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The King and I

Play trailer Poster for The King and I G 1956 2h 13m Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
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93% Tomatometer 29 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
In this film adaptation of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, widowed Welsh mother Anna Leonowens (Deborah Kerr) becomes a governess and English tutor to the wives and many children of the stubborn King Mongkut of Siam (Yul Brynner). Anna and the king have a clash of personalities as she works to teach the royal family about the English language, customs and etiquette, and rushes to prepare a party for a group of European diplomats who must change their opinions about the king.
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The King and I

Critics Reviews

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Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 02/10/2012
Typically overproduced. Go to Full Review
Variety Staff Variety 03/26/2009
All the ingredients that made Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I a memorable stage experience have been faithfully transferred to the screen. Go to Full Review
Geoff Andrew Time Out 02/09/2006
Over-long but visually spectacular. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Mar 22
3/4
While Brynner's flamboyant turn borders on hammy, his exuberance and sheer delight in tackling the role is impossible to resist. Go to Full Review
Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube) 04/07/2025
It has many outdated elements but I do enjoy the songs and performances Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 01/02/2022
5/10
The epic romance never really evolves or culminates, though Anna's hope that she's set into motion a progressive, gradual curtailing of barbaric rule is gratifying. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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bruce F @bruce999 1d ok movie, lacks some real connection between the stars. i'd rather hear kerr sing, than have a voice add in. For me, i don't care for the movie, for that reason. perhaps look for the original movie, which this one is based on. no emotion for me, even with the nice songs. See more Stephen C @bob25009 06/05/2025 Success in 2 hours and 13 minutes. The worldwide gross is $21,300,000.00 over a $4,550,000.00 budget. See more 07/05/2022 As I said, I really like this film-musical, as I like most all Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals. Rodger's music is sublime and catchy in all the right ways, invoking thoughtful and sophisticated influences of Asian music. The problem, however, lies in the portrayal of Mongkut, who although driven to bring modernism and education to Siam for the sake of his subjects, is really little more than a funny speech inflection. Nevertheless, the striving for common ground between the Eastern and Western values serves to enlighten both Mongkut and Anna in unexpected ways, with both learning to respect and love each other. In fact, I would argue that it is only with the blending of cultures that the characters truly learn who they are. It is a story from a less politically correct, more innocent time, but a good deal of enjoyment can still be garnered. See more steve d @RT35616104 07/21/2020 The performances are strong but the story is ridiculous and ignores history. See more William L @RT77267842 07/05/2020 Beautiful sets and a dedication to visual splendor certainly elevate the film and preserve the feeling of stage presence, but it can hardly be argued that most of the individual tracks clear the bar to be labeled true classics. Brynner's breakout performance is energetic, entertaining, and still highly watchable, but the film overall has aged poorly from a social perspective, and I believe that the legacy of the King and I has likely suffered as a result when compared to more palatable fare, and will likely continue to do so. Even judging it as a production of its time, I believe it to be an enjoyable and opulent (if narratively simple) production, but not much beyond that. Much of the pacing is erratic, such as the deviation into the rendition of Uncle Tom's Cabin, which plays a narrative role but could have been effectively completed in a far shorter period without removing the audience from the story for such a prolonged period. (3/5) See more joel h @786Joel 06/30/2020 Getting to know The King and I is a wonderful experience. Yul Brynner is unforgettable as the king of Siam, and Deborah Kerr is able to stand toe-to-toe (or head-to-head) with his every move. With its lavish sets, elaborate costumes, and amusing songs, this musical has an undeniable charm, even if it may feel foreign or dated to some. See more Read all reviews
The King and I

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Movie Info

Synopsis In this film adaptation of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, widowed Welsh mother Anna Leonowens (Deborah Kerr) becomes a governess and English tutor to the wives and many children of the stubborn King Mongkut of Siam (Yul Brynner). Anna and the king have a clash of personalities as she works to teach the royal family about the English language, customs and etiquette, and rushes to prepare a party for a group of European diplomats who must change their opinions about the king.
Director
Walter Lang
Producer
Charles Brackett
Screenwriter
Oscar Hammerstein II, Margaret Landon, Ernest Lehman
Distributor
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, Fox
Production Co
20th Century Fox
Rating
G
Genre
Musical
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 29, 1956, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 25, 2015
Runtime
2h 13m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track
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