By substituting one expletive for another, “The King’s Speech” has been given a family-friendly rating of PG-13. This toned-down version of the Best Picture winner will debut in 1,000 theaters nationwide on April 1. Gone is the F-word that figures repeatedly in a pivotal scene between speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) and the stammering King George VI (Colin Firth). Instead, the monarch will utter a four-letter word for feces over and over.
Eric Lomis, who heads up the theatrical distribution and home entertainment wing of the Weinstein Co., made the announcement. He said, “We are thankful to the MPAA for their wisdom and swift action in approving the release of ‘The King’s Speech’ PG-13 release. The action enables those to whom it speaks most directly — young people who are troubled by stuttering, bullying and similar trials — to see it.”
The R-rated version of the film has grossed $132 million domestically. The DVD and Blu-ray are due out on April 19. This toned-down version may do well in the educational video market.
