Features: DVD
Editor's Note
ANNA AND THE KING OF SIAM: Based on a true story, John Cromwell's ANNA AND THE KING OF SIAM stars Irene Dunne as Anna Owens, a recently widowed young mother who accepts employment as the governess for King Mongkut of Siam (Rex Harrison). In Siam, she finds that her highly intelligent employer is also a backward tyrant with a childlike temperament. Using her strength of will and getting help from the king's first wife, Lady Thiang (Gale Sondergaaard), Anna tries to transform the king and educate his children while also preserving her own dignity. Film studio 20th Century Fox left no stones unturned in this lavish, brilliant production. Exquisite sets, costumes, and cinematography combine with a witty, rich script and an impeccable performance by Dunne to make this one of the most enduring films of the 1940s. Director John Cromwell (THE PRISONER OF ZENDA, OF HUMAN BONDAGE) deftly blends comedy and tragedy to create a masterpiece that transcends time and cultural boundaries.ANNA AND THE KING: Based on the diary writings of English widow Anna Leonowens, who journeyed to Siam in 1862 to tutor the children of King Mongkut, this is a grand, epic motion picture that recalls the Hollywood days of yore (see 1946's ANNA AND THE KING OF SIAM and 1956's THE KING AND I for earlier screen adaptations). Chow Yun Fat delivers a heartwarming performance that should finally earn him star status in America, and Jodie Foster is, as always, a magnetic screen presence. Their relationship, which is sparked by a just-beneath-the-surface romantic undercurrent, propels the story forward and provides it with its emotional core. As the film builds to its exciting climax, the relationship between the two is tested even further.
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