itself before it’s link with COPD and cancer was known.
Wow, that is extremely young. Especially for a monarch. That’s probably why Elizabeth lasted so long. She realized no excessive indulgences and no smoking would keep her from a early grave
The man was an enigma, he could be cruel and mean spirited and yet his wife could make him ball like a baby. He thought little of most of asia or africa and yet warned the world of hitler and despised antisemites. He adored imperialism and the british way of life but was forever proud of his american heritage. As for King George he never wanted the crown but was a fantastic king but because of his brother's foolishness, we also got Queen Elizabeth who was a boss. History is a funny old bird, such giants I dont think we will never see again. We now live in an age of clown leaders with weird hair, fake smiles and petty concerns.
Churchill wrote an article blaming Jews for Communism. He publicly praised Hitler as late as October 1937. Every British monarch after William IV was a powerless irrelevance.
The key to understanding Churchill is to recognize he was absolutely ruthless. Didn't care a fig how many men died in war - his side or the enemy. Churchill met with Stalin several times to coordinate their forces in World War 2. They got on really well with each other, respected each other, and exchanged many letters. This was because each recognised himself in the other. The only difference was that Churchill was more constrained working within a democracy. Churchill thought of the former British colonies as obligated suppliers of cannon fodder to be used exclusively for the defence of Britain and not to be wasted defending their own lands. Churchill thought of war in terms of punishing the enemy's people, whereas the American saw war in terms of strategically wrecking the enemy's ability to fight.
I will always appreciate Lithgows' performance as Churchill. Churchill knew and actively kept from the public how sick George VI really was, but Churchill broke the norms of the standard prime minister and was friends with George VI. Now the question will be until we meet George VI and Churchill in heaven is did George VI really understands how sick he was. I've heard both Churchill told the kings doctors not to inform him of how bad it truly was.
The scene where Harold Wilson tells the Queen of his intention to resign shows parallels between their relationship and the relationship between the King and Churchill. Unconstitutional celebration of their election victories, them being a better companion compared to their predecessors etc.
I’m wondering why Churchill accepted a drink from George VI, but told Elizabeth II the sovereign never offers the Prime Minister a chair nor a beverage?
Likely because Churchill and George VI were friends, and the King already knew how to be a king. It's likely that Churchill was trying to prepare Elizabeth for the life of a monarch, which would include her learning to become personally detached insofar as her official duties extended.
@@conradflanagan5003 Well said. The King was not offering the Prime Minister a drink. Bertie was offering his friend Winston a drink. They had not always been friends, but became that way through the worst kind of troubles.
Could be partly that as a woman in what was at the time a man's world her offering refreshments or to sit might be perceived as womanly or weak. Not offering a anything would be a bit of a power move...let's get down to business...we both have full schedules. Even today there is a school of thought that business meetings should not be conducted seated as people get too comfortable and long-winded. If they are forced to stand they want to wrap things up quickly and get to the point.
That ticking sounds makes me feel anxiety and I imagine it represents HRH King George's impending death. John Lithgow does a good job with his look of horror on his face for the implication.
Reminds me of a scene in a later season where the Queen is discussing Charles marrying Camilla with her bishops and they are waffling and uncomfortable with it and then she broaches her mortality which makes them all look aghast at the thought and then she drops the bomb of how would it look for the future King to be shacked up with his mistress instead of married. For Churchill the idea that a very green 20-something might ascend the throne suddenly is frightening especially given the state of the world and the Empire at the time. Likewise some of those bishops had never seriously contemplated that they will have a new monarch in their lifetimes as Elizabeth would die on their watch.
Lithgow outright mugs to display pantomime levels of shock and sadness, the the point you expect the king to at least make a remark... "what subtle acting, I absolutely didn't notice it the first 10 times I watched this episode".
Obviously shocked at not being aware of the surgery and more so to keep smoking with the single lung which obviously didn’t help with his death that soon followed.
May be that after the surgery to remove the one lung it was obvious the other was already so badly compromised that even if he quit smoking it would make little difference now. He was probably so badly addicted to nicotine that quitting might have actually put his body under more stress. Either way he wasn't living long. Doctors likely would have wanted him to quit drinking as well.
I have not seen it yet but I will binge watch it tomorrow. Here we have the proof that the english language is one of the most elegant one. And if the King himself gives you a Scotch, you should drink it 😅
Maybe I've missed it. But I don't think they got quite right the fact that King George had a stutter, something that he would become better with by the end of his life. But a slight stutter every so often would have been nice to stay accurate
There are a few bits of stutter or pause in his speech at first when they are doing the formalities. As they switch to a more informal "old friends" pattern his impediment fades, which makes sense as he likely would be more comfortable.
