‘Masterpiece’ period drama with ‘outstanding’ performance perfect for Bridgerton fans

The lavish costume film is set during the Regency Era and charts a crisis inside the monarchy

A woman holds a man's face as he looks sad
Nigel Hawthorne and Helen Mirren in The Madness of King George (Image: GETTY)
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Bridgerton fans and period drama lovers can’t miss out on a historical epic that has been praised by audiences and critics alike. BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated film The Madness of King George graced cinemas in 1994 and follows the life of King George III during the Regency Crisis of 1788 to 1789.

The film charts King George III’s mental illness episode in 1788, which leads to a Parliamentary struggle. As the title suggests, the film explores the monarch’s spiral into madness and the medical treatments he’s forced to endure at the time in the hopes of curing him.

A woman and a man link arms and smile at each other

The Madness of King George was adapted by acclaimed playwright Alan Bennett and based on his 1991 play of the same name, while The History Boys and The Crucible director Nicholas Hytner helmed the production.

The film was led by Yes Minister star Nigel Hawthorne as the regent and Dame Helen Mirren took on the role of his devoted wife Queen Charlotte.

Other cast members include Ian Holm, Amanda Donohoe, Rupert Graves from Sherlock, Rupert Everett, Jim Carter from Downton Abbey, Geoffrey Palmer, and Julian Rhind-Tutt, among many others.

The Madness of King George covers a similar period to Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story on Netflix and gives another take on the story.

The 1994 movie has been praised by audiences previously on IMDb and one person posted in their 9/10 review how it was “truly amazing” as they described it as “some sort of lost masterpiece with a soft theater [sic] look”.

A woman holds her hat and smiles

Helen Mirren as Queen Charlotte in The Madness of King George (Image: GETTY)

A second titled their review: “Outstanding, impeccable, exquisitely done combination of tragedy and comedy…”

They elaborated: “As usual in all of these British historical pieces, the settings, costumes, photography, art direction–all are exquisite.”

A third added in their 10/10 review, which was titled “faultless”: “An absolutely masterful performance from Hawthorne, matched by Ian Holm’s doctor. If you haven’t seen this film, then I’d urge you to do so. Not many of you will fail to be impressed.”

While someone else said: “This is a standout film. If you have not seen it and you consider yourself a lover of movies – go and see it immediately. It is a beautiful depiction of an interesting historical period and the dilemmas faced by countries lead by accidents of genetics.”

The film received a slew of award nominations with Oscar nods for both Mirren and Hawthorne, going on to win Best Art Direction.

Meanwhile, The Madness of King George bagged the top accolade at the BAFTA Film Award and Hawthorne was given the Best Actor trophy.

The Madness of King George is streaming on Prime Video for a fee

CRE: https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/2210651/masterpiece-period-drama-outstanding-performance