Albert Frederick Arthur George. You might know him as Bertie or King George VI, King of England during World War II. You probably don’t know him as a struggling stammerer.

“The King’s Speech,” directed by Tom Hooper and starring Colin Firth, Geoffery Rush, and Helena Bonham Cater, is a true story that follows the journeys of Bertie (Firth) as he struggles with a debilitating speech impediment while simultaneously ascending to the throne of England. Frustrated with his inability to speak publicly, Bertie’s wife (Bonham Carter) seeks the help of Lionel Logue (Rush), an unconventional speech therapist, who guides the flustered then-Duke of Windsor though wacky exercises, including but not limited to tongue twisters, shouting at the top of his lungs, and being rolled across the floor.

The comic nature of a member of English royalty undertaking such common activities is not the only aspect of this movie that will make you laugh. One wouldn’t think a movie about a stammerer would be filled with witty banter, but Lionel keeps the dialogue active and intriguing. His close friendship with Bertie allows him to, for example, tease the Archbishop of Canterbury with no reprisal.

This dialogue is spoken by some of the most wonderful actors. Rush’s performance is impeccable. The movie features three actors from the BBC’s “Pride and Prejudice” miniseries, which makes this a must-see for Jane Austen fans. Colin Firth, who played Fitzwilliam Darcy, returns as King George VI in just as convincing of a performance. Jennifer Ehle, who played Elizabeth Bennet in “Pride and Prejudice” and Lionel’s wife in “The King’s Seech,” is too light and airy in this film to have much of an impact. David Bamber, who played William Collins in “Pride and Prejudice” and a theater director in “The King’s Speech,” is as undesirable as ever.

Both as a historical docudrama and a modern film, “The King’s Speech” outdoes itself. Excellently cast, it tugs at the heartstrings of viewers as they follow Bertie’s quest for both speaking ability and confidence.

By the end of the film, you’ll walk out of the theater saying the tongue twisters over and over again in your head and smiling at the comic scene of Bertie rehearsing his first wartime speech. You’ll never have another opportunity to see a King swear, sing, and speak at the same time.