The King and I (1956)
Genre: Biography / Music
Duration: 133 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Walter Lang
Stars: Deborah Kerr, Yul Brynner and Rita Moreno
IMDb score:
7,4 (29.407)
Releasedate: 29 June 1956
The King and I plot
"More than your eyes have ever seen… More than your heart has ever known!"
In 1862, the young British widow Anna and her son Louis arrive in Siam. She was appointed by the king to take care of the education of his numerous children, including the heir apparent. The king also introduces her to his many wives who reside in the harem and also lets her take care of their upbringing. Anna fights against ingrained customs and traditions that are sometimes not only picturesque but also barbaric. She stands up for a slave who wants to flee because she has to become one of the king's wives. Fascinated as she is by this life unknown to her, Anna allows herself to be persuaded by the royal children not to return to England.
Actors and actresses
Anna Leonowens
King Mongkut of Siam
Tuptim
Kralahome
Lady Thiang
Louis Leonowens
Prince Chulalongkorn
Sir John Hay
Lun Tha
Sir Edward Ramsay
Reviews & comments
Roger Thornhill
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- 6073 messages
- 2478 votes
The opulent decoration of the sets and costumes is as predictable as it is impressive, the imperturbability of the beautiful Deborah Kerr is just as predictable but no less impressive, and Yul Brynner always balances neatly on the tightrope between caricatured and sympathetic in his performance. , naive and with a sense of humor, rigid and with the ability to put things into perspective (although I wonder whether his Oscar is not mainly a tribute to his iconic Broadway performance, just like the one for Rex Harrison's Henry Higgins in the film adaptation of My fair lady eight years later for example). All in all, enough reasons to watch the film, but on the debit side of the balance are the not very memorable songs (despite the names of Rodgers and Hammerstein), the bizarre ending (while I expect the two title characters to interact the king suddenly dies for unclear reasons - not so much positively surprising as negatively - strange) and a general sense of wonder why this film is actually often seen as a classic. The wealth of colors of the superb sets that give me the subconscious feeling that I am in an extremely exotic location (although the conscious viewer in me knows perfectly well that this is not about Siam, Asia but about Siam, Hollywood) wins it's all about hesitation and doubt, but it's worth it. (But oh, how beautiful Deborah Kerr is...)
Translated from Dutch · View original
Film Pegasus (moderator films)
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- 31191 messages
- 5473 votes
A dated film with a Hollywood look (from the 1950s) to the Far East. A combination of the colonial (looking down) look and a kitschy image of Siam (former Thailand). Brynner already played the role in the Broadway version, which earned him a Tony and was allowed to repeat the role on the big screen. Which in turn won him an Oscar. The biography of the British teacher Anna Leonowens, which means that the story is mainly told from her point of view.
The film still feels a bit forced 65 years later. And unlike other Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals, the songs are less memorable. The film lacks some charm and iconic scenes. Although the dance scene with Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr is fun to watch. The two main actors don't do a bad job, but they also can't get more out of it.
Translated from Dutch · View original
T.O.
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- 2428 messages
- 2806 votes
Actually corresponds to all the clichés of the great musicals of those years, both positive and negative.
The biggest plus is Brynner's amusing and energetic role.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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