I am watching this scene now, two years after the Queen's death, and this gives me a glimpse of what the scene must have looked like when The Queen invited Liz Truss to form a government only two days before her death, one of her final official acts as queen. If I had known that John Lithgow played Winston Churchill, I would've actually watched The Crown when it originally aired.
And subtext. While on the surface he’s talking about preparing Elizabeth II for the role (like a training sort of thing), we all know what he’s really saying without him having to say it.
I believe the king knew the status of his own health, but didn’t want to show any weakness or any sign of deteriorating health. That’s why he had Elizabeth take the voyage for him, he knew he wasn’t able to.
Cruel? My grandfather was diagnosed with terminal cancer and had only few months to live. My Mother who cared for him never told him because nothing could be done at that point besides giving him some peace in the end. 6 months before diagnosis he buried his Son (my uncle), 7 years before that his beloved wife (my Grandmother) who also died of cancer and whom HE looked after and whose loss he never recovered from. If you're saying that hiding the truth from him and giving him peaceful final months and great care is "cruel" - then YOU are cruel. You have no right to judge, such situations are never easy including for caretakers! Anyway, as it was explained, the King knew. Try to be leas judgemental
Oh, goddess. I smoked a lot for a very long time, but I haven't had a single cigarette for 16 years. When I was watching ‘The Crown’, I felt like I was choking because everyone seemed to be smoking all the time... 🚭
I never smoked, but watching movies from the 30's, 40's, and 50's, I marvel at the amount of smoking. Some films look more like a cigarette ad than a movie they smoke so much. I am old enough to remember smoking in bars, restaurants, and planes and just how gross you would feel after a night out at a bar around smoking. Your clothes stank, sometimes you would cough in the morning, and your skin felt like you had been standing near a campfire with soot in your pores. Watching Margaret drink and smoke in this you really felt bad for her as you know how that is going to turn out damaging and shortening her life.
No personality, the labour men back Then weren't very exciting. The only one who had any charisma Was Wilson's pipe. It was the same in America. They went from the great Statesman in FDR to poor old Harry Truman.
It means he was a boring individual. Churchill also used to refer to him as a sheep in sheep's clothes. Despite that, the two were friends. Attlee served as a pallbearer at Churchill's funeral.
this was 1951, before the links between smoking and cancer became WIDELY accepted(the first significant studies in the UK had been conducted barely a year prior). besides, George likely knew--on some level--that his number was up(hence why he sent Elizabeth on the Commonwealth tour, to prepare her), so he probably figured "bugger it. not like I can give myself a worse case of cancer."
@@Graniteheart It's a bit like someone who suffers a massive heart attack in their 50's. Not eating their daily bacon and eggs at that point isn't going to prolong their life much as the odds are with a massive heart attack their heart is on a countdown timer to the next one regardless and that one will probably kill them. If it helps keep them in a good place mentally and emotionally, that's probably more important at that point. Maybe as a doctor you just try to get them to cut back some. The problem too is that smoking was often a way to deal with stress. The stress won't go away unless he would abdicate and even they he would be stressed about dumping that on his daughter. If he stops smoking he probably picks up some other vice to deal with stress like drinking more, sleeping pills, or overeating. Those would all have health impacts too. This was an era before men, especially a king, were not going to see a therapist and spill their secrets, or go study with a Yogi in India on how to meditate. I wonder if his smoking got worse after he was forced onto the throne or if he was already a heavy smoker. The impression one gets is that the stress of that job compromised his health, so maybe his smoking increased a lot dealing with stress and it caught up with him.
Well I think he kinda knows his fate at that point already. Nothing would save him anyway so why not enjoy the last bit of life? You can tell by how he says Elizabeth needs to prepare.
Yeah, doctors would probably nag him some about his smoking and drinking, but chances are the die is already cast. They likely saw that the other lung was in bad shape as well, but not as bad as the one they had to remove. Maybe if he quits smoking and drinking he lives a little longer, but probably not by much, and in such stressful job and in the 50's he'd have probably been introduced to tranquilizers to help him sleep and pep pills to help him be up when needed and those would have been as bad or worse. He couldn't abdicate due to poor health as his brother's abdication had effectively made still another abdication a non-starter regardless of how bad his health got. Two abdications in less than two decades and many might wonder why they really need the monarchy anymore.
Historical footnote, Attlee actually won the popular vote in 1951, his popular vote remained a record until John Major pipped it in 1992, however the distribution of the seat boundaries massively favoured the Conservatives at the time, and so Churchill became the first and only PM in history to secure a parliamentary majority while losing the popular vote, the third time in a row he had lost to Attlee. Also at this point the Conservatives had almost wholly adopted the same policy program as the Labour Party ushering in the period of “consensus” that lasted into the 1970s.
