The King and I (1956)
 The
King and I was another lavish Rodgers and Hammerstein musical,
this time based on Anna Leonowens' autobiographical novel Anna
and The King of Siam.
Originally a Broadway show, the musical tells the story of
Anna, a young, recently-widowed mother of one son who comes to
19th-century Siam (now known as Thailand) to tutor the king's many
children.
Anna and the King immediately clash. The King expects everyone
to submit to his beliefs and demands, and he is greatly annoyed
when Anna does not. Her headstrong personality and British
upbringing make her bristle at Siam's notions of subservience and
sexism.
The King and Anna eventually warm to each other, even if they
still do not necessarily approve of each other's thinking. Yet the
two are charmed by each other's distinct, but opposing
personalities.
Anna also loves tutoring the King's large brood of children and
wives, but she soon learns that their perspective of the world is
marred by the King's outrageous opinions and huge ego. When she
tries to instruct them about world geography, she is amused to
learn that the children think that Siam is the largest country in
the world, and the British Empire is tiny by comparison.
 Anna
seems to enjoy living in Siam until she witnesses the King's harsh
treatment of one of his concubines, a young woman unwilling to be
the King's consort because she is in love with another man.
Anna must decide whether she can live in a country whose way of
life she does not approve of, as well as reconcile her feelings
for the King himself.
The King and I included several memorable Rodgers and
Hammerstein songs, including Getting to Know You and Shall
We Dance?, as well as the famous House of Uncle Thomas
performance that featured Thai dancing and pantomime.
Yul Brenner originated the role of the King of Siam on Broadway
and also played him in the film, winning both a Tony and an Oscar
for his performance of the same role. The King and I was
nominated for eight other awards, including Best Picture, winning
five of them.
After more than five decades in release, The King and I
has become a classic musical, still being watched by song and
dance fans around the world.
The story's continuing popularity has led to two remakes, both
released in 1999. Warner Bros.' The King and I was an
animated retelling of the Rodgers and Hammerstein play, while 20th
Century Fox's Anna and the King dispensed with the singing
and dancing to focus on Anna Leonowens' story, with Jodie Foster
and Chow Yun-Fat in the title roles.
Deborah Kerr's singing voice was provided by Marni Nixon.
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