The King And I parents guide

The King And I Parent Guide

When the King of Siam hires a British Governess -- he gets an education.

Overall B

This Rodgers and Hammerstein musical tells the story of a British governess named Anna Leonowens (Deborah Kerr) who travels to Siam to teach English to the King's (Yul Brynner) royal family.

Release date June 29, 1956

Violence B+
Sexual Content A-
Profanity A
Substance Use A

Why is The King And I rated G? The MPAA rated The King And I G

Run Time: 133 minutes

Parent Movie Review

Of all Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals put to film by 20th Century Fox, The King And I likely suffered from being the most “staged.” Yet with help from the grand sets, lavish costumes and (perhaps most importantly) Yul Brynner, this film has become immortal.

A feast for the eyes and ears, the movie centers on Anna Leonowens (Deborah Kerr), a British tutor hired by King Mongkut of Siam to teach his children English. Interwoven are some of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most unforgettable tunes, including Getting to Know You and the magical We Kiss in a Shadow.

But aside from the lighthearted score, the story deals with the serious issues of culture conformity and infidelity, especially with the introduction of Tuptim (Rita Moreno), a young girl from the neighboring country of Berma, who is given to the King as a wife. Tuptim’s decision to pursue a love of her own leaves the King in a difficult dilemma, to which Leonowens provides abundant advice.

The King And I is a classic example of how history can be distorted by popular culture. Based on questionable facts from Anna Leonowens’ diaries, kept during her four-year employment to the Siamese royal family, it is little wonder that she is portrayed as the saving saint who convinces the King to bring his outdated culture into line with Western sensibilities. Romantic notions including the fictitious Tuptim, added by novelist Margaret Landon, make the truth even more convoluted.

Brynner’s performance as the King who couldn’t tame his English tutor was cemented into the minds of millions after Fox’s film adaptation was released. Its recent restoration to DVD and Blu-ray ensures even greater longevity. But in Thailand (the present name of Siam), this and many of the other versions of the story (including the 1999 Anna and the King ) are banned.

Ironically, The King And I has left a strange twist in its wake. Brynner’s role as the King of Siam would not only overtake the real identity of Mongkut, but also his own. Forever stereotyped, the King and He would forever become one.

Directed by Walter Lang. Starring Yul Brynner Deborah Kerr Rodgers and Hammerstein. Running time: 133 minutes. Theatrical release June 29, 1956. Updated

The King And I Parents' Guide

This movie opens an opportunity to ask your children about other “historical” events portrayed in popular media. Some questions you may want to ask include:

- What is the movie industry’s primary goal—to educate or entertain?

- Is it possible for movies based on historical facts to create misunderstandings or confusion?

- Where might you find reputable information? (Here is his biography from the Encyclopedia Britannica.)

Home Video

The most recent home video release of The King And I movie is October 7, 2014. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: The King and I (Blu-ray)

Release Date: 7 October 2014

The King and I releases to home video (Blu-ray) with a Sing-A-Long version of musical.

Related home video titles:

Anna Leonowens’ story was adapted to the big screen with a more serious twist in the 1999 movie Anna and the King. Yul Brynner plays another royal in The Ten Commandments. And Deborah Kerr also stars in An Affair to Remember.

Related news about The King And I

The Rodgers & Hammerstein Collection on Blu-ray

The Rodgers & Hammerstein Collection on Blu-ray

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