King Ralph
| King Ralph | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | David S. Ward |
| Produced by | Jack Brodsky |
| Screenplay by | David S. Ward |
| Based on | the novel Headlong by Emlyn Williams |
| Starring | |
| Music by | James Newton Howard |
| Cinematography | Kenneth MacMillan |
| Edited by | John Jympson |
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Production
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| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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97 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $23 million |
| Box office | $52,487,045 |
King Ralph is a 1991 American comedy film starring John Goodman in the title role of Ralph Jones. The movie also stars Peter O'Toole as the King's private secretary, Sir Cedric Willingham, Camille Coduri as Ralph's girlfriend Miranda Greene, and John Hurt as the British peer Percival Graves, who schemes to get Ralph removed in order to claim the throne himself.
The story is loosely based on the novel Headlong by Emlyn Williams. Very little of the story survived the transition to the screen; characters were changed and the story made into a comedy. The film was a minor box office hit.
The entire ruling family of the United Kingdom is electrocuted in a freak accident while posing for a family photograph. Sir Cedric Willingham (Peter O'Toole) leads a search for any surviving heirs to whom to pass the crown. A researcher finally locates a living heir named Ralph Jones (John Goodman), an American.
In Las Vegas, Ralph, an easygoing slob, works as a lounge singer/piano player in a casino. Ralph is informed that he is now king; his grandfather, the first Duke of Warren, engaged in an affair with a hotel maid while visiting the States. Since his father and grandfather have died, Ralph is the only surviving heir.
Ralph is flown to London, where he meets Willingham and begins a long period of instruction intended to turn him into a proper monarch. He is schooled in English history and culture and shown a variety of English dishes.
Shortly after his arrival, Ralph goes to a strip club, meeting the exotic dancer Miranda Greene (Camille Coduri). When she is unable to perform topless, Ralph meets her backstage. She is skeptical of his claim to be king, but Ralph proposes that if he can prove he is, Miranda will go on a date with him, and his appearance on the news proves his claim.
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Wikipedia