Downside of the first past the post system we use, where I live there are two parties that are completely pointless voting for but are still on the slip. Could be worse at least we can vote with relative freedom.
There is no "popular vote" in the UK when choosing a Parliament. If you want to add up the total ofparty votes by constutuency and call that a vote for PM, you can do that.
@@bigmonkee639 Well often democracy is by far not only about an vote but about an system, in germany we say "Rechtsstaat" (state of justice) by what the system grews its legitimacy not only from the vote itself, but from the applying of each countrys individual and legal installed system of how to vote, to from pairlament etc. I think that makes the state from a "ruilng of mass" into an "democracy"
@@bigmonkee639 Your wecome. Although I have to add: this idea is a very german one. Applied in our constitution to "frame" a "pure" democracy into a more stable, by certain garanted rights and propper process ensuring garanting processes and rights. So as more "pure" of a rule of the 'demos' (= people) you prefer, as less you can count on such an idea or system. But as more the rule of the "propper law" in itself, not just democracy as a way of political decision, you want as more I think one has to consider such idea.
@@michaeldoliveira720 Oh I say my dear chap how unsporting of you to cast doubts on my nationality you almost put me off my hourly spot of tea quite a rotter you are . Now that the silliness is over I am amercian,I guess you were in such hurry to flame someone you didn't really read what I wrote Lithgow is a great actor and he did a superb job as Churchill,I really do not care who plays who as they are called actors for a reason . I was just curious why they didn't use an English actor as it seems most of the Cast were UK performers it was a question not a slam .
@@jeremyd9624y I agree total Thery made the right choice and Lithgow nailed it to be honest not in a million years would I ever thought he could play Churchill.I was just curious on why ,I figure a ton of male English actors would have killed to play that role
Why wouldn't a 26-year-old woman be up to flying to another country, shaking some hands, attending some banquets and smiling at some photo opportunities?
@@Chuck0856 Yes, but this is 1950. Five to ten years before servicemen much younger than 26 were doing very much more dangerous things, and having to take much more responsibility. All the princess had to do was not offend anyone important.
@@KevTheImpaler That is the main worry I think, that her inexperience might result in a problem. She is not experienced with such affairs having attended very few matters as a representative of the state at that point of her life. The worry is that she would say or do something or that her husband might (In some ways they were probably more worried about her husband speaking out of turn as he was still chafing over his role) and put the government in a very bad position or put herself in a very bad light. Sometimes not offending someone is very hard to do for someone inexperienced with such matters. Sometimes you have to bite your tongue or know how to extricate yourself from someone trying to bait you into losing your temper or saying what you think rather than what the government thinks.
The soldiers faced daily physical threats, yes. But they weren't called on to be the figureheads of an entire empire that was facing a lot of post-war crises. Nor were they being watched on a world stage by other leaders and a press that could pounce too. Make no mistake, the stakes were high for the young and relatively inexperienced Princess.
The look on Churchill's face when the King lit that cigarette.
He would be one to talk
Masterful scene.
@@tajniak4335 He'd already consumed three brandies at breakfast.
@@tajniak4335 With a cigar you would hardly inhale the smoke into your lung
@@00_rei90 Still if you smoke 10 a day like Churchill did you inhale plenty.
Great acting by John Lithgow. You can see Churchill realising what the first crisis he'll have to deal with is going to be.
Its cool, the Kings gonna come back as a virtual ghost avatar thing. Its all part of the plan dude
and what would that crisis be
@@tzetzat The king's death. The stress of the war took it's toll on George VI's health and it was made worse by his smoking which we see him doing in this scene. It resulted in him dying in 1952 from a combination of diseases including lung cancer, arteriosclerosis, and Buerger's disease.
Lithgow was badly miscast.
@@leokneedus George VI was a powerless figurehead, like every monarch since William IV.
I totally understand Churchill's look when he saw the King lighting up a cigarette. Like dude you have one lung left
That's not quite it. The king just told him in no uncertain terms that he was not long for this world. Harris is such as fine actor.
I've seen this scene and watched this episode countless times. Yet only now at 1:48 I notice Churchill very briefly showing signs of emotion and grief for his dear friend the King while taking a swig of his drink knowing full well what's to come shortly thereafter.
Great detail
The looks on Churchil's face:
1:25 : Your majesty, you look like death has run you over then hit you in the face with a shovel
1:53: holy crap, he's worse than I thought
2:07: Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the little donkey this is really bad, what isn't he telling me?
2:15 Distant future? Holy crap in a hand basket, he better not mean next week, I have three drinks parties to go to and I have the only invitation to them
My one criticism of this show is how Attlee’s time as Prime Minister was glossed over. Attlee and George VI got on very well, they were similar personalities
A large part of it is that they start the show with Elizabeth and Philip’s wedding and then the King is dead by the second episode. They moved quick at the beginning in that aspect.
