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Actors: John Goodman, Peter O'Toole, John Hurt, Camille Coduri, Richard Griffiths, Leslie Phillips
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about King Ralph |
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The entire British royal family is accidentally electrocuted. The search for a blood relative to ascend to the throne produces Vegas lounge singer Ralph Jones. He is whisked to England, where Royal secretary Sir Cedric Willingham endeavors to instruct him in such arts of sovereignty as sartorial elegance, masterly walk, and regal tea-pouring. Soon, Buckingham Palace sports a bowling alley and Ferris wheel. Unused to security restraints, King Ralph explores London nightlife alone and flirts backstage with exotic dancer Miranda Green. An outraged Lord Percival Graves, who would be king if only Ralph's diluted Wyndham bloodline were bypassed in favour of the Stewart line, sneakily offers Miranda a fortune to lure press photographers into scandalizing Ralph. Strapped for money, she reluctantly agrees.
Ralph passes his first diplomatic test by taking Zambezi's King Mulamboa out for beer and shoptalk. But his awkwardness in the role – as when he bloodies the ear of a man he is knighting - persists. As Miranda's feelings for him deepen, she returns Lord Graves' money and keeps her distance; but damaging photos have already been taken. Sir Cedric urges the king to break with Miranda and to court Princess Anna of Finland at an upcoming royal banquet, where making a good impression could also win a drilling supplies bid worth thousands of jobs for Brits.
To stir up trouble, Lord Graves sends a fake invitation to Miranda, and advises King Ralph to liven things up with flamboyance. Ralph complies with his rousing rendition of “Good Golly Miss Molly” and wild dancing with Miranda. The evening is a disaster, and the press coverage scathing. In parliament, Lord Graves' call for the end of King Ralph is met with applause. Ralph, torn between wanting to quit and not wanting to end his line in disgrace, asks Miranda for advice. But when she admits her previous complicity with Lord Graves, he furiously dismisses her. It seems like a dismal end to both his reign and his romance. Then he makes two shocking discoveries. One is that a note was forged by a royal page in his name. The other is that someone else has an almost equal claim to the throne. His subsequent address to parliament is full of surprises.
--vjm, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of King Ralph |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about
books by breaking them down into many different literary
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Comedy, primarily
Yes
Kind of comedy
- rags to riches
How much humor v. drama
- Nearly all humor
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- Prince/Nobleman/King
Age:
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard curly
Body type
- (man) fat
Events of movie makes character more...
- happy
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- blonde
Hair style
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn straight
How much in movie?
- 90%-100%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 60's-90's
Profession/status:
- Prince/Nobleman/King
Eccentric:
Yes
- obsessed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 90%-100%
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Setting
United States
Yes
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
City?
Yes
City:
- London
Misc setting
- castle
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- full of laughter
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- kissing
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
If soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Classic/oldies rock
Is this movie based on a
- book
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Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 vjm
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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