Movie Review: The King and I

Rodgers and Hammerstein have written fantastic musicals, I know a big understatement on my part. Many incorporated dramatic history into the story, perhaps none more so than this one. First debuting on Broadway in 1951 and based on Margaret Landon’s 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam which was a mix of fiction and true story, it would become a film in 1956. The film version of The King and I would become one of the most successful musicals of all time. I saw a recent Broadway production of the story and it along with the film, definitely leaves you with tears in your eyes and your heart feeling a little heavier. Spoilers as always.

Anna Leonowens (Deborah Kerr with Marni Nixon doing the singing) a widow school teacher travels with her son Louis (Rex Thompson) to Bangkok, Siam (now Thailand) to become the teacher of the children of the King of Siam, King Mongkut (Yul Brynner who won an Oscar for his part). The two meet the prime minister and the King’s closest friend Kralahome (Martin Benson) who has been told to escort them to the palace where they are going to live; Anna is upset because her contract stated she and her son would get their own home. King Mongkut says he doesn’t remember promising Anna a home and introduces Anna to his wives (no, that is not a misprint) and 15 of his 67 children (once again no mistake there) that Anna will teach, including his eldest son Prince Chulalongkorn (Patrick Adiarte). Despite being upset that the King violated her contract Anna agrees to teach the children, although she does drop hints during her lessons to annoy the King. Anna becomes close with the children as well as the wives, including the head wife Lady Thiang (Terry Saunders) and the latest wife Tuptim (Rita Moreno with Leona Gordon singing); Tuptim however is not happy with her forced marriage as she is in love with one of the men who brought her Lun Tha (Carlos Rivas with Rueben Fuentes singing) and he with her forcing the pair to sneak around at night. The children soon come to care for Anna and Louis, although they do get into arguments when Anna introduces things they have never seen before like snow. The King and Anna also clash, not just over the contract but their cultures as the two have different outlooks over pretty much everything. Anna almost leaves because of it, but Lady Thiang explains that the King is upset because British papers are calling him a barbarian and threatened to take Siam away from him. Knowing the King is many things, but not what the British clam, Anna agrees to help the King prove that they can be European and the two’s walls slowly start to come down. Unfortunately the King’s stubborn ways may cost him greatly. About as far as I should go without giving away the rest of the movie.

If any film has a big clash of cultures it is this one. The King and Anna’s relationship develops as king/servant in his mind to mutual respect; many say love but I’m not completely certain. Deborah Kerr is just stunning to watch as Anna, the strong willed teacher who has to show not just the children and wives but the King that their world is not as big as they think and they have to change. Yul Brynner, who portrayed the King on multiple Broadway productions before and after the film is memorizing as King Mongkut, a man who is stuck in the past and doesn’t understand why the world isn’t like his country; absolutely deserved his Oscar. The rest of the cast is impeccable; Moreno, Saunders, Rivas and Benson sticking out the most in my opinion as do the children, although I admit by today’s standards some roles are considered to be whitewashing so beware. The film doesn’t use every word or every song from the Broadway show which may have done some harm from the critics but otherwise the film was well received. The soundtrack has some of the show’s most famous songs such as “Getting to Know You”, “Shall We Dance”, “It’s a Puzzlement” and “I Whistle a Happy Tune” among others.

The film won five Oscars: Best Actor for Brynner, music, art direction, costume design and sound recording while it was nominated for four others: Best director, cinematography, actress for Kerr and Best Picture. The film has also been listed on three American Film Institute 100 lists: #11 on Best Musicals, #54 on Best Songs “Shall We Dance” and 100 Passions Films #31 for Anna and the King. While the film might take place during the Civil War some of its issues still hit strong points today and I would definitely say this is a must watch for not just musical fans but of movie fans in general.

TV movie Review: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, 1997 version

I was planning on doing this at a later time, but as yesterday was the 20th Anniversary I kinda of feel obligated to write about one of my favorite versions of this musical fairy tale. It is not only one of the best versions of the tale, but it opened eyes to how a story can be told. Cannot talk about this without spoiling, then again you probably know the story so what’s the point in saying beware. I DO NOT OWN THE PICTURE.

Cinderella (Brandy) is living with her cruel stepmother (Bernadette Peters) and her stepsisters Minerva (Natalie Desselle-Reid) and Calliope (Veanne Cox.) She is treated as a servant, but made a promise to her father they would stay together after he passed. One day in the market her imagination wanders, thinking of finding “the one” and almost gets run over by a carriage. She is helped by a handsome stranger and they quickly realize how much they have in common, not satisfied in their lives. They are drawn to each other until stepmother scolds her for talking to each other. As you can probably guess that stranger is the Prince Christopher (Paolo Montalban.) He feels isolated in the palace with his only companion being Lionel his valet (Jason Alexander.)

His parents, more specifically his mother Queen Constantina (Whoopi Goldberg), decide to throw him a ball to find a bride. Christopher wants to find love the old fashioned way; his father King Maximilian (Victor Garber) understands but the Queen takes charge. The whole village prepares for the ball, including Cinderella’s stepmother for her daughters but not Cinderella who wishes to go. Prince Christopher eventually agrees to the ball, but makes his parents promise if he doesn’t find his love at the ball it will be on his own terms. The night of the ball Cinderella tearfully wishes to go to the ball, and her wish is granted by her sassy fairy godmother (Whitney Houston.) Shortly after arriving Cinderella and Prince Christopher fall in love, but at the stroke of midnight she takes off leaving her glass slipper. Cinderella’s stepmother realizes who that mysterious girl was at the ball and diminishes Cinderella and her father. The next day Christopher and Lionel search for her, and almost give up hope after the stepmother’s house, Cinderella wasn’t there having planned to run away. However once he leaves Christopher and Cinderella find each other and remember their first meeting. They shortly marry with Fairy Godmother watching from far away.

I’m sure you are thinking this, “what makes this version so much better than the others?” Well for starts that all-star and diverse cast. Only in this film and in so many other Rodgers and Hammerstein productions (Broadway or film productions) will you see people of different ethnic backgrounds in a musical, it is probably only in this film will you see an African American woman and a Caucasian man have a Filipino American son. But that is what many love about this film is how diverse the cast is, even critics who disliked the film at the time liked the diversity. The soundtrack is also absolutely incredible with songs from the original musical, but two additional songs. This version was a HUGE hit for ABC with 60 million watching this on its first night! It you were not one of those viewers, please find this; I’m sure it is one YouTube somewhere. This is an AWESOME version of the classic fairy tale.

Movie Review: Carousel

One of my favorite movie or TV genres are musicals; while I do enjoy the action, drama, comedy and occasional sci-fi flick there is nothing like singing and dancing. I will go into more musicals I love over time, but today I want to do the latest movie I watched: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel. I DO NOT OWN THE PICTURE.

Based on the popular Broadway show, Carousel follows carousel barker Billy Bigelow (Gordon MacRae) and mill worker Julie Jordan (Shirley Jones) as they fall in love and lose their jobs all in one night. Short time later after they are married Billy cannot find work and in frustration strikes Julie (while not shown on film it is talked about and is shown during the Broadway productions.) Upon discovering Julie is pregnant, Billy feels forced into committing a robbery with his frequent jailbird friend. Unfortunately it ends badly for Billy. 15 years later Billy is allowed to go back to make amends with Julie and his daughter Louise after the town has turned against them.

This was the second time MacRae and Jones stared in a musical together, that one will be at a later date, and their chemistry remained intact. If I did have to make a comparison I thought their chemistry in the prior film was better. While the film does kinda gloss over the fact Billy was hitting Julie, at least once, they both admitted they loved each other (yes I know everyone says that, doesn’t mean I agree with it.) Of course their voices are magic together; MacRae has a very deep voice that causes everyone to turn their heads to the screen while Jones’s sweet and melodious singing can make anyone feel so good.

The songs in the film are terrific; some sticking out more than others. The first to really hit with the audience is the duet between Billy and Julie “If I Loved You.” While they were not saying what they were feeling it was obvious of the attraction growing. The big dance sequence was “June is Bustin Out All Over” showing how the town was celebrating the summer. Everyone’s voices were blended perfectly and the dance sequence was a joy to watch. Gordon MacRae’s soliloquy solo number showed what the character was going through after finding out about Julie’s pregnancy and coming to terms with what he has to do. A final stand out was Louise’s dance number on the beach as Billy and the audience find out just what the girl had been going through since her father’s death.

The film is on Netflix, but only until October 1. Other than that it will occasionally air on TV. It is also coming back to Broadway in the 2018 season which will star Tony nominee Joshua Henry (The Scottsboro Boys and Velvet), Tony winner Jessie Mueller (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and was nominated for her role in Waitress) and Grammy winner Renee Fleming. I hope you will enjoy the musical, the film or coming to New York whichever one you prefer.