| Overall Grade: | B |
|---|---|
| Violence: | B+ |
| Sexual Content: | A- |
| Language: | A |
| Drugs/Alcohol: | A |
| Run Time: | 133 |
| MPAA Rating: | |
| Video Release: |
In-Depth Review
ShareKing And I, The is rated G:
Of all Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals put to film by 20th Century Fox, The King And I likely suffered from being the most "staged." Yet with help from the grand sets, lavish costumes and (perhaps most importantly) Yul Brynner, this film has become immortal.
A feast for the eyes (especially if you can view it in wide screen) and ears, the movie centers on Anna Leonowens (Deborah Kerr), a British tutor hired by King Mongkut of Siam to teach his children English. Interwoven are some of Rodgers and Hammerstein's most unforgettable tunes, including Getting to Know You and the magical We Kiss in a Shadow.
But aside from the lighthearted score, the story deals with the serious issues of culture conformity and infidelity, especially with the introduction of Tuptim (Rita Moreno), a young girl from the neighboring country of Berma, who is given to the King as a wife. Tuptim's decision to pursue a love of her own leaves the King in a difficult dilemma, to which Leonowens provides abundant advice.
The King And I is a classic example of how history can be distorted by popular culture. Based on questionable facts from Anna Leonowens' diaries, kept during her four-year employment to the Siamese royal family, it is little wonder that she is portrayed as the saving saint who convinces the King to bring his outdated culture into line with Western sensibilities. Romantic notions including the fictitious Tuptim, added by novelist Margaret Landon, make the truth even more convoluted.
Brynner's performance as the King who couldn't tame his English tutor was cemented into the minds of millions after Fox's film adaptation was released. 
Its recent restoration to DVD ensures even greater longevity. But in Thailand (the present name of Siam), this and many of the other versions of the story (including the recent Anna and the King ) are banned.
Ironically, The King And I has left a strange twist in its wake. Brynner's role as the King of Siam would not only overtake the real identity of Mongkut, but also his own. Forever stereotyped, the King and He would forever become one.
Studio: (pictures (c)1999 20th Century Fox).
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Discussion Ideas
This movie opens an opportunity to ask your children about other “historical” events portrayed in popular media. Some questions you may want to ask include:
What is the movie industry’s primary goal—to educate or entertain?
Is it possible for movies based on historical facts to create misunderstandings or confusion?
Where might you find reputable information?
For The King and I, here are two Internet suggestions:
First, go to the source—in this case Thailand—where you can find a page of information about His Majesty King Mongkut located at: www.kmitnb.ac.th/KingMongkut/kingmke.html
At the Smithsonian Magazine website, a page describes (and shows) a bust of Mongkut that was commissioned by his son eight years after his death. It was first exhibited at the U.S. Centennial Exposition in 1876. The accompanying article provides a concise history of Mongkut along with information about Leonowens. It can be found at:
www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian/issues97/
apr97/object_apr97.html
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About the Reviewer: Rod Gustafson
Rod Gustafson has worked in various media industries since 1977. He founded Parent Previews in 1993, and today continues to write and broadcast the reviews in newspapers, on radio and (of course) on the Internet. He currently serves as the President of the Alberta Association for Media Awareness, a provincial non-profit society. He also authors a regular column for The Parent's Television Council in Los Angeles. He and his wife Donna have four children.
