A King's Story: The Love Story of the Century

At long last I got to see this beautifully produced black/white/color documentary on the late Duke of Windsor. It is beyond tragic that the world has gone from the Duke & Duchess of Windsor to the Kardashian family in my lifetime. Can you imagine this couple in the same room with Kim and her family? I daresay they would be civil to the inth degree as they chuckled under their breath. Happily, they won't have to suffer this indignity.This DVD contains film footage never seen by Americans unless they lived in England in the 30s and 40s. There is very little screen time for the Duchess who speaks in a Southern/English accent mix. As a Southerner myself, I remember what I sounded like returning to the States after living in London for a few years. It is natural for us to pick it up because our ancestors arrived in this country speaking this way. She looks so pretty in this presentation. He looks so handsome and calm.As he reads his Abdication speech for the camera, years after it happened, I expected him to break down at some point. He didn't. Of course I don't know how many 'takes' they made while he read the lines.It is an era that England will never see again. The present day monarchy has this man to thank for so many things. He opened up the royal family and made them human and approachable. Had he remained King, WWII would have been quite different in scope. He was, after all, not only German in heritage but he thought highly of Herr Hitler. Would the English be speaking German today? One can only wonder.His life is studied from birth to the time the film was made. What he was put through in his childhood and young manhood is there for all to see. It must have been so difficult at times seeing his friends leading normal lives with his so regimented and sterile. No wonder he broke loose in the 30s and dined and danced all over London.It is sad to watch this wonderful film knowing how it all ends. His wife is never recognized by the Royal Family. They do not return to live in England. They spend their last years in Paris just across the sea from the country of his birth and heritage. He was not allowed to contribute in any meaningful way to England. They spent their 35 years of marriage attending parties, entertaining celebrities in their homes, dining in expensive restaurants, and touring the world as exiles. However, his was not a wasted life. Before he abdicated the film will show you how much experience he did get as a ruler of the British people. Before he died he would see the Sun set on the British Empire. Something no one would think possible in the 20s and 30s.As long as Queen Elizabeth II is alive the decorum and pomp will continue as it has for hundreds of years. One wonders what the monarchy will look like 50 years from now. Or if there will be a monarchy. Perhaps, with global warming, the Island of England will disappear like Atlantis. Gladly, I won't be here then. Although, if I am reincarnated, perhaps I will be!I waited decades and decades to finally see this wonderful film. It was well worth the wait. So well done. Hopefully, this film will be available for a long time to come. A true history lesson of the British monarchy. I loved it.

I love historical footage and this DVD is chocked full of film going all the way back to Victoria's reign as the Duke of Windsor was seven when she died in 1901. In interviews with both the Duke and Duchess of Windsor we get inside of the romance of the century. Sadly, we also hear the Duke reread his abdication speech of 1936. There is no reference to any of the controversial WWII issues of his visits to Nazi Germany, rather the film concentrates on the love affair that shook England and the British Empire and brought George VI and later his daughter, Elizabeth to the throne.

Ok, we all have them...our personal, private obsessions. And the Duke and Duchess are mine. This was a very interesting movie. Even though I've read practically every book written about both of them, it was fascinating to see them come to life through the old news reels. I'm glad I got to see this very historical work and I'm glad there are groups out there working to preserve these old movies in order to make them still-acessible to us 40 years later. I'm a person who finds it hard to sit still for the length of a movie but this one felt like it was over in no time. Highly recommended if they are your obsession too.

On this is what the dramatization of the '70's is based, that is, "Edward VIII and Mrs. Simpson." There are a few differences, however. (Perhaps, York House is part of Sandringham. Also, when the queen mother is mentioned, it is confusing to know if they are talking about Mary or Elizabeth.) I am glad I have both DVDs..

Was hoping for more about Edward and Wallis, but felt like it glossed over parts that I would have liked expanded on.

Less interesting than I had expected

Lots of actual footage in the film. Good to have seen and heard the duke of Windsor giving his account of what happened.

very good and very sad.

Good movie but a dvdr copy. Rather expensive not being a genuine copy. Assumingly the seller holds copyright