Yes but similar personalities not necessarily get along well.
@@WujekJeffAttlee and George VI DID get on well
I hear there is talks of a prequel show depicting the four Kings after Queen Victoria, Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII & George VI until the start of this show, so for all we know we will see it.
@@benjamineckford1718 They got on OK at best. The problem was that Atlee really wasn't talkative--the joke Churchill tells in this scene is true. Reportedly, during Atlee's first meeting with the King, they sat in silence for over a minute because neither was comfortable striking up a conversation. They may have agreed well with each other, but they were never as friendly as the King was with Churchill.
Love how the pilot immediately set the tone of this show.
Richard Harris would have been so proud of how good an actor Jared became, I feel he’s very underrated and most only know him from the Chernobyl miniseries, he has many, many more excellent roles.
wacth Foundation ....hes a lynchpin to the show
@@patryot5668 I have hence the comment, great shout as well.
@@Jonesyb90 Let's not forget his great portrayal of the Napoleon of Crime himself: Professor James Moriarty.
I've loved watching him since Fringe.
Jared Harris should have been the guy to play Young Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beasts films, not Jude Law. Not that Law did a bad job, but I feel like Jared would have been perfect as a younger version of one of his father’s most iconic roles.
No shade to the late, great Michael Gambon, but Richard Harris was PERFECT as Dumbledore, portraying his firm yet soft-spoken gravitas with aplomb.
I did not know that Valery Legasov was the king of the United Kingdom before becoming a nuclear physicist.
Was that before or after he headed up a faction of "reformed" pirates as part of the government of the outer planets?
@@gkbur85 I'm pretty sure even before that he tried to murder Sherlock Holmes or something
@@tajniak4335 Im just surprised he's hanging out with that alien commander
They aren't supposed to be the same character. They are different characters played by the same actor.
@@freakingevilgenius Really!? That is brand new information
Jared Harris was fantastic as George VI, he did it all. I think his fine performances were some of the very best in the entire 6 seasons of The Crown.
Two great men playing two great men
One great King with "A racist killer far worse than Hitler".
I like Gary Ildman’s Churchill, but I got to admit
This Churchill is by far the best, he captured almost everything with the real one, the way he talks, face expressions, what a great performance!
@@tashin9197except john is a good foot taller than churchill was 😐
The King still had the stammer. Nice touch
The acting of both of these men is just absolutely magnificent. Jared Harris didn’t look much like the real King, but by God, you certainly believed he was the king in every episode he was in! And Lithguwvis wonderful as the older version of Churchill.
I think it took the war for Churchill and the King to get on - initially they clashed. Churchill had defended Edward VIII - the opposite of what you see in The King's Speech, possibly because they didn't think the audience would like it.
They've grown. Going from resembling Gary Oldman and Ben Mendelsohn to resembling John Lithgow and Jared Harris. Plus not to mention Lord Halifax is now Winston's painter.
Hanifax finally got his revenge on Winston by making that portrait
Or Iain Glen from “into the storm”
Jorah Mormont and Batman playing the king who saved us from the Nazis.
King George is going to ask Churchill for 5,000 tons of boron and sand.
Let's not forget about ALL of liquid nitrogen in the Soviet Union.
HAHAH nice one because that is the same actor. One actor, two roles. It is just crazy really. NICE recognition bro!!! lmao!!!
The subtle absolute horror mixed with utter sadness on Churchil's face when the King lit up his cigarette... only while watching this clip I have seen it, he probably realized that his good friend doesn't have long and he will have two Sovereigns during his tenure.
Churchill knew... his friend was on borrowed time.
Yeah, word gets around in such circles. Some official at MI-5 or MI-6 would probably be finding out for the Cabinet what George's health really was either from doctors or staff.
I noted that some people were commenting about Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher and i only learned in the past 8 years that Gillian, while born in Chicago and raised in Michigan was also raised in London England. She has dual citizenship (i believe) in both the USA and UK and can switch effortlessly between speaking the King's English (my quaint if outdated commentary on "British" English) and Yankee English. I saw her in an interview on TH-cam from several years for Harper's Bazaar and I fell over in my chair as she spoke like a Brit. Amazing with Americans speaking as Brits and Brits speaking as Americans but Gillian lives, breathes and does both. What a classy lady. I think she upstages Lithgow's performance as Churchill.
Lithgow was just amazing in this role. He is a very underrated actor & in my opinion as good as Gary Oldman in the role of Churchill.
I dare to say Lithgow has better face for this role. Oldman is too... handsome.
