Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s 1951 winsome stage musical “The King and I” was preserved on film in 1956. The story was adapted from Margaret Landon’s 1944 novel “Anna and the King,” which in turn was based on the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, the tutor of the children of King Mongkut of Siam (Thailand) in the 1860’s.
At the heart of this film is Yul Brenner, who brings his own unique energetic personality to play the king. It is difficult to imagine anyone else in this role. Besides the film, he performed King Mongkut 4,625 times on stage and once on a short-lived 1972 television program. He won two Tony Awards and an Academy Award for Best Actor, one of five wins for this movie. (The others were for Best Music, Best Art Direction, Best Costume, and Best Sound Recording.)
The talented Deborah Kerr played the part of Anna with her usual grace and dignity, a perfect counterbalance to Brenner’s zesty king. Co-stars include Rita Moreno, Martin Benson, Geoffrey Toone, Carlos Rivas, Alan Mowbray, Terry Saunders, Rex Thompson, and Patrick Adiarte as Prince Chulalongkorn. Marni Nixon’s singing voice was dubbed in for Kerr’s musical numbers. Richard Rodgers was in charge of the musical score for this movie. The watchable “The King and I” was a big hit for 20th Century Fox.
The King and I (1956)
cinema
My Review
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s 1951 winsome stage musical “The King and I” was preserved on film in 1956. The story was adapted from Margaret Landon’s 1944 novel “Anna and the King,” which in turn was based on the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, the tutor of the children of King Mongkut of Siam (Thailand) in the 1860’s.
At the heart of this film is Yul Brenner, who brings his own unique energetic personality to play the king. It is difficult to imagine anyone else in this role. Besides the film, he performed King Mongkut 4,625 times on stage and once on a short-lived 1972 television program. He won two Tony Awards and an Academy Award for Best Actor, one of five wins for this movie. (The others were for Best Music, Best Art Direction, Best Costume, and Best Sound Recording.)
The talented Deborah Kerr played the part of Anna with her usual grace and dignity, a perfect counterbalance to Brenner’s zesty king. Co-stars include Rita Moreno, Martin Benson, Geoffrey Toone, Carlos Rivas, Alan Mowbray, Terry Saunders, Rex Thompson, and Patrick Adiarte as Prince Chulalongkorn. Marni Nixon’s singing voice was dubbed in for Kerr’s musical numbers. Richard Rodgers was in charge of the musical score for this movie. The watchable “The King and I” was a big hit for 20th Century Fox.