2h 13min | Biography, Drama, Musical | 29 June 1956 | Color, WS
Director: Walter Lang
Stars: Yul Brynner, Deborah Kerr, Rita Moreno.
Michiko Iseri ... consultant: in oriental dancing (as Michiko)
Jerome Robbins ... dances and musical numbers staged by
According to IBDb, the stage musical with Yul Brenner ran 1246 performances ('51-'54), and originally starred Gertrude Lawrence ('51-'52, when she died). He did take a 6-week vacation in '53, which might bring his count under 1200; it shows no revivals/tours until the 70's.
YB is so fresh and enthusiastic in this film that it's astonishing.
DK plays the politely defiant teacher in the overdeveloped hoop skirts with satisfaction for the feminist in me. But she's easily manipulated by the King; all he has to do is play the children card.
The moment that really took my breath away was the transition from the exuberant waltz (Shall We Dance), where Anna and the King finally realize their attraction, and with the sound of a gong the guards bring in the escaped Tuptim, he experiences a life-changing conflict with Anna pushing the change. I found that abrupt shift from joy to anger very effective, and somehow brave of the film/playmakers. They deliberately terminated the biggest feel-good moment of the show, invoking the highest drama (of the show).
Weird that the film makes it appear as though the King dies of a broken heart/spirit after realizing he cannot whip Tuptim: he would be the barbarian that he most dearly does not want to be. After all, he hired this European teacher to educate his children on modern scientific ways. But he is such a strong-willed and ambitious man. Would he really be so unready for such change, so unable to lead his people to seeing that it was not loss of face to refuse to whip the girl, but a great advancement into civilized behavior? He was such a skilled manipulator, so persuasive. Yet now he cannot persuade himself and his court, cannot recover? He has to die to make room for the young, unripe king? (I didn't watch it again, but per a summary on IMDb, the '46 antecedent non-musical film shows time passing, the son is a young man when the King dies.)
Songs performed, all by R&H (49 chapters with menu):
- ch3. I Whistle A Happy Tune, Performed by Deborah Kerr (dubbed by Marni Nixon) and Rex Thompson
- ch9. The March of the Siamese Children
- ch11. Hello, Young Lovers, Performed by Deborah Kerr (dubbed by Marni Nixon)
- ch13. A Puzzlement, Sung by Yul Brynner
- ch15. Getting To Know You, Sung by Deborah Kerr (singing dubbed by Marni Nixon) and Chorus
- ch19. We Kiss in a Shadow, Sung by Carlos Rivas (dubbed by Reuben Fuentes) and Rita Moreno (dubbed by Leona Gordon)
- ch23. Something Wonderful, Sung by Terry Saunders
- ch25. Prayer To Buddha, Sung by Yul Brynner, his wives and children
- ch30. The Small House of Uncle Thomas, Narrated by Rita Moreno, sung and danced by Chorus and Dancers
- ch39. Song of the King, Sung by Yul Brynner
- ch40. Shall We Dance, Sung by Deborah Kerr (dubbed by Marni Nixon) and Yul Brynner, Danced by Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner
- ch49. Finale Ultimo: Something Wonderful, Sung by Chorus
The 2-disc edition includes a pleasant but not terrific commentary track, and some ok featurettes.
Fox, dir. Lang; 8