This audience with the King would have taken place on or about Friday 26 October 1951 as Churchill won the General Election held the day before. The trip that Princess Elizabeth and Philip, Duke Of Edinburgh took, was a month long tour of Canada. King George VI had just under six weeks to live.
I love the chemistry of His Majesty and Sir Winston on this series.
Seeing their interaction is so natural and warm. It's sad that Elizabeth never found that balance and allowed the crown to consume her completely.
I think a big part of the problem is that she was a woman crowned in the 50’s. Even to this day people love to question a woman’s ability to lead so I think her shutting down emotionally was her way of showing pragmatism as a monarch. Showing that she understood her role while trying to be solution driven. It’s sad but women tend to have to give 200% in order to receive half of the respect a man gets if he only gives 50% 🤷🏾♂️
The position doesn’t leave too much room for individuality does it. Being a symbol of a nation of various backgrounds, cultures, political ideologies, religion, ethnicities. But of course the late Queen left her mark regardless. I mean how many monarchs allowed themselves to be included in short films aka James Bond and Paddington Bear? The British Royal Family is such tabloid fodder with many members acting out of line but the Queen was always seem as honorable though some would call her old-fashioned and boring. The present King will never ever shake off the specter of Diana for as long as he reigns and may he reign till the end of his life.
@@Roderick_LaMar Same thing could be said with Thatcher! I imagine it was a similar situation with Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I. Although they commanded far more authority in the 16th century.
🙄well 1 was a man that wasn't supposed to be king and the other was a WOMAN trained from age 10 to be a monarch. So yea, different expectations.
Considering the "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation for women in that time period, I'd say she picked the wiser of the two paths with regards to ensuring the stability and survival of her institution. What was qualified as natural and warm for men was considered inappropriate and unprofessional for women. What was qualified as confident and tough leadership for men was considered bland and out of touch for women. Only one of those two paths could be distilled into incompetence by the public opinion. She picked the competent but cold/dispassionate approach, and the result is a monarchy which survived 70 years under her reign through many existential crises.
well, your majesty as you turned out it was not so distant a future
I wonder how much was known about a link between smoking and cancer back then. Not as much as we know now, of course. Cigarettes were still allowed to be advertised on television.
Cigarettes and smoking were pretty much believed to be good for your lungs and breathing. Which is insane.
@@Losrandir Back in 54 mom had to bum a smoke off the doctor going into the delivery room for me as she'd left her pack back on the cocktail tray.
It was known in the 1940's and strongly by the 1950's.
@@PortMoody1But yet nothing was suggested towards mitigation till the 1960s (from what I have read).
As far as breathing was concerned I’m pretty sure the link between smoking and coughing/breathing troubles spoke for itself before it’s link with COPD and cancer was known.
King George VI (1895 - 1952)
Died at 56 years old the greatest king ever
Wow, that is extremely young. Especially for a monarch. That’s probably why Elizabeth lasted so long. She realized no excessive indulgences and no smoking would keep her from a early grave
The man was an enigma, he could be cruel and mean spirited and yet his wife could make him ball like a baby. He thought little of most of asia or africa and yet warned the world of hitler and despised antisemites. He adored imperialism and the british way of life but was forever proud of his american heritage. As for King George he never wanted the crown but was a fantastic king but because of his brother's foolishness, we also got Queen Elizabeth who was a boss. History is a funny old bird, such giants I dont think we will never see again. We now live in an age of clown leaders with weird hair, fake smiles and petty concerns.
Churchill wrote an article blaming Jews for Communism. He publicly praised Hitler as late as October 1937.
Every British monarch after William IV was a powerless irrelevance.
Perfectly put
The key to understanding Churchill is to recognize he was absolutely ruthless. Didn't care a fig how many men died in war - his side or the enemy. Churchill met with Stalin several times to coordinate their forces in World War 2. They got on really well with each other, respected each other, and exchanged many letters. This was because each recognised himself in the other. The only difference was that Churchill was more constrained working within a democracy.
Churchill thought of the former British colonies as obligated suppliers of cannon fodder to be used exclusively for the defence of Britain and not to be wasted defending their own lands.
Churchill thought of war in terms of punishing the enemy's people, whereas the American saw war in terms of strategically wrecking the enemy's ability to fight.
I always liked Winston Churchill, he was my favorite Prime Minister. I wish we had a man like him today.
"The distant future" sent shivers down my spine.
Churchill also had health problems but he outlived the King by 13 years
Dude soft launched his own death
His Majesty, The Dude?
I will always appreciate Lithgows' performance as Churchill. Churchill knew and actively kept from the public how sick George VI really was, but Churchill broke the norms of the standard prime minister and was friends with George VI. Now the question will be until we meet George VI and Churchill in heaven is did George VI really understands how sick he was. I've heard both Churchill told the kings doctors not to inform him of how bad it truly was.
