tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833161426229360042.post77651004834057504..comments2023-11-24T07:20:02.991-05:00Comments on Classic Movies Digest: REVIEW: Anna and the King of Siam (1946)Ruperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15526556689348727001noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833161426229360042.post-48398164936361799062013-09-01T17:39:05.871-04:002013-09-01T17:39:05.871-04:00My favorite film version of this story - by far! ...My favorite film version of this story - by far! I grew up watching "the King & I" musical version and about 25 years ago I saw "Anna and the King" for the first time. Totally blown away by how spectacular it was... and remains. Thank you for this lovely review and reminder of a truly great film.The Mulligan Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14684946371469424044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833161426229360042.post-81183180411837954082013-01-14T02:10:03.066-05:002013-01-14T02:10:03.066-05:00Actually, I love both films equally. I enjoy Iren...Actually, I love both films equally. I enjoy Irene Dunne, and am a huge fan of Gale Sondergaard. THE KING AND I was first for me, though. I grew up listening to all the Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals on record. When I saw the film on our first colour TV, it knocked me flat. It was so gorgeous. Much, much later, I was privileged to see Yul Brynner in one of his last appearances as "THE KING". It was in San Diego, and probably about 6 weeks before his death. To this day I can't understand how he was able to do it. You can 'cheat', and cut on a film, but not on the stage. To say that Mr. Brynner was "Explosive" is putting it mildly. "Nuclear" is more like it. Both ANNA AND THE KING, and THE KING AND I are very dear to me.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13389117498791680219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833161426229360042.post-81908740408424519532009-08-14T12:10:30.210-04:002009-08-14T12:10:30.210-04:00Great review and insights! I just adore this film....Great review and insights! I just adore this film...Dunn is wonderful, and Harrison is a delight as the despot. <br /><br />I prefer it so far over "The King and I" - which, though sumptuous and extravagant, is just interminable. I don't know why because both Kerr and Brynner do a terrific job - and the music is, well, okay. But, it just seems to last until day after tomorrow.Tristan Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833161426229360042.post-40894931137335042992009-08-12T16:52:18.130-04:002009-08-12T16:52:18.130-04:00I love Irene in this movie. I do like this version...I love Irene in this movie. I do like this version better also. Great review Rupert. Wow you have been busy with reviews. I am glad I checked your blog. I wouldn't want to miss out on these! Any of yours<br />JoClassicJohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18084603957211826254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833161426229360042.post-7145641960823408942009-08-08T15:20:34.016-04:002009-08-08T15:20:34.016-04:00Rupert, let me add my agreement with the others wh...Rupert, let me add my agreement with the others who have already commented. You summed it up nicely in your last sentence that this "is a quality production that deserves to be remembered." One of the incomparable Irene Dunne's last major performances. Apparently a lot of actresses wanted this role, but I don't see how anyone could have been a better choice than Dunne. As you wrote, Harrison and Sondergaard were great, Darnell was mediocre (but then she wasn't really right for the part). I especially liked the banquet scene--hugely entertaining. The director, John Cromwell, directed so many memorable movies yet doesn't seem to get the credit he deserves, I guess because he subdued his directorial personality to the material--a huge faux pas to modern auteurist critcs. But does it really matter when the results are so enjoyable and of such high quality as this? Another great choice for a post, and I'm looking forward to more.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833161426229360042.post-72960764306687243682009-08-06T15:11:15.964-04:002009-08-06T15:11:15.964-04:00Another post with an opinion I concur with totally...Another post with an opinion I concur with totally. <br />It's true that The King & I has a bigger recognition factor but it's obvious to me that this film had a major impact & influence on the Broadway musical & subsequent musical film. Without this classic I don't think the the musical would have been conceived. As such the musical's story structure owes a great deal to the original. Notice that the modern version of the story was a remake of THIS movie and not the musical.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833161426229360042.post-80813029595541999532009-08-05T19:02:04.363-04:002009-08-05T19:02:04.363-04:00I quite agree...though the musical is very good (o...I quite agree...though the musical is very good (one of my favorites), I prefer this one. And you're right about Linda Darnell...she hadn't much to do at all. I think this was around the time she was being "punished" by the studio for marrying someone much older than she was and supposedly tarnishing her public image. <br /><br />Thanks for sharing your views...great pick!Juliette.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02779055836350808401noreply@blogger.com