Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1855 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-03-20
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Aspect ratio: 2.55:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Box set, PAL, Special Edition, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 128 minutes

Synopsis
Rogers and Hammerstein's Broadway musical, adapted from Margaret Landon's fact-based novel and the 1946 film ANNA AND THE KING OF SIAM, makes a spectacularly successful move to the silver screen in the Yul Brynner tour de force THE KING AND I. Brynner, reprising the role he'd polished to perfection on stage, plays the blustering, headstrong Siamese potentate who meets his match in the form of Anna Leonowens (Deborah Kerr), the prim and proper English widow he's hired to oversee the rearing of his huge, unruly flock of children. Director Walter Lang (TIN PAN ALLEY) presents THE KING AND I, one of the most popular musicals in cinema history, as a dizzyingly bountiful Technicolor feast. Kerr (aided during songs by the overdubbed voice of Marni Nixon) contributes a dynamic performance that is every bit the equal of Brynner's transcendent, career-defining turn, for which he won an Academy Award. The delightful score, which also garnered an Oscar, includes three perennial favorite show tunes: 'I Whistle a Happy Tune', 'Getting to Know You', and 'Shall We Dance'.

From the Back Cover
Includes fantastic Sing-Along option - great fun for all the family

Customer Reviews

Amazing
The presentation of this film is breathtaking, having gone back to the original 55mm film negatives and recreated the film from scratch. The picture now looks cleaner and more colourful than you have ever seen it, and the sound is as if it was recorded yesterday. The second disc is packed with extras about the stars, the music, and even the remastering process. Regarding the comment left previously about the Overture and Intermission being removed for this DVD, the film here is shown as originally presented, without these items, which were only added later on, so what is on the disc is completely complete!

Restoration of a Classic Musical Movie
The restoration of this new issue of "The King and I" is nothing short of magnificent - the colours are really vibrant, and there is no hint of graininess or colour loss. A really beautiful job.

One thing however that strikes me as rather strange - I think this issue presents the movie as it would have been when it first went on General Release, as opposed to a RoadShow version. There is no Overture, no intermission (and therefore no intermission music) and no exit music. So ... if you have a previous edition of this DVD which contains these, don't ditch it!

Much Loved Family Classic
'The King and I' is a much-loved family classic because it combines catchy songs with lush sets and an endearing, entertaining storyline. Like many musicals, it is overlong (I feel that musicals work best at about a 100 minute run time) and over-the-top, but it is wonderful escapism that the whole family can enjoy.

Yul Brynner won an Oscar for his turn as the King Of Siam, and he is very good in the role. English-rose Deborah Kerr plays her usual English rose role, as the live-in-governess to the King Of Siam's many, many children. Her Anna is a lovely, steadying presence to the theatrics of many other cast members (including Brynner). Kerr did play a lot of variations on the same role, but her acting talent gives each performance a slightly different quality.

The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical numbers are great, as usual, and the set design is magnificent. The scale of this production was remarkable in 1950's Hollywood, and it still looks very impressive, even to the modern eye.