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The King And I: 2-disc (Special Edition) [1956]


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Much Loved Family Classic
Review date: 2007-12-14 Rating: 10 out of 10

'The King and I' is a much-loved family classic because it combines catchy songs with lush sets and an endearing, entertaining storyline. Like many musicals, it is overlong (I feel that musicals work best at about a 100 minute run time) and over-the-top, but it is wonderful escapism that the whole family can enjoy.

Yul Brynner won an Oscar for his turn as the King Of Siam, and he is very good in the role. English-rose Deborah Kerr plays her usual English rose role, as the live-in-governess to the King Of Siam's many, many children. Her Anna is a lovely, steadying presence to the theatrics of many other cast members (including Brynner). Kerr did play a lot of variations on the same role, but her acting talent gives each performance a slightly different quality.

The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical numbers are great, as usual, and the set design is magnificent. The scale of this production was remarkable in 1950's Hollywood, and it still looks very impressive, even to the modern eye.

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Reviews


Something Wonderful!
Review date: 2007-07-23 Rating: 10 out of 10

I completely agree with W.Neale,and couldn't really have summed it up better.
However,am I wrong in thinking that the song"Shall I tell you what I think of you",where Anna vents her feelings about the King has been dropped from the DVD?
It is on the CD of the film soundtrack,but maybe like so many other things it just never made it into the film?
Any help would be appreciated.

Amazing
Review date: 2007-04-06 Rating: 10 out of 10

The presentation of this film is breathtaking, having gone back to the original 55mm film negatives and recreated the film from scratch. The picture now looks cleaner and more colourful than you have ever seen it, and the sound is as if it was recorded yesterday. The second disc is packed with extras about the stars, the music, and even the remastering process. Regarding the comment left previously about the Overture and Intermission being removed for this DVD, the film here is shown as originally presented, without these items, which were only added later on, so what is on the disc is completely complete!

Restoration of a Classic Musical Movie
Review date: 2006-05-29 Rating: 8 out of 10

The restoration of this new issue of "The King and I" is nothing short of magnificent - the colours are really vibrant, and there is no hint of graininess or colour loss. A really beautiful job.

One thing however that strikes me as rather strange - I think this issue presents the movie as it would have been when it first went on General Release, as opposed to a RoadShow version. There is no Overture, no intermission (and therefore no intermission music) and no exit music. So ... if you have a previous edition of this DVD which contains these, don't ditch it!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Deborah Kerr
Rita Moreno
Martin Benson
Alan Mowbray
Yul Brynner

Creators:
Yul Brynner (Primary Contributor)
Deborah Kerr (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
EAN: 5039036025577
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: Anamorphic, Box set, PAL, Special Edition, Widescreen,
Release date: 2006-03-20
Aspect ratio: 2.55:1
Audience rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region code: 2
Running time: 128 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1956
Language: English (Original Language)

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