The King and I

Name: The King and I
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance, Musical
Released: June 29, 1956
Duration: 133 min
Rating: 72
Cast: Alan Mowbray, Carlos Rivas, Deborah Kerr, Geoffrey Toone, Martin Benson

1956

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Ratings

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The King And I

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox | Release Date: June 29, 1956 | Approved

Starring: Alan Mowbray, Carlos Rivas, Deborah Kerr, Geoffrey Toone, Martin Benson, Patrick Adiarte, Rex Thompson, Rita Moreno, Terry Saunders, Yul Brynner

Summary: A widow accepts a job as a live-in governess to the King of Siam's children.

Director: Walter Lang

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Romance, Musical

Rating: Approved

Runtime: 133 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Bosley Crowther

Every bit of the humor and vibrant humanity that flowed through the tender story of the English school-teacher and the quizzical king is richly preserved in the screen play that Ernest Lehman has prepared. Read full review

100

Staff (Not Credited)

All the ingredients that made Rodgers & Hammerstein's [1951] The King and I a memorable stage experience have been faithfully transferred to the screen. The result is a pictorially exquisite, musically exciting, and dramatically satisfying motion picture. Read full review

100

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Even without the music, this well-written story would be a splendid entertainment. But it's the music, that wonderful score written by Rodgers and Hammerstein, that makes this movie as beloved as it is. Read full review

Tom Shales

Director Walter Lang does almost nothing to cinematize the show, but that's all right; King and I works fine as an act of theatrical preservation, and at some strange level the story, even with its abrupt ending, still has power. [27 Feb 1992, p.D7]

Geoff Andrew

Poor songs (Hello Young Lovers, Getting to Know You), fair choreography, poor script, nice photography. Read full review

Dave Kehr

A typically overproduced 1956 Fox film of the Rodgers and Hammerstein hit, with Yul Brynner as the king and Deborah Kerr as the British schoolteacher who comes to Siam to educate Brynner's army of children. Too long at 133 minutes, but the score is swell. Read full review

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User Reviews

Bitash

Dec 12, 2021

I’m not a musical fan, besides Sound of Music of course. The beginning was a bit painful with the singing but as soon as Yul Bruner comes in the scene, he Carrie’s the whole movie. He’s just fantastic, he sounds the part, looks the part…great costumes. It’s a classic and must see speciallyI’m not a musical fan, besides Sound of Music of course. The beginning was a bit painful with the singing but as soon as Yul Bruner comes in the scene, he Carrie’s the whole movie. He’s just fantastic, he sounds the part, looks the part…great costumes. It’s a classic and must see specially if your are a Yul.B fan.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Plengl

Dec 6, 2019

Fabulous acting, fabulous score and palpable chemistry between the two main leads. He puts her hand on her waist, he puts her hands behind her back. That’s it and the sexual tension could be cut with a knife. Brilliant movie that deserves more recognition than it receives.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Dostoyevsky3

May 5, 2020

With Beautiful costumes, electrifying performances, and a sweet and powerful story. The King and I succeeds technically as well as it does thematically.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Tru_lie13

Jul 11, 2020

Expiores a wealth of topics that are still relevant today. Great script and fantastic visuals.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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