The scene where Harold Wilson tells the Queen of his intention to resign shows parallels between their relationship and the relationship between the King and Churchill. Unconstitutional celebration of their election victories, them being a better companion compared to their predecessors etc.
I’m wondering why Churchill accepted a drink from George VI, but told Elizabeth II the sovereign never offers the Prime Minister a chair nor a beverage?
Likely because Churchill and George VI were friends, and the King already knew how to be a king. It's likely that Churchill was trying to prepare Elizabeth for the life of a monarch, which would include her learning to become personally detached insofar as her official duties extended.
@@conradflanagan5003 that makes perfect sense, thank you!!
@@conradflanagan5003 Well said. The King was not offering the Prime Minister a drink. Bertie was offering his friend Winston a drink. They had not always been friends, but became that way through the worst kind of troubles.
Could be partly that as a woman in what was at the time a man's world her offering refreshments or to sit might be perceived as womanly or weak. Not offering a anything would be a bit of a power move...let's get down to business...we both have full schedules. Even today there is a school of thought that business meetings should not be conducted seated as people get too comfortable and long-winded. If they are forced to stand they want to wrap things up quickly and get to the point.
"I'm SO healthy, right? By the by... gonna start sending my 20-something daughter on King stuff, NBD."
That ticking sounds makes me feel anxiety and I imagine it represents HRH King George's impending death. John Lithgow does a good job with his look of horror on his face for the implication.
HM, not HRH.
@@user-zr6pl6nb6z Ah fuck, I can't believe you've done this.
Reminds me of a scene in a later season where the Queen is discussing Charles marrying Camilla with her bishops and they are waffling and uncomfortable with it and then she broaches her mortality which makes them all look aghast at the thought and then she drops the bomb of how would it look for the future King to be shacked up with his mistress instead of married. For Churchill the idea that a very green 20-something might ascend the throne suddenly is frightening especially given the state of the world and the Empire at the time. Likewise some of those bishops had never seriously contemplated that they will have a new monarch in their lifetimes as Elizabeth would die on their watch.
Lithgow outright mugs to display pantomime levels of shock and sadness, the the point you expect the king to at least make a remark... "what subtle acting, I absolutely didn't notice it the first 10 times I watched this episode".
Obviously shocked at not being aware of the surgery and more so to keep smoking with the single lung which obviously didn’t help with his death that soon followed.
May be that after the surgery to remove the one lung it was obvious the other was already so badly compromised that even if he quit smoking it would make little difference now. He was probably so badly addicted to nicotine that quitting might have actually put his body under more stress. Either way he wasn't living long. Doctors likely would have wanted him to quit drinking as well.
That's what i call real freedom dedication.
I have not seen it yet but I will binge watch it tomorrow.
Here we have the proof that the english language is one of the most elegant one.
And if the King himself gives you a Scotch, you should drink it 😅
It's a lot more elegant when we spell "proof" correctly.
@@user-zr6pl6nb6z better you little pendant? Feel better, do you feel nice because one failure
@@user-zr6pl6nb6z🤓
What an achievement for an american actor and actress to play an english part in the crown.
Lithgow was awesome.
Maybe I've missed it. But I don't think they got quite right the fact that King George had a stutter, something that he would become better with by the end of his life. But a slight stutter every so often would have been nice to stay accurate
There are a few bits of stutter or pause in his speech at first when they are doing the formalities. As they switch to a more informal "old friends" pattern his impediment fades, which makes sense as he likely would be more comfortable.
Guy is breathing with one lung and still smoking :)
I am watching this scene now, two years after the Queen's death, and this gives me a glimpse of what the scene must have looked like when The Queen invited Liz Truss to form a government only two days before her death, one of her final official acts as queen.
If I had known that John Lithgow played Winston Churchill, I would've actually watched The Crown when it originally aired.
This is what we in the buisness call foreshadowing
And subtext. While on the surface he’s talking about preparing Elizabeth II for the role (like a training sort of thing), we all know what he’s really saying without him having to say it.
I truely hope this part of the show is not true. It was cruel he wasn't told about his own health
I believe the king knew the status of his own health, but didn’t want to show any weakness or any sign of deteriorating health. That’s why he had Elizabeth take the voyage for him, he knew he wasn’t able to.
Spot on. @@RLNDT524
Oh he did knew, there was a scene where the doctor simply said: few months, good sir.
