Anna and the King of Siam (1946)

88% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
59% of users liked it
(4,049 ratings)

More serious and less colorful than The King And I, Anna And The King Of Siam is still a well-crafted and elaborate spectacle. Leonowens (Irene Dunne) and her son travel to the tiny kingdom of Siam, where she has been hired to teach Western ways and culture to the multitudes of children sired by the… More More serious and less colorful than The King And I, Anna And The King Of Siam is still a well-crafted and elaborate spectacle. Leonowens (Irene Dunne) and her son travel to the tiny kingdom of Siam, where she has been hired to teach Western ways and culture to the multitudes of children sired by the King (Rex Harrison). All too soon, however, the King and Anna clash over the differences in their ways and cultures; Anna is also drawn into a palace romance between the concubine, Tuptim (Linda Darnell), and another man, which ends in tragedy. Whereas The King And I focused on the budding relationship between Anna and the King, the non-musical version is a more straightforward reading of Margaret Landon's book about the real Anna Leonowens. Harrison made his screen debut in the role, which became synonymous with Yul Brynner in the 1956 musical version. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 8 min.
Directed By: John Cromwell
Written By: Talbot Jennings, Sally Benson
Genres: Drama, Romance, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics

In Theaters: Jun 20, 1946 Wide
On DVD: May 24, 2005

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Before it became a popular musical with Yul Brynner, Margaret Landon's book about the British Governess was a skillful, well acted melodrama by Rex Harrison (in his Hollywood debut) and Irene Dunne.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Predating "The King and I," and just as entertaining, minus the music.
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
Rex Harrison is sexy, Irene Dunne is prim, but the racism is evident.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

good non musical version of the King and I. Darker in tone

Cast

            Irene Dunne as Anna Leonowens

            Rex Harrison as The King of Siam

            Linda Darnell as Tuptim

            Lee J Cobb as Kralahome

            Gale Sondergaard as Lady Thiang

            Marjorie Eaton as Miss MacFarlane

            William Edmunds as Moonshee

            Helena Grant as Mrs. Cartwright

            John Abbott as Phya Phrom

            Dennis Hoey as Sir Edward

            Connie Leon as Beebe

            Richard Lyon as Louis Owens

            Stanley Mann as Mr. Cartwright

            Neyle Morrow as Phra Palat

            Mikhail Rasumny as Alak

            Tito Renaldo as Prince (older)

            Addison Richards as Capt. Orton

            Julian Rivero as Government Clerk

            Mickey Roth as Prince (younger)

            Leonard Strong as Interpreter

            Jean Wong as Amazon Guard

            Buff Cobb as Wife of King

            Lillian Molieri as Wife of King

            Marianne Quon as Wife of King

            Dian van den Ecker as Princess Fa-Ying

            Si-Lan Chen as Dance Director
See full cast