Hyde Park on Hudson

The story of how King George VI convinced the USA to join the war

A few month before the Second World War, Britain knew it needed America's help to fight the Germans. But most Americans didn't want their country to get involved in the war. 

At this crucial moment, King George VI (recently played by Colin Firth in The King's Speech) was invited to President Franklin D.Roosevelt's country home for a picnic. Not to say too much, the film suggests that the Allied victory over Germany started with a hot-dog!

Bill Murray is charming as Roosevelt, and Samuel West has the difficult job of following Colin Firth as George VI, but he does it his own way and is good in the role. The hod-dog episode is real enough, but most of the scenes are imagined -so it may not be the entire turht, but it makes a good story. RM Week-End Royal.

OUT: FEBRUARY 27

director: Roger Michell

Stars: Bill Murray, Laura Linney, Samuel West

Story: King George VI meets President Roosevelt