Oscars: Colin Firth doesn't like new 'King's Speech' cut
The new PG-13 cut of "The King's Speech" is meant to open the film to a wider audience. But the star of the film sees little noble about studio Weinstein Co.'s decision to tweak the best picture winner.
Saying he'd yet to see the new cut of the film -- which mutes out the f-word in a key scene uttered by Firth's Duke of York to Geoffrey Rush's Lionel Logue -- Firth nonetheless said he was irked by the decision.
"I don’t support it," he said. "I think the film has its integrity as it stands. I think that scene belongs where it is. I think it serves a purpose."
Speaking to reporters backstage after he won the statuette for lead actor at the Oscars, Firth went on to explain that he's normally very careful about the use of obscenity, citing his parental sensitivity to profanity. "I’m not somebody who takes that kind of language casually. I take my kids to soccer games. I hate hearing that language around them."
But he added that the scene served an artistic purpose. "The language in the film is about a man trying to free himself through the use of forbidden words," said the British actor. "And he’s so coy about it. I haven’t met a person who has been offended by it."
Firth echoed the sentiments of director Tom Hooper, who similarly opposed the cut. The f-word became an unlikely subject of interest at the Oscars, when Melissa Leo let one slip while accepting the prize for supporting actress. She later apologized backstage.
-- Steven Zeitchik
RELATED:
Photo: Colin Firth in "The King's Speech." Credit: Weinstein Co.
Totally agree with Colin, it does serve its purpose and the scene shouldn't have been reedited. It's good as it was and now to have to change it? It's not like the kids these days don't already know the word, I mean come on has anyone seen the type of society we live in? It kinda just ruined the whole idea of King George VI saying it, and it's worse if you already saw the original version...crap!
Posted by: YankeeEarnhardt | 03/28/2011 at 11:05 AM