KING RALPH
US, 1991, 97 minutes, Colour.
John Goodman, Peter O’ Toole, John Hurt, Camille Coduri, Richard Griffiths, Leslie Phillips, James Villiers, Joely Richardson, Niall O’ Brien, Julian Glover, Judy Parfitt.
Directed by David S. Ward.
King Ralph is a very entertaining popular film. It is based on the novel Headlong (1980) by playwright and actor Emlyn Williams (Night Must Fall, The Corn is Green). It has been adapted for the screen and directed by David S. Ward, writer-director of such films as Cannery Row, The Sting, Major League.
The premise is entertaining: the British royal family are all wiped out during a photo shoot. The search is on for the rightful heir and he is discovered as a singer in a lounge, a slob, played by John Goodman in his genial style. Peter O’ Toole plays Sir Cedric Willingham, the man designated to train the new king. O’ Toole does this role immaculately. John Hurt is also in the background as a potential rival.
The film is humorous in the Crocodile Dundee style with the ‘fish out of water’ as the very American slob arrives in the United Kingdom and has to learn British customs and manners. All kinds of character actors are also present including Richard Griffiths (television’s Pie in the Sky and the cinema’s The History Boys), Leslie Phillips and James Villiers. Joely Richardson has a cameo role as the rather icy princess from Scandinavia.
The film is aimed at a very popular audience – and with its combination of good acting, humorous situations and dialogue and the British background, it is successful.
1.A pleasing comedy? The satirical touches? Gentle satire?
2.The contrast between Las Vegas and London? Authentic atmosphere – presented humorously?
3.The musical score, the songs, ‘Miss Molly’…? Ralph as a singer?
4.The premise, the royal family and the photo being taken, the explosion, the deaths?
5.The American perspective on England, seeing the British as stuffy, traditional? The background of the War of Independence? Starchy customs? The film eventually a more benign look at Britain?
6.Cedric, his role in the British royal family, his assistant? The search for the heir? The protocols and the traditions?
7.Lord Percival Graves, his claim to the throne, his ambitions and his sinister behaviour?
8.Ralph in Las Vegas, genial, lazy, his reaction to the news, performance, clothes, talk, going to England – and the details of the humour of the fish-out-of-water comedy?
9.Duties and style, Cedric and his instructions, training Ralph? Giving the reasons? Ralph and his not coping well, even falling in the pond?
10.Percival Graves, his getting Miranda Green to participate in his plot? The money, the photos? Gordon Halliwell and the forgery and the payment? Parliament and Percival Graves’ speech, the arrest?
11.Cedric in himself, as played by Peter O’Toole?, Peter O’Toole’s? style? Watchful, liking Ralph? The potential marriages, African, from Finland? Helping, covering for Ralph? The truth and the revelation of his motivations? The fact that he was the king, his acceptance?
12.Ralph, the effect, lonely in England, going out, Miranda and the date, McDonald’s?, the photos? The park, the visits? The music and the jukebox? The African and the darts and jokes? Finland – ambiguous, cold? Molly and the failure?
13.Miranda, getting to like Ralph, the issue of money, her change of heart, the date, the reception and the dance, the forgery, the ending?
14.The humour about the Africans? About the cold Scandinavians?
15.The resignation, the parliament (and the punks), the jobs, Cedric becoming king? Ralph being made a duke?
16.Relationships between England and the US – and a humorous reinforcement of these?
