Don’t worry, there are no reports of Colin Firth punching a horse in the face during filming…yet. However, the American Humane Association might sue The King’s Speech for using their trademark phrase “No animals were harmed” in the film’s credits. You’d think they would be thrilled to hear no puppies or kittens were injured, but it turns out movie makers failed to give the AHA access to the script or set during shooting. “We are in conversation with them and hope to work something out,” says AHA vice president of film & television Sharon Gold. If producers refuse to remove the disclaimer, they could face legal action…or have every animal rights activist in Hollywood tossing red paint at their Best Picture Oscar.
If the respective groups can’t resolve their dispute, this would mark the first time AHA has taken a movie to court. If it makes film makers feel any better, sources reports that Queen Elizabeth loved King’s Speech. “To learn Her Majesty has seen the film, and was moved, in turn moves and humbles me greatly. When, thirty years ago, the Queen Mother asked me to wait and not tell this story during her lifetime, because the memory of these events was still too painful, I realized the depths of the emotions involved,” said screenwriter David Seidler. Given how much that woman loves her Corgis, we’d bet she’d like it even better if the movie’s producer got right with the AHA.
[Photo: The Weinstein Company ]
