Anna And The King Of Siam (1946) :
Brief Review -
Another engrossing human drama by Cromwell, but this time with more gratitude and great respect during Siam's rise. I didn't know that this was a bit of a fictionalized account of Anna Leonowens's life, a novel that was damn popular then. Had somebody told me that this was a biographical drama, I sure would have believed it. It was so real and humanly rich. John Cromwell, who has given so many enriching experiences of human stories and positive spirits, brought another engrossing and lovable human drama. Anna And The King of Siam is not just a story about friendship, gratitude, education, respect, and cultivation; it is also a story about humanity crossing the borders of countries, continents, and even cultures. A British woman becomes a governess in Siam, where their King is everything. He is the law, the ruler, and everything in the country. The King likes this beautiful governess and begins English classes and modernity lessons from here. During the process, the governess experiences several inhuman, outcast, and illegal practices, while the King becomes known to the outside world and the modernization that is happening around the globe. Despite their differences, the two generate respect for each other-not love, mind you-and try to make Siam a developed nation. I haven't seen Rex Harrison in such a different role till date, be it the looks or the accent. He is so good at everything that he makes you forget all his previous and later works with this one performance. Dunne was a legend by the mid-40s, so how could I not like her in such a great role that she carried throughout with utter honesty? Who the hell would have recognized that it was Lee J. Cobb who wasn't wearing clothes in the first few scenes? A chameleon, I must say. The screenplay has been very helpful for John Cromwell as he directed another tailor-made, moving tale of humans and their bonding.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Another engrossing human drama by Cromwell, but this time with more gratitude and great respect during Siam's rise. I didn't know that this was a bit of a fictionalized account of Anna Leonowens's life, a novel that was damn popular then. Had somebody told me that this was a biographical drama, I sure would have believed it. It was so real and humanly rich. John Cromwell, who has given so many enriching experiences of human stories and positive spirits, brought another engrossing and lovable human drama. Anna And The King of Siam is not just a story about friendship, gratitude, education, respect, and cultivation; it is also a story about humanity crossing the borders of countries, continents, and even cultures. A British woman becomes a governess in Siam, where their King is everything. He is the law, the ruler, and everything in the country. The King likes this beautiful governess and begins English classes and modernity lessons from here. During the process, the governess experiences several inhuman, outcast, and illegal practices, while the King becomes known to the outside world and the modernization that is happening around the globe. Despite their differences, the two generate respect for each other-not love, mind you-and try to make Siam a developed nation. I haven't seen Rex Harrison in such a different role till date, be it the looks or the accent. He is so good at everything that he makes you forget all his previous and later works with this one performance. Dunne was a legend by the mid-40s, so how could I not like her in such a great role that she carried throughout with utter honesty? Who the hell would have recognized that it was Lee J. Cobb who wasn't wearing clothes in the first few scenes? A chameleon, I must say. The screenplay has been very helpful for John Cromwell as he directed another tailor-made, moving tale of humans and their bonding.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.