The King (2007 film)
| Company type | Independent production company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television production |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Television films |
The King: The Story of Graham Kennedy is an Australian television film that delves into the life and career of the entertainer Graham Kennedy.
Created by Sydney-based independent production company Crackerjack Productions for TV1 and the Nine Network, The King debuted on 20 May 2007 on TV1, available through Foxtel and Austar. It achieved a record-breaking audience for Australian subscription television, attracting 511,000 viewers. Subsequently, it was broadcast on the Nine Network on 27 August 2007.
Several of Kennedy’s acquaintances expressed disapproval of the film, criticizing it for its dark tone and what they considered an inaccurate depiction, particularly regarding its emphasis on his sexuality.
Production
The script was penned by Jaime Browne and Kris Mrksa, with direction by Matthew Saville and production overseen by Jason Stephens. Filming commenced on 6 December 2006 and spanned over 20 days with a substantial budget. To authentically recreate scenes from Kennedy’s performances on In Melbourne Tonight and Blankety Blanks, ABC's Ripponlea studios were utilized.
Lead actor Stephen Curry underwent a significant physical transformation, shedding 14 kilograms to portray Kennedy’s younger self before regaining the weight within two weeks to depict the older version.
Cast
- Stephen Curry as Graham Kennedy
- Stephen Hall as Bert Newton
- Shaun Micallef as Colin Bednall
- Monica Maughan as Nan
- Jane Allsop as Noeline Brown
- Angus Sampson as Ugly Dave Gray
- Steve Bisley as Harry M. Miller
- Leo Taylor as Sir Frank Packer
- Beau Brady as Tim
- Bernard Curry as John Wesley
- Kodi Smit-McPhee as Young John Wesley
- Beth Buchanan as Val Wesley
- Garry McDonald as Nicky Whitta
- Roz Hammond as Kathleen Whitta
- Kate Doherty as Panda
- Cathy Godbold as Rosemary Margan
- Todd MacDonald as Richard Croft
- Thomas M. Wright as Alfie
Pre-release
An article published in the Herald Sun on 28 November 2006 titled "Pals protect mate" revealed that several of Kennedy's close friends, including Bert Newton and Noeline Brown, chose not to participate in the telemovie, believing that Kennedy himself would have disapproved of how he was depicted. Tony Sattler commented that Kennedy was "never himself, always playing the character called Graham Kennedy," expressing doubt about anyone’s ability to truly capture his essence. It was also clarified that this film has no connection to the contentious biography The King & I, written by Kennedy's former partner, Rob Astbury.
Post-release
In a review for The Australian, Kennedy’s biographer, Graeme Blundell, commended Stephen Curry’s portrayal, describing it as both powerful and genuine. He emphasized that Curry transcended simple imitation by fully embodying the character rather than just copying mannerisms.
Awards
During the 2007 Australian Film Institute Awards, The King received the accolade for Best Telefeature or Miniseries. Stephen Curry was honored with Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama, while Matthew Saville earned recognition for Best Direction in Television.
See also
Additional sources
- King Selected for TV1
- Graham Kennedy – the telemovie production
- King receives ample Curry coverage
- Reassessments: From castle to kingdom
External links
- Articles with short description
- TV1 (Australian TV channel) original programming
- 2007 television films
- 2007 films
- 2007 biographical drama films
- Australian drama television films
- Australian biographical drama films
- Television series by Fremantle (company)
- Biographical films about entertainers
- 2000s English-language films
- English-language biographical drama films