Cruel? My grandfather was diagnosed with terminal cancer and had only few months to live. My Mother who cared for him never told him because nothing could be done at that point besides giving him some peace in the end. 6 months before diagnosis he buried his Son (my uncle), 7 years before that his beloved wife (my Grandmother) who also died of cancer and whom HE looked after and whose loss he never recovered from. If you're saying that hiding the truth from him and giving him peaceful final months and great care is "cruel" - then YOU are cruel. You have no right to judge, such situations are never easy including for caretakers! Anyway, as it was explained, the King knew. Try to be leas judgemental
@@yevgeniyaleshchenko849geez lighten up
3.6 roentgen / 1 lung, not great, not terrible
Cringe
@@balabanasireti whatever you say, Comrade Dyatlov
Oh, goddess. I smoked a lot for a very long time, but I haven't had a single cigarette for 16 years. When I was watching ‘The Crown’, I felt like I was choking because everyone seemed to be smoking all the time... 🚭
I never smoked, but watching movies from the 30's, 40's, and 50's, I marvel at the amount of smoking. Some films look more like a cigarette ad than a movie they smoke so much. I am old enough to remember smoking in bars, restaurants, and planes and just how gross you would feel after a night out at a bar around smoking. Your clothes stank, sometimes you would cough in the morning, and your skin felt like you had been standing near a campfire with soot in your pores. Watching Margaret drink and smoke in this you really felt bad for her as you know how that is going to turn out damaging and shortening her life.
An empty taxi pulled at the house of common and Mr Atley got out
Wat does that mean
That Attlee had so little charisma and presence that people would Not notice he was there
No personality, the labour men back
Then weren't very exciting.
The only one who had any charisma
Was Wilson's pipe. It was the same in
America. They went from the great
Statesman in FDR to poor old Harry
Truman.
It means he was a boring individual.
Churchill also used to refer to him as a sheep in sheep's clothes. Despite that, the two were friends. Attlee served as a pallbearer at Churchill's funeral.
It was a typical Churchillian way of saying Atley was a waste of space. And he was correct
Attributed to Churchill, but denied by him. He actually had a lot of respect for Attlee in spite of their differences.
Anyone know the background music when Churchill walks in?
There's no fooling Winston Churchill
Smoking with one lung!
King George would die 3 months after that meeting.
@itorapadas
1 second ago
Didn't really stop smoking, did he, even with just one lung left in the King?
king francis of the terror
A King with Cancer and He Still Smoking?
this was 1951, before the links between smoking and cancer became WIDELY accepted(the first significant studies in the UK had been conducted barely a year prior). besides, George likely knew--on some level--that his number was up(hence why he sent Elizabeth on the Commonwealth tour, to prepare her), so he probably figured "bugger it. not like I can give myself a worse case of cancer."
@@Graniteheart It's a bit like someone who suffers a massive heart attack in their 50's. Not eating their daily bacon and eggs at that point isn't going to prolong their life much as the odds are with a massive heart attack their heart is on a countdown timer to the next one regardless and that one will probably kill them. If it helps keep them in a good place mentally and emotionally, that's probably more important at that point. Maybe as a doctor you just try to get them to cut back some. The problem too is that smoking was often a way to deal with stress. The stress won't go away unless he would abdicate and even they he would be stressed about dumping that on his daughter. If he stops smoking he probably picks up some other vice to deal with stress like drinking more, sleeping pills, or overeating. Those would all have health impacts too. This was an era before men, especially a king, were not going to see a therapist and spill their secrets, or go study with a Yogi in India on how to meditate. I wonder if his smoking got worse after he was forced onto the throne or if he was already a heavy smoker. The impression one gets is that the stress of that job compromised his health, so maybe his smoking increased a lot dealing with stress and it caught up with him.
Well I think he kinda knows his fate at that point already. Nothing would save him anyway so why not enjoy the last bit of life?
You can tell by how he says Elizabeth needs to prepare.
Yeah, doctors would probably nag him some about his smoking and drinking, but chances are the die is already cast. They likely saw that the other lung was in bad shape as well, but not as bad as the one they had to remove. Maybe if he quits smoking and drinking he lives a little longer, but probably not by much, and in such stressful job and in the 50's he'd have probably been introduced to tranquilizers to help him sleep and pep pills to help him be up when needed and those would have been as bad or worse. He couldn't abdicate due to poor health as his brother's abdication had effectively made still another abdication a non-starter regardless of how bad his health got. Two abdications in less than two decades and many might wonder why they really need the monarchy anymore.
@@kentvesser9484 Touche' (smile)
Historical footnote, Attlee actually won the popular vote in 1951, his popular vote remained a record until John Major pipped it in 1992, however the distribution of the seat boundaries massively favoured the Conservatives at the time, and so Churchill became the first and only PM in history to secure a parliamentary majority while losing the popular vote, the third time in a row he had lost to Attlee. Also at this point the Conservatives had almost wholly adopted the same policy program as the Labour Party ushering in the period of “consensus” that lasted into the 1970s.
