Anna And The King Of Siam (1946)

Anna And The King Of Siam - 1946

A familiar story comes in the form of 1946's "Anna And The King Of Siam", in which a schoolteacher journeys to Siam to become the tutor of the King's children.  She also tutors the heir to the throne and instills in him values that will carry Siam into the future.

The film's cast includes Irene Dunne, Rex Harrison, Linda Darnell, Lee J. Cobb, Gale Sondergaard, and Richard Lyon.

Mrs. Anna Owens, a widow, has come to Siam with her son Louis to become the tutor to the King's children.

She and Louis look around in awe at this strange, new world that is before them.

They meet the Kralahome, who is the Prime Minister.  He tells them they are to wait until the King is ready to receive them.  It could be many days until that happens.

At last the day arrives.  However, when it is her turn to be presented, the King decides that his audiences are over for the day.

This makes Anna very upset and she rushes forward to be announced.  The King is pleased when she matches him with wit, unafraid as his other subjects are.

He takes her to meet his family.  When she asks how many children there are, he says, "They are not all here, of course.  Only those old enough for school.  I have sixty-seven children.  Not many, I began marriage a little late."  Anna is also given the task of teaching English to the King's wives.

School begins on the day the King's astrologers deem an auspicious one.

Anna forms a close bond with the King's head wife and mother of the heir to the throne, Lady Thiang, who already knows some English and acts as Anna's translator.

Her relationship with the King's favorite concubine, Tuptim, however, is much more tenuous, and will have a great effect on Anna's future in Siam.

Anna also has a great hand in molding the mind of the heir to the throne, Prince Chulalongkorn, who initially does not get along with her son Louis.

Anna's frankness and willingness to talk with the King as an equal ensure her a place as one of his closest advisors.  She begins by talking to him about the Bible.  He eventually trusts her to write his letters to such persons as Abraham Lincoln.

When an influential British visitor who has been critical of the King comes to town, he looks to Anna to act as hostess and to present Siam as a civilized, up and coming culture ready to take its place in the modern world.

The party goes off without a hitch, and Anna's efforts are greatly appreciated by the King.

The King even comments on Anna's appearance that evening.  "Wherefore have you decorated yourself better than all rest?  Shall it be for my observation?"

The King's treatment of Tuptim, however, causes Anna to take a step back from serving as his advisor.  She prefers to remain at the school that has been set up.  The years pass by.  One day, Anna is summoned from the school to see the King.

She is taken to his bedside, where she finds he is dying.  He tells her how much he's appreciated her work and her input.

Anna is present at the coronation of the new king, Chulalongkorn.  She stands in the background during the proceedings.

The new king's first official act is to abolish the rule of obeisance on hands and knees, something which Anna abhorred since she first came to Siam.  The King says that it is right if they are to go forward and work and respect one another.

King Chulalongkorn smiles as he looks towards Anna, who watches proudly from her place in the gallery.

Lady Thiang also looks at Anna and gratefully acknowledges her influence as the new king prepares to take Siam into the modern era.

Cast rundown:

   Irene Dunne.....................................Anna Owens

   Rex Harrison.....................................King Mongkut

   Linda Darnell.....................................Tuptim

   Lee J. Cobb.......................................Kralahome

   Gale Sondergaard..............................Lady Thiang

   Richard Lyon.....................................Louis Owens

And that's it for Anna And The King Of Siam.  This was the American film debut of Rex Harrison.  He thoroughly enjoyed working with Irene Dunne, whom he considered an "excellent actress".  This film was banned in Siam, because of what the government considered "historical inaccuracies".  In the film, Tuptim was burned at the stake.  The actress portraying her, Linda Darnell, found it difficult to film this scene, as she was terrified of fire.  Sadly, nineteen years later, Linda Darnell was killed in a house fire.

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