Year of Release: 1946Country of Origin: USA
Director: John Cromwell
Cast: Irene Dunne, Rex Harrison, Linda Darnell
Plot outline: A strong-willed English widow shows the stubborn King of Siam how to live in the modern world (IMDb).
Based on the popular biography written by Margaret Landon about Anna Leonowens who served as governess at the Siamese court in the early 1860s, this movie should be vastly attractive to those who respectably delight in the idealized picture of a female whose splendid qualities accomplish worthy ends. For Irene Dunne plays the fabled governess briskly and winsomely, and the whole pattern of her characterization is designed to show her strength of mind and will. As the gentle and proud English widow who is considerably shocked and outraged at the feudal customs of Siam, who stubbornly refuses to grovel before the masterful king and who spends several years in rather charming and occasionally brutal tilting with him, Miss Dunne makes a regular bandbox heroine. She carries her bonneted head high, demonstrates wit with pretty modesty and eventually drops a tender, touching tear. Her lady is on a level with some that Greer Garson has played. But it is really in the performance of Rex Harrison as the king and in the cunning conception of his character that the charm of the picture lies. For this king is a most exceptional person, as was well indicated in the book; he is strangely desirous for enlightenment and for progress, while preserving feudal rules. And his quaintly eccentric nature, his difficult comprehensions of new thought, his pride and his poignant humility supply the humor and appeal in this movie. The fact that Mr. Harrison is able to play the role with rare personality and authority while wearing some of the silliest costumes - droopy bloomers, spiked headgears and silken jerkins - manifests the exceptional talent that he has. The script does not follow the line of the book, and certainly the extravagant decorations are a bit beyond the span of that report. A few of the characters, such as Linda Darnell's Tuptim and Gale Sondergaard's Lady Thiang are elaborate and conventional "Hollywood". So, too, is the saccharine cuteness of some of the palace tots and Richard Lyon's stiffly self-conscious performance of the governess' own son. Director John Cromwell is responsible for much of the over-doing here. But Lee J. Cobb is quietly commanding as his majesty's chief ministers and Mikhail Rasumny is amusing and attractive as a much put-upon court scribe. They contribute - along with Mr. Harrison - to the qualities which make this movie worthwhile. (NYT)
My judgement: *** out of 4 stars
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