Downside of the first past the post system we use, where I live there are two parties that are completely pointless voting for but are still on the slip. Could be worse at least we can vote with relative freedom.
Labour were then in opposition until 1964. To go from a landslide in 1945 to 13 years out of government is quite telling.
There is no "popular vote" in the UK when choosing a Parliament. If you want to add up the total ofparty votes by constutuency and call that a vote for PM, you can do that.
1:03 Oof 😏
Insane how Attlee lost a snap election that he called in the hope of increasing seats...😅
Stupid bet or the only bet do you say?
how many actors portrays the real churchill?
How could he own tax money to British government when he is the king
To bad Churchill was a little guy!!
The British people voted for Attlee in 1945, 1950 and 1951.
He won the popular vote in 1951 but due to the electoral system and rural areas Churchill won
@@bigmonkee639 Under a democratic system like PR Attlee would have won landslide majorities in 1950 and 1951.
@@bigmonkee639 Well often democracy is by far not only about an vote but about an system, in germany we say "Rechtsstaat" (state of justice) by what the system grews its legitimacy not only from the vote itself, but from the applying of each countrys individual and legal installed system of how to vote, to from pairlament etc. I think that makes the state from a "ruilng of mass" into an "democracy"
@@Tarnatos14 interesting idea, thanks
@@bigmonkee639 Your wecome. Although I have to add: this idea is a very german one. Applied in our constitution to "frame" a "pure" democracy into a more stable, by certain garanted rights and propper process ensuring garanting processes and rights. So as more "pure" of a rule of the 'demos' (= people) you prefer, as less you can count on such an idea or system. But as more the rule of the "propper law" in itself, not just democracy as a way of political decision, you want as more I think one has to consider such idea.
Wanna get drunk?????
He smokes too much.
They didn’t know it at the time, but the people of England reelecting an aging Churchill in 1951 would be a very bad move.
Well, he did resign during his time in office, and it wasn't certainly as bad as modern previous conservative governments...
The British people voted for Labour in 1945, 1950 and 1951.
Something we in the US are about to realize in January 2025.
@ That was my first thought.
Not very accurate history.
No knock on John Lithgow,he is a great actor he was excellent as Churchill,but could they not get a english actor ?
Oh, are you English? If so, deal with it. Plenty of Brits play Americans.
@@michaeldoliveira720 Oh I say my dear chap how unsporting of you to cast doubts on my nationality you almost put me off my hourly spot of tea quite a rotter you are . Now that the silliness is over I am amercian,I guess you were in such hurry to flame someone you didn't really read what I wrote Lithgow is a great actor and he did a superb job as Churchill,I really do not care who plays who as they are called actors for a reason . I was just curious why they didn't use an English actor as it seems most of the Cast were UK performers it was a question not a slam .
It’s called acting. The good actors can act something they are not and we shouldn’t rely on people only acting roles that are like them already.
@@jeremyd9624y I agree total Thery made the right choice and Lithgow nailed it to be honest not in a million years would I ever thought he could play Churchill.I was just curious on why ,I figure a ton of male English actors would have killed to play that role
@@michaeldoliveira720 Lol, salty?
Why wouldn't a 26-year-old woman be up to flying to another country, shaking some hands, attending some banquets and smiling at some photo opportunities?
Speaking before large crowds is daunting, even for those who are outgoing.
@@Chuck0856 Yes, but this is 1950. Five to ten years before servicemen much younger than 26 were doing very much more dangerous things, and having to take much more responsibility. All the princess had to do was not offend anyone important.
@@KevTheImpaler That is the main worry I think, that her inexperience might result in a problem. She is not experienced with such affairs having attended very few matters as a representative of the state at that point of her life. The worry is that she would say or do something or that her husband might (In some ways they were probably more worried about her husband speaking out of turn as he was still chafing over his role) and put the government in a very bad position or put herself in a very bad light. Sometimes not offending someone is very hard to do for someone inexperienced with such matters. Sometimes you have to bite your tongue or know how to extricate yourself from someone trying to bait you into losing your temper or saying what you think rather than what the government thinks.
The soldiers faced daily physical threats, yes. But they weren't called on to be the figureheads of an entire empire that was facing a lot of post-war crises. Nor were they being watched on a world stage by other leaders and a press that could pounce too. Make no mistake, the stakes were high for the young and relatively inexperienced Princess.
First 😁
You shoot your load real fast.
@seanwebb605 You really want me, don't you? Look man, I'm flattered. REALLY I am. I'm just spoken for. Sorry.
The best movie on British in India... Is... Sardar udham....
Has anyone heard about this movie????