George III: The Genius of the Mad King

George III: The Genius of the Mad King

2017 · 58 min · ★ 6.0 · Documentary

After 200 years under lock and key, all the personal papers of one of our most important monarchs are for the first time seeing the light of day. In the first documentary to gain extensive access to the Royal Archives, Robert Hardman sheds fascinating new light on George III, Britain's longest reigning king. George III may be chiefly remembered for his madness, but these private documents reveal a monarch who was a political micromanager and a restless patron of science and the arts, an obsessive traveller who never left southern England yet toured the world in his mind and a man who was driven (sometimes to distraction) by his sense of duty to his family and his country. Featuring Simon Callow and Sian Thomas as the voices of King George and Queen Charlotte.

Directed by John Bridcut · Written by Robert Hardman

Your Rating

Where to Watch

Streaming

Amazon Prime VideoAmazon Prime Video with Ads

Rent or Buy

Amazon Video

Cast

Make it a double feature

2h 8m together

George III: The Genius of the Mad King

Elizabeth at 90: A Family Tribute

Both from John Bridcut.

More from John BridcutSee all →

Bernard Haitink: The Enigmatic MaestroBernard Haitink: The Enigmatic Maestro · 2020
Bernard Haitink: The Enigmatic Maestro
★ 8.02020
MovieDocumentary
After conducting for 65 years, Bernard Haitink has retired at the age of 90. The musicians he has worked with are puzzled by the secrets of his technique. He himself says his job is to embrace the orchestra without suffocating them.
Winter Journey: Schubert's WinterreiseWinter Journey: Schubert's Winterreise · 2022
Winter Journey: Schubert's Winterreise
★ 8.02022
MovieMusic
Baritone Benjamin Appl and pianist James Baillieu reimagine Schubert's song cycle Winterreise in the wintry setting of an Alpine landscape at the top of a mountain pass in Switzerland - a place that emphasises the timelessness of Schubert's music
Elizabeth at 90: A Family TributeElizabeth at 90: A Family Tribute · 2016
Elizabeth at 90: A Family Tribute
★ 7.42016
MovieDocumentary
A unique celebration of the Queen's ninety years as she reaches her landmark birthday in April. Film-maker John Bridcut has been granted special access to the complete collection of Her Majesty's personal ciné films, shot by the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen herself, as well as by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Much of it has never been seen publicly before. Various members of the Royal Family are filmed watching this private footage and contributing their own personal insights and their memories of the woman they know both as a member of their own close family and as queen. Among those taking part are the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry, the Princess Royal, the Duke of Kent and his sister Princess Alexandra, who has never before given an interview.
Born to be The KingBorn to be The King · 2022
Born to be The King
★ 7.02022
MovieDocumentaryTV Movie
As Prince Charles, the longest serving heir apparent, ascends the throne as King, those who know him well, who have worked for and with him, discuss what he has achieved as Prince of Wales and what he will bring to the role as the new Monarch.
Britten's EndgameBritten's Endgame · 2015
Britten's Endgame
★ 7.02015
MovieDocumentaryMusic
To mark the centenary of Benjamin Britten's birth, Britten’s Endgame explores the composer's creativity in the face of death. Those closest to him watched anxiously as he raced to complete his final opera, Death in Venice, in defiance of medical advice, tackling an edgy subject with many resonances in his own life. His eventual heart operation left him incapacitated and prematurely old and frail, yet somehow he rediscovered his creative urge to produce two late masterpieces. This is a rich and poignant film about Britten’s final years, and the impact of what Peter Pears called 'an evil opera'.
How the BBC BeganHow the BBC Began · 2022
How the BBC Began
★ 7.02022
SeriesDocumentary
The often-hilarious stories of the BBC's first 50 years. The corporation's pioneers describe its evolution – which was often by accident rather than design.
DispatchesDispatches · 1987
Dispatches
★ 6.51987
