KING RALF

KING RALPH (1991)
dir: David S. Ward

KING RALF
Cracked #264, August 1991
w: Lou Silverstone
a: Walter Brogan

After the entire Royal Family is electrocuted (here Prince Charles and Lady Diana are drawn even thought they aren't in the movie) England looks for a successor to the throne.

They find the next King of England to be Ralph (John Goodman), an American lounge singer in Las Vegas.

Cedric Willingham (Peter O'Toole) is assigned as Ralph's personal secretary, teaching him not to act like a common American and be more like a proper Englishman, though he's clumsy and constantly knocking things over. He likes bowling and rock'n'roll, they try to teach him cricket and fox hunting. Lord Graves (John Hurt), is the Prime Minister who believes he is the true heir to the throne and keeps trying to sabotage Ralph's ascenscion to the throne.

Ralph feels cooped up and goes out on the town. He goes to a strip club and meets exotic dancer Miranda. She's drawn here as Roseanne, because she and Goodman were TV co-stars. She doesn't believe he's the king at first but he convinces her and they begin dating. Graves keeps sicing the paparazzi on them and she's the one that stops them.

Cedric arranges trade agreement with officials from other countries. Ralph tries to talk “jive” with the King of Zambezi (Rudolph Walker). They try to dissuade him from seeing Miranda and set him up with the Princess of Finland.(Joely Richardson) who he has nothing in common with and his conversations with royalty about things people of royalty do are mistaken double entendres.

Ralph quits when being king is not the life for him and he finds Cedric more qualified. He's named a Duke, though, so he gets to marry Miranda and continue his music career.