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Firth dislikes plan to clean up 'King's' English

After winning the best-actor Oscar for the title role in the British monarchy saga, Colin Firth said backstage Sunday that he opposes the prospect of a PG-13 version of "The King's Speech," which would alter a pivotal cussing scene that earned the film an R rating for language.
/ Source: The Associated Press

"The King's Speech" might be cleaning up its language, but star Colin Firth does not like the idea.

After winning the best-actor Oscar for the title role in the British monarchy saga, Firth said backstage Sunday that he opposes the prospect of a PG-13 version of "The King's Speech," which would alter a pivotal cussing scene that earned the film an R rating for language.

"I don't take this stuff lightly, but in the context of this film, it could not be more edifying, more appropriate. It's not vicious, it's not an insult or it's not in any of the contexts which might offend people," Firth said.

The Weinstein Co., the film's distributor, has considered releasing a PG-13 version, which potentially could open it up to a wider audience. An R rating prohibits anyone younger than 17 from seeing a film without an adult.

The ratings board of the Motion Picture Association of America announced Friday that an alternate version of "The King's Speech" had been assigned a PG-13 rating.

The R-rated version, which dominated the Oscars with a best-picture win and three other prizes, already is a $100 million hit.

The film stars Firth as stammering King George VI, whose angry swearing fit helps him momentarily overcome his speech problem.

"Really, it's about a man who's trying to free himself through the use of certain words," Firth said. "I still haven't met the person who would object, so I think the film should stand as it is."