The King and I (1956)

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Director: Walter Lang

Writers: Ernest Lehman, book by Oscar Hammerstein II, based on the musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II and "Anna and the King of Siam," by Margaret Landon

Stars: Yul Brynner, Deborah Kerr, Rita Moreno, Martin Benson, Terry Saunders, Rex Thompson, Carlos Rivas, Patrick Adiarte



There are elements of this film that work wonderfully and others that are much less successful, but this film rates a solid recommendation overall.

 


What works--Yul Brynner, Yul Brynner, and Yul Brynner. 



The songs are generally wonderful, and the adaptation of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is visually breathtaking. 



What doesn't--It's too long.

 


Also, both the main plot and the subplot (involving one of the king's concubines and her lover) are resolved too abruptly with the unexplained death of the king.

 


It is difficult to explain this development other than as a product of human weakness somewhere in the production chain.

 


Romance and possibly even marriage are the logical outcomes of the close relationship that develops between Anna and the king of Siam over the course of the film, and it may be that killing the king, no matter how contrived, was the only way to avoid the prospect of a romantic liaison between a white woman and a virile Asian male, which may have been an unacceptable outcome in some eyes.

 


Nevertheless, the songs and performances are strong enough to recommend this film.








































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