Review of The King and I (1956) by Stuart K — 08 May 2012

Directed by Walter Lang, (Cheaper by the Dozen (1950) and There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)), and based upon Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical, which in turn was based upon the 1944 biographical book Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon.

This is a good epic musical that might have some quite un-PC stereotyping from today's perspective, but it's so well made with beautiful sets and good songs. Set in Siam in the early 1860's, and widow Anna Leonowens (Deborah Kerr) comes from Wales with her son Louis (Rex Thompson).

Anna has been appointed to teach English to the children of the royal household of King Mongkut (Yul Brynner). However, from the minute Anna and Louis arrive in Bangkok, things go less than smoothly, the King's sinister right-hand man, the Kralahom (Martin Benson) is cold and uninviting, and Anna has the nerve to go up to King, but he likes her openness and honesty, and she gets to teach his children, all 67 of them, and even they grow to her and her teachings.

But, then King Mongkut warms to Anna and even though he's stubborn and egotistical, he accepts her teachings of the world. It's a lovely grand old musical with Brynner and Kerr playing well off each other, both giving good performances, (Brynner won an Oscar).

The songs are well composed as well, and the costumes are lovely as well. It's a pity you don't get big grand old musicals like this now, as the sets are jaw-dropping and the oriental theatrical staging of Uncle Tom's Cabin is a highlight.