CS Weekly Archive > DVD of the Day > 7/01/05

Dramatic License

by jason davis

Talbot Jennings and Sally Benson
Based on the biography by Margaret Landon

An account of Anna Leonowens's (Irene Dunne) tenure as English mistress to the King of Siam's (Rex Harrison) many wives and children, Anna and the King of Siam is a marvelous character study that illustrates the personalities of the title characters through their conflict with each other. Starting off on the wrong foot, the two individuals slowly begin to understand what the other wants and needs and, in so doing, finds that aiding the other betters their own situation. Though the film proceeds from Anna's perspective with revelations of the King's strange foreign ways unveiled throughout the first act, it quickly evolves into a two-hander where each party is given their moment of attention before their aims are rebutted by the other. The relationship is a skillful dance of give and take that moves the story at an unexpected clip, but never feels rushed or contrived. An A&E Biography on Leonowens sheds light on the dramatic license taken in the adaptation of the movie while suggesting similar liberties the factual woman may have taken with her own tale of her Siamese sojourn.

Anna and the King of Siam
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Not rated; 128 min.
$14.98

Buy it now for only $13.48 (save 10%)

At the age of 21, Jason Davis was hit in the face with a car. He has since devoted his life to writing. His words have appeared on TBS, MSN.com, and CS Weekly, where he serves as DVD Coordinator. He lives in Burbank.

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