SeriesDocumentaryNews
An in-depth look at news stories. Documentaries that take you behind the scenes giving an insight into people's lives or institutions.
Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70 · 2018
Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70
★ 6.02018
MovieDocumentary
A special documentary to mark the seventieth birthday of HRH the Prince of Wales. For this observational documentary, film-maker John Bridcut has had exclusive access to the prince over the past 12 months, both at work and behind the scenes, at home and abroad. He speaks to those who know him best, including HRH the Duchess of Cornwall and the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex. His sons discuss their upbringing and their feelings about the prince's working life.
Grands ReportagesGrands Reportages · 1998
Grands Reportages
★ 6.01998
SeriesDocumentary
A Jubilee Tribute to The Queen by The Prince of WalesA Jubilee Tribute to The Queen by The Prince of Wales · 2012
A Jubilee Tribute to The Queen by The Prince of Wales
2012
MovieDocumentary
Marking the Diamond Jubilee (1952-2012) of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles shares his memories of the private side of his mother, the Queen, making use of his family's home movies.
Janet Baker: In Her Own WordsJanet Baker: In Her Own Words · 2019
Janet Baker: In Her Own Words
2019
MovieDocumentary
In her first documentary for more than 35 years, the great British classical singer Dame Janet Baker talks more openly and emotionally than ever before about her career and her life today. With excerpts of her greatest stage roles (as Dido, Mary Stuart, Julius Caesar and Orpheus), as well as of her appearances in the concert hall and recording studio (works by Handel, Berlioz, Schubert, Elgar, Britten and Mahler), she looks back at the excitements and pitfalls of public performance.
Fantastic Mr. DahlFantastic Mr. Dahl · 2005
Fantastic Mr. Dahl
2005
MovieDocumentaryHistory
Documentary about author Roald Dahl, produced for the British television series Imagine.
Elgar: The Man Behind the MaskElgar: The Man Behind the Mask · 2010
Elgar: The Man Behind the Mask
2010
MovieDocumentaryMusic
The composer of Land of Hope and Glory is often regarded as the quintessential English gentleman. But Elgar's image of hearty nobility was deliberately contrived. In this revelatory portrait of a musical genius, John Bridcut explores the secret conflicts in Elgar's nature which produced some of Britain's greatest music. Featuring specially filmed performances by the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Britten's ChildrenBritten's Children · 2004
Britten's Children
2004
MovieDocumentary
Children and childhood fascinated Benjamin Britten throughout his life and inspired some of his greatest music. John Bridcut's compelling film sheds light on the composer's own inner child throiugh interviews with several of Britten's former companions and muses.
Total War: World War II and the Home FrontTotal War: World War II and the Home Front
Total War: World War II and the Home Front
MovieDocumentary
The Second World War was the first modern conflict in which millions more civilians died than soldiers. As economic production became essential to military success, civilians were conscripted into factories – and suddenly became fair game. In Total War, eyewitnesses from Britain, Germany, Russia, Korea, Japan, and the United States tell the story of the civilians – children, sisters, and brothers – who suffered and died in the Second World War. Residents of Plymouth, Tokyo, and Hamburg remember the air raids; Russian peasants recall the siege of Leningrad; Japanese soldiers and Korean slave labourers describe the brutality of war in Asia. Throughout, interviewees remember the extraordinary suffering of a people’s war like none before. The people remember: Rosie the Riveter, shipbuilding, Pearl Harbor, air raids, the Blitz, the Siege of Leningrad, and the atom bomb. DVD. Viewing time: 1 hour.
The Passions of Vaughan WilliamsThe Passions of Vaughan Williams · 2008
The Passions of Vaughan Williams
2008
MovieDocumentaryMusic
Fifty years after his death, this musical and psychological portrait of Ralph Vaughan Williams explores the passions that drove a giant of 20th-century English music.

