Product description

The King And I [1956]

Price: £19.91
RRP: £15.99
Average customer rating: 4.5

Binding : DVD
EAN : 5039036005685
Label : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Manufacturer : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Publisher : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Release date : 2004-03-08
Title : The King And I [1956]
Actor : Array
Audience rating : Universal, suitable for all
Format : Array
Languages : Array
Number of items : 1
Original release date : 1956-01-01
Region code : 2
Running time : 128
Studio : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Theatrical releaseDate : 1956-06-29
Number of discs : 1

Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
In 1955 this lavish production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway hit The King and I, starring Yul Brynner as the King of Siam and Deborah Kerr as the governess sent to look after his children, was the most expensive film ever mounted by 20th Century Fox. The 40 sets in ripe decors by Walter M Scott and Paul S Fox included a ballroom of black marble with jade and silk tapestries and a banqueting scene with a table that gives the impression of stretching to infinity. The costumes by Irene Sharaff, notably the hoop ballroom gown for Deborah Kerr and those for the ballet "The Small House of Uncle Thomas", dazzle the eye in their delineation of Western manners and Oriental splendour. Brynner remains impressive as the King but his pidgin dialogue, inherited from Hammerstein's book, with the dropping of the definite article takes some adjustment. Alfred Newman put his unique stamp on the music: the Overture offers an example of his luminous divided string sound, the climactic ballroom scene a full bodied orchestral reprise of "Shall We Dance?" as the camera pulls away to a high angle producing an exultant visual finish to this celebrated polka.

On the DVD: To view The King and I in its original format (thanks to this DVD release) is a revelation. Over the years the production values of the film have been compromised through inadequate presentation on television and video. Now the eye can appreciate once more the novelty of the wide-screen process CinemaScope 55 which offers in-depth vision, breathtaking employment of Eastman colour and an enhanced sound system that ensures a well-upholstered backdrop for the sumptuous musical arrangements under conductor Alfred Newman. DVD supplements here include the original theatrical trailer, a Movietone news of the Oscar ceremony of 56-57 and three songs lifted from the movie itself. Marni Nixon overdubbed Deborah Kerr's vocals on screen--those moments where one voice takes over from another are more clearly delineated on the DVD with the result that there is some discrepancy between Kerr's spirited playing and Nixon's over careful (rather) twee enunciation of the lyrics. --Adrian Edwards

Customer reviews

review by: mrssueboswell date: 2005-12-30 rating:

The King & I.
What can i say brilliant film, fantastic singing & the children they are fantastic. What a great film. In my view a must have in anyones dvd collection.

review by: xyzzy date: 2005-10-21 rating:

based on Margaret Landon�s novel Anna and the King of Siam
It is the early 1800's and King Mongkut of Siam (Yul Brynner) realizes that a good education is necessary to survive and also paramount for the survival of Siam. So he sends off for a teacher for his many offspring.

His choice a widow Anna Leonowens (Deborah Kerr) and her son Louis Leonowens (Rex Thompson).

King Mongkut does not keep a promise of a separate living quarter for Anna and her son. He also is smug and overbearing. This will lead to several things he did not plan on including a Siam's play version of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" With little Lisa on the ice flows.

Mean while The King's son Prince Chulalongkorn (Patrick Adiarte) seems to be more amenable to leaning the ways of the western world.

Can the king save Siam from the imperialists?
Will Anna be a help?

There was an earlier film version of this story "Anna and the King of Siam" with Irene Dunne and Rex Harrison which has a different feel. The other film does not have the advantage of talent music of Rodgers & Hammerstein.

review by: artist & illustrator date: 2005-08-02 rating:

A Musical Masterpiece
"The King and I" is one of the greatest works of the American musical theater, a genre Rogers and Hammerstein changed by adding drama and complex characters along with their beautiful music and memorable lyrics. Based on Margaret Landon's classic "Anna and the King of Siam," this filmed adaptation of the Broadway show is exquisite, with a fabulous cast and extraordinary talent behind the camera as well, with the direction of Walter Lang, choreography by Jerome Robbins, and cinematography by Leon Shamroy. The costumes by Irene Sharaff are also a visual feast of lavish, sparkling jewels and silks.

Yul Brynner is magnificent as the King Mongut; his charisma and screen presence is riveting, and he well deserved his Best Actor Oscar. This was his signature role, and he played in on the stage over 4,000 times during his lifetime. Deborah Kerr (who was nominated for Best Actress) is also superb as Anna, the English widow who teaches the king's children. My favorite moment in the film is when Brynner first puts his arm around Kerr's waist, in the "Shall We Dance?" number, and their chemistry together sizzles more than many of the explicit love scenes we see on the screen today. The entire cast is fabulous, with the children captivating, and Rita Moreno a standout as Tuptim, the girl given to the king, but in love with another man.

The ballet that is the entertainment for the banquet guests is fantastic, and danced to perfection. A version of "Uncle Tom's Cabin", the choreography and the effects using fabric are a touch of genius. "The King and I" won 5 of its 9 Oscar nominations (Best Actor, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound, and Scoring of a Musical), as well as some Golden Globes. Deborah Kerr's singing voice was dubbed by Marni Nixon (who also dubbed in "West Side Story", "My Fair Lady", and more), as was Rita Moreno, dubbed by Leona Gordon.

Also highly recommended is the dramatic 1946 film, "Anna and the King of Siam" with Irene Dunne and Rex Harrison. There was a rather disappointing remake in 1999, a mere shadow of the original, but is probably worth seeing as a comparison in how Landon's book (which is very high on my all time favorite list) has been adapted. It is not unusual for the filmed version of a Broadway production not to include all the original songs, and "The King and I" is no exception. What is included in the film however are some of the most loved melodies and lyrics written for the musical stage, and ones that we keep humming long after the show is over. Total running time is 133 minutes.

review by: Nguyen Truong Tung date: 2004-07-28 rating:

Siamese culture in the movie
In Siamese collectivistic culture, especially at that time of period (1862), I suppose one of the biggest damaging cultural stereotypes is about Thais having conservative views. The movie artistically uses its scenes to show us this cultural stereotype. The scene in which King's children are being taught geography is a good example for this damaging stereotype of Thai culture at that time. Ethnocentrism, parochialism, and the lack of scientific knowledge of Siamese people are all shown with the map and the lecture of the Siamese lady (an unscientific map and the comparison between the King of Siam and the King of Burma): "Siam is the biggest and richest country in the world". However, it doesn't mean that Siamese people can't be scientific or they can't learn sciences. The hierarchy in Asian country doesn't give the people freedom, but on the other hand, it makes the country, politics, and culture follow the traditional value. In fact, the true historical King Rama IV who was really a man of Renaissance, he knew several Western languages and studied political science, hard sciences, western cultures, and colonialism. He wanted to bring Siam into the Modern world. In this situation, there appeared an advantage in Siamese culture. It is that the hierarchy in Siam played a very important role to keep the country's society and its political situation stable for Thailand to modernize. In general, I think beside the love story and the music, cultural issues are also interesting aspects of the movie.

review by: Nguyen Truong Tung date: 2004-07-27 rating:

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