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The King and I

The King and I

List Price: $19.98
Your Price: $14.99
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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Classic Musical!!
Review: This is probably one of the first movies I ever saw. It is absolutely great. It grabs your attention and won't let you not care. Very clean and good for kids. Its a good example of the Broadway to film transition. Great acting,singing,and dancing!
Get it Now!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Not "Something Wonderful" This Time Around
Review: Yul Brynner's performance in "The King And I" must stand out as one of a handful of truly memorable film performances. Rodgers and Hammerstein's sweeping musical/drama has been the subject of much critical debate. The Siamese continue to feel that both the play and the film present their monarch as a simple thug converted by colonialism as represented, at least here, by the stunning person of Deborah Kerr. As a musical this is definitely one of the all time greats. It's just such a shame that Fox, the company responsible for this DVD, hasn't realized this. The non-anamorphic DVD is loaded with digital imperfections, aliasing, shimmering, grain and dirt that make for a pretty dismal visual presentation. Also, extras are zero, not even a featurette or interviews. What a disappointment. This is definitely a title that needs to be revisited and soon.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great film!
Review: Such a colorful and beautiful musical with memorable songs. It's a must see for the entie family. It's one of the best musicals in my opinion. Deborah Kerr and Rex Harrison are fantastic.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A classic
Review: Some of the most beautiful music and sets ever created for the screen. The theatrical production of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is one of the most amazing scenes I remember seeing as a child.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A great Musical
Review: The King and I is one of Rogers and Hammerstein's greatest musicals. It is the musical version of "Anna and the King". The cinematography and scenery greatly captures the beauty and mystery of 19th century Siam. The story centers around the story of Anna Leowens who is hired to be the governess to the Kings adorable children. There is abattle of wills right from the begining between Anna and the King. Anna begins to fall in love with the children. She expresses this love with the song "Getting to know you". Anna brings in her Western Ideals and begins to have an effect on the king. One dramatic scene is when he tries to whip a runaway slave girl (Tuptim). Because of Anna's influence he can not do it. One of the best scenes is when Anna teaches the King to dance. This has to be the greatest dance sequence ever recorded on film (even better than Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers in "Top Hat").

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Man Who Would Be King, Forever!
Review: I find it interesting to stop every once in a while and think about the title, "The King and I"--notice the use of the pronoun "I". The original musical play was a showcase for Gertrude Lawrence, who played Anna, the "I" of the title. It was about her, from her point of view. The relatively obscure Yul Brynner's King was important, but not the main character. Well, by the time Brynner died after many revivals and tours decades later, just about everyone had forgotten about "I" being the main character--this show was about the King. A wonderful study of how one man's undeniable charisma forced itself upon the public.

I just LOVED this movie when I was a little girl, partly because of the songs, but mostly because of the gigantic hoop skirts Ms. Kerr sports. They just get bigger and bigger as the movie progresses, until the final iridescent ballgown. I saw this once on a big screen, and when they do that big polka in "Shall We Dance", the momentum of their dance made the skirt seem to billow out into the audience. Wow! Then someone bought the LP, and I played it over and over and learned not only all the songs but the instrumental parts too. Couldn't get enough of it, then or now.

Here is an unlikely love story of how a British governess arrives in 1860s Siam to teach the many children of the King. She and the King have many cultural differences, but ultimately come to respect and admire each other, just to brink of romance. But, that can never really be, for a multitude of reasons. Deborah Kerr is a great Anna, ever so proper but willing to unbutton it a little in her dealings with Brynner's outrageous King. He's more bark than bite, we find out by and by. Great songs, too: "I Whistle a Happy Tune", "Hello, Young Lovers", "Getting to Know You", "I Have Dreamed" (just makes me swoon to think of it!), and the great "March of the Siamese Children" when more children than you can count come to greet their new governess, who is as absolutely charmed as the audience by the song's end. Worth noting that Ms. Kerr's songs were dubbed by Marni Nixon, who did the honors again in "My Fair Lady" and "West Side Story". Yul was dubbed by no one.

One of the very best Hollywood musicals, "The King and I" will entertain you royally, have no doubt!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Splendid, splendid!
Review: One of the best movies of an R&H musical, The King and I locks English schoolteacher Anna Leonowens in a battle of wills with King Mongkut of Siam, circa 1862. The King has hired Anna to teach the royal children and wives in the court at Bangkok. As Anna introduces Western ideas to the Siamese children, the King finds it harder and harder to choose between being a fair-minded, enlightened leader and an absolute ruler. The crux of contention emerges over Tuptim, a Burmese young woman given to the King as a "present" even though she loves another man.

"The Small House of Uncle Thomas", a ballet adaptation of the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, presented by the royal dancers, is fascinating to watch. Most of the songs are superb, and the action and emotion rise sharply throughout the film. I cannot address the concerns over stereotyping of Siamese characters (or English characters). In all, The King and I matches two worthy opponents who respect each other (and secretly love each other?) but cannot give in to each other.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Hello Young Lovers Where Ever You Are...
Review: Deborah Kerr stars as the proper English school teacher who comes to Siam to tutor the King's many children. Yul Brynner was never more attractive than he is here as the pompous yet loveable King. She advised him in matters of state; but their mutual attraction was obvious. The songs are so beautiful, and who could ever forget the dance scene with Kerrin that gorgeous silk gown? A must-see muscial classic!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Shall I tell you what I think?
Review: This is a wonderful movie and with a well deserved Academy Award for Yul Bryner as the King of Siam. If you watch The Sound of Movies it will tell you some of the backstory on the King and I. I really question the reviewer on here who said it was boring. Also, Anna did not become his concubine.Far from it. This is based on a real story. Read the book. I saw the old black and white version with Irene Dunn and Rex Harrison and read the book and the boyfriend of the slave girl who was brought to the king was burned at the stake with her I believe. I like the way that they change that ending in this movie. Yul Bryner really did deserve the Oscar for his performance. The music is wonderful as usual in this with Marni Nixon partly dubbing Deborah Kerr's singing voice. I know that the Uncle Tom reenactment is supposed to be dramatic and moving and I guess it is the first time you see it but kind of dull for me but it does need this for part of the point of the story. Also, hate that they did cut some of the songs from Broadway to Movie. I have the soundtrack of the movie and they are on the cd. I think the people who give classic movies bad ratings are just totally out of touch with the world. I would love to converse with people who do recognize great movie making, but I'm glad I don't have to converse with those who find this and other great movies "dull". I guess they are the ones who like all this action stuff. This is not for you, people who dislike musicals, and seemingly slow moving plots. I grew up being exposed to great musicals and great music and most of the people who do like movies like this one come from the same background. For those young people who have an interest in the arts, you need to see this. I hate that children are growing up exposed to PG/R and X movies and not many G rated movies and most of the stuff is action and full of bad language. Okay, I'm on my soapbox. I do like some action but those of you who understand my point, will get it and those who don't will be the same people who don't like this movie. The only reason I gave this movie 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the deleted music but if I had never known about it, it would get 5 stars.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Yul Brynner excels
Review: There are elements of this film that rate 5 stars, and other elements that rate from 2 1/2 to 3 stars, resulting in a final tally of 4.

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... (...)

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


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