I doubt if there's anyone out there who hasn't seen at least a few seconds of the famous dance sequence from The King and I. Ironically, "Shall We Dance" is the only song in the musical that doesn't advance or really have anything to do with the story. Deborah Kerr's purplish-gold dress and Yul Brynner's shaved head are the two iconic images most people remember from the movie.
In case you didn't know, it's the musical version of Anna and the King of Siam, which was based on the true story of Anna Leonowens. Deborah Kerr, with the help of Marni Nixon's excellent singing voice, takes the lead as the stubborn English governess in one of her most memorable roles. Yul Brynner, who also played the part on Broadway, won an Oscar for this movie, forever forcing actors who played the King in later years to shave their heads in homage to the original.
The King and I is the type of movie that will reinforce your opinion of musicals, whatever it is. If you love musicals, you'll revel in the lavish costumes, production designs, and familiar Rodgers and Hammerstein songs. If you hate musicals, you'll roll your eyes during the less-than-stellar songs, mentally check out while trying to decipher Yul's accent, and fall asleep during the silly love story between Rita