More Like This

More on Prime VideoSee all →

The Love HypothesisThe Love Hypothesis · 2026
The Love Hypothesis
★ 8.02026
MovieRomanceComedy
Olive Smith, a biology PhD candidate, and Dr. Adam Carlsen, a hotshot professor and well-known tyrant, enter into a fake relationship, seeing each of their carefully calculated theories on love get thrown into chaos.
War of the WorldsWar of the Worlds · 2025
War of the Worlds
★ 4.02025
MovieScience FictionThriller
Will Radford is a top analyst for Homeland Security who tracks potential threats through a mass surveillance program, until one day an attack by an unknown entity leads him to question whether the government is hiding something from him... and from the rest of the world.
My FaultMy Fault · 2023
My Fault
★ 7.72023
MovieDramaRomance
Noah must leave her city, boyfriend, and friends to move into William Leister's mansion, the flashy and wealthy husband of her mother Rafaela. As a proud and independent 17 year old, Noah resists living in a mansion surrounded by luxury. However, it is there where she meets Nick, her new stepbrother, and the clash of their strong personalities becomes evident from the very beginning.
Drawn TogetherDrawn Together · 2026
Drawn Together
★ 6.92026
MovieRomanceThriller
Marfil, daughter of a powerful Spanish businessman, sees her life in New York turned upside down when she is kidnapped and released without explanation. Her father hires Sebastian Moore as bodyguard and, forced to spend every minute together, an inevitable attraction ignites in a world where nothing is as it seems.
The Sheep DetectivesThe Sheep Detectives · 2026
The Sheep Detectives
★ 7.92026
MovieComedyFamily
George Hardy is a shepherd who reads detective novels to his beloved sheep every night, assuming they can't possibly understand. But when a mysterious incident disrupts life on the farm, the sheep realize they must become the detectives. As they follow the clues and investigate human suspects, they prove that even sheep can be brilliant crime-solvers.
Jackpot!Jackpot! · 2024
Jackpot!
★ 6.32024
MovieComedyAction
In the near future, a 'Grand Lottery' has been established - the catch: kill the winner before sundown to legally claim their multi-billion dollar jackpot. When Katie Kim mistakenly finds herself with the winning ticket, she reluctantly joins forces with amateur lottery protection agent Noel Cassidy who must get her to sundown in exchange for a piece of her prize.
Another Simple FavorAnother Simple Favor · 2025
Another Simple Favor
★ 5.82025
MovieComedyThriller
Stephanie and Emily reunite on the beautiful island of Capri, Italy for Emily's extravagant wedding to a rich Italian businessman. Along with the glamorous guests, expect murder and betrayal to RSVP for a wedding with more twists and turns than the road from the Marina Grande to the Capri town square.
The Last SunriseThe Last Sunrise · 2026
The Last Sunrise
★ 6.92026
MovieRomanceDrama
Ry, a college student with a chronic illness, escapes to Mallorca for the summer with her mother, where she unexpectedly falls for a local and begins to embrace living in the moment. But as her condition worsens and long-hidden family secrets come to light, everything she has found before summer's end is threatened.
You+Me - Against the WorldYou+Me - Against the World · 2026
You+Me - Against the World
★ 5.52026
MovieRomanceDrama
Alma Lancaster, 18, appears to lead a perfect life within a wealthy family who believes she is studying law. In secret, she pursues her true dream: filmmaking. On campus, she meets Vadim Arcadi, 20, a magnetic and solitary rebel with a troubled past. Forced to collaborate on a student film, they clash, grow closer and fall in love — despite themselves. But someone is watching them, determined to tear them apart and expose secrets that could destroy both Alma and Vadim.
The RunnerThe Runner · 2026
The Runner
★ 6.82026
MovieThrillerAction
Maia Marten, a brilliant London lawyer, has her life shattered by a single call on her morning run: her son has been taken. To get him back, she must keep running, obey every ruthless command, and trust no one-each second a test of how far a mother will go to save her child.
The Wrecking CrewThe Wrecking Crew · 2026
The Wrecking Crew
★ 7.12026
MovieActionComedy
Estranged half-brothers Jonny and James reunite after their father's mysterious death. As they search for the truth, buried secrets reveal a conspiracy threatening to tear their family apart.
Look BackLook Back · 2024
Look Back
★ 8.22024
MovieAnimationDrama
Popular, outgoing Fujino is celebrated by her classmates for her funny comics in the class newspaper. One day, her teacher asks her to share the space with Kyomoto, a truant recluse whose beautiful artwork sparks a competitive fervor in Fujino. What starts as jealousy transforms when Fujino realizes their shared passion for drawing.
The Idea of YouThe Idea of You · 2024
The Idea of You
★ 7.22024
MovieMusicComedy
40-year-old single mom Solène begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell, the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet. As they begin a whirlwind romance, it isn't long before Hayes' superstar status poses unavoidable challenges to their relationship, and Solène soon discovers that life in the glare of his spotlight might be more than she bargained for.
Candy Cane LaneCandy Cane Lane · 2023
Candy Cane Lane
★ 6.02023
MovieComedyFantasy
Determined to win the neighborhood's annual Christmas decorating contest, family man Chris makes a pact with an elf to help him out-do the competition. However, the elf casts a spell bringing the twelve days of Christmas to life, unleashing chaos on the small unsuspecting town.
Masters of the UniverseMasters of the Universe · 2026
Masters of the Universe
★ 7.12026
MovieActionFantasy
After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam back to Eternia, where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor. To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela and Duncan/Man-At-Arms, and embrace his true destiny as He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe.
Crime 101Crime 101 · 2026
Crime 101
★ 7.02026
MovieCrimeThriller
When an elusive thief whose high-stakes heists unfold along the iconic 101 freeway in Los Angeles eyes the score of a lifetime, with hopes of this being his final job, his path collides with a disillusioned insurance broker who is facing her own crossroads. Determined to crack the case, a relentless detective closes in on the operation, raising the stakes even higher.
Trap HouseTrap House · 2025
Trap House
★ 6.62025
MovieActionCrime
An undercover DEA agent and his partner embark on a game of cat and mouse with an audacious, and surprising group of thieves – their own rebellious teenagers, who have begun robbing from a dangerous cartel, using their parents' tactics and top-secret intel to do it.
The Map That Leads to YouThe Map That Leads to You · 2025
The Map That Leads to You
★ 6.72025
MovieRomanceDrama
Heather is a young woman traveling Europe with friends before starting her perfectly planned life. A chance meeting with Jack sparks an unexpected romance that leads to deep emotional discovery. As secrets and life choices test their bond, her path changes forever.
The Accountant²The Accountant² · 2025
The Accountant²
★ 7.12025
MovieMysteryCrime
When an old acquaintance is murdered, Wolff is compelled to solve the case. Realizing more extreme measures are necessary, Wolff recruits his estranged and highly lethal brother, Brax, to help. In partnership with Marybeth Medina, they uncover a deadly conspiracy, becoming targets of a ruthless network of killers who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.
Kung Fu Panda 3Kung Fu Panda 3 · 2016
Kung Fu Panda 3
★ 6.92016
MovieAnimationAction
While Po and his father are visiting a secret panda village, an evil spirit threatens all of China, forcing Po to form a ragtag army to fight back.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter