esrosedotblog

ANNA

We have seen a lot of Anna and the King of Siam (1946) but mostly in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical versions; over and over. Yul Brynner and all. And there is a remake (I never watch them) with Chow-Yun-Fat and Jody Foster as Anna. Ugh.

It is all based on the book by Anna herself.

Today's movie is the antecedent of the musical and, of course, the remake, with Irene Dunn as Anna and Rex Harrison as the King.

I saw this when it came out. I was nine, in case you are counting.

It has remained vivid in my mind since that time.

Unlike the singing version, this plot is dense and, despite the casting of key roles with anglo actors instead of orientals, it is very well played.

It is quite fun to see Lee J. Cobb play the King's trusted servant in a pompadour hairdo and brown face. Still, it does not distract. Now, that is great story telling.

And it is a great story. It deserves to be repeated. The culture clash, the platonic love affair between Anna and the King, the collision of wills. It is all well written, because it is a true story, and played, because the parts are really meaty. Wrong word, really. There is no ham here.

It is a New York Times Best 1176 Film and I will give it a 4 out of Netflix 5.