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Created Mar 26, 2008 05:50PM PST • Edited Mar 26, 2008 05:50PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Very Good 3.5

   The first film made about the story of Anna Leonowens, the english school teacher who went to Siam to teach the king’s 67 children. Anna (Irene Dunne) is a strong willed woman who often butts heads with the King (Rex Harrison), but eventually becomes an important friend to his royal highness. Together they begin to mold Siam into the modern country it must become if it is to stay an independant empire. If you’ve seen or are a fan of the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical, The King and I, which was based upon this story, I highly reccomend you have a look at Anna and the King of Siam.

4. Acting

   Really Great 4.5

   Just remember this movie was released in 1946.

5. Male Stars Really Great 4.5

   Rex Harrison playing a Siamese king? Almost as odd as Charleton Heston playing a mexican in A Touch of Evil, or John Wayne as Genghis Khan in The Conqueror (that’s right). Rex gives an excellent performance… if a bit on the racial stereotype side (remember, it was “okay” in 1946!). However, as much as I love Rex, Yul Brenner in The King and I is IT.

6. Female Stars Really Great 4.5

   Irene Dunne is marvelous, as always. She never fails to open herself to a role and gives an honest, heartfelt performance. I grew up watching The King and I, so I only ever knew Deborah Kerr’s interpretation and was never really happy with it. Irene wins here.

7. Female Costars Really Great 4.5

8. Male Costars Really Great 4.5

10. Film

    Good 3.0

    1946 quality, and the version I saw was in black and white. A bit of a hinderance in a movie set in the exotic, colorful world of late 1800’s Siam. Not as much of a spectacle, but perhaps that helps the viewer focus more on the story and characters.

11. Direction Good 3.0

12. Play Good 3.0

    Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera…

13. Music Good 3.0

14. Visuals Good 3.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.0

    We get to hear someone burn alive offscreen, and someone falls off a pony.

17. Sex Innocent 1.0

18. Violence Gentle 1.0

19. Rudeness Polite 1.0

21. Reality

    Glib 1.6

    The story, of course, was tampered with by Hollywood, but in fairness it was based on a book that was based on stories written by the real Anna Leonowens… and even SHE embellished her tales of Siam to make them sell (she was a single mother with two kids to support, I hardly blame her). The film makes it out as though Anna stayed in Siam for years helping the King reform his nation, but in reality Anna was only there for a few months. Still, it’s a nice story.

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.6

23. Biological Glib 1.6

24. Physical Glib 1.6