King George III does some very odd things, but then who is to argue with the king? Well, his ambitious son, for one. He's not getting any younger, and all he does is sit around waiting for his father to die. So when the king starts behaving like a real madman, the Prince of Wales lobbies Parliament to assign him the power of prince regent. What ensues is a political struggle between the prime minister, a royalist, and the opposition party. In the meantime, the king is slowly being tortured by the strange practices of 18th-century medicine: He is bled regularly, and his feces are analyzed by all manner of doctors. To rectify this atrocity, the king's distressed entourage solicits the aid of a country doctor who's as unsuccessful as his predecessors but a little more humane. When it seems as if he will be forced to abdicate his throne, George III regains his sanity just in time to assure the Parliament that he's able to rule. Directed by Nicholas Hytner and featuring an Oscar-nominated tour-de-force performance from Nigel Hawthorne, THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE is an unforgettable romp through a crucial period in English history.

This is the true story of King George III, the British monarch credited with losing the American colonies--and who lost his sanity shortly thereafter. Academy Award Nominations: 4, including Best Actor--Nigel Hawthorne, Best Supporting Actress--Helen Mirren and Best (Adapted) Screenplay. Academy Award: Best Art Direction.

An intertitle at the film's conclusion explains that King George may have suffered from a hereditary metabolic disorder known as porphyria, which produces chemical changes in the body and dementialike symptoms.

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85
Letterbox - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital Stereo - English
Additional Release Material:
Trailers: Original Theatrical Trailer

Nigel Hawthorne: British Actor, THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE (1995)
Helen Mirren: British Actress
Ian Holm: British actor, THE LORD OF THE RINGS (2001)
Amanda Donohoe: British Actress
Rupert Graves: British Actor
Rupert Everett: British Actor
Julian Rhind-Tutt: 
Julian Wadham: Actor
Jim Carter: 
Geoffrey Palmer: British Supporting Actor

Nicholas Hytner: Director/"King George"

Stephen Evans: 
David Parfitt: 

Alan Bennett: Playright/Screenwriter/Host

Tariq Anwar: Editor

"...There's much to admire in [Hytner's] splendid screen adaptation....A deft, mischievous, beautifully acted historical drama with exceptionally broad appeal..."
"...[Hawthorne] makes a dignified and affecting monarch....The humor [is] built into this sharp-witted human comedy..." -- Rating: B+
"...Potent, engrossing and even thrilling to experience....THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE keeps us amused, surprised and delighted..."
"...Bennett's play, and the direction by Nicholas Hytner, are more lighthearted than analytical, and the performance by Nigel Hawthorne as the ailing king is barbed and yet lovable..."
"...[Hawthorne] has a blast....Mirren is marvelous....But the real treat is Everett..."
"...Comedy and tragedy cohere in this extraordinary film....The thrill of Hawthorne's astounding performance is not something you want to miss..."
"...Brisk, confident direction....It manages the rare feat of being both cinematic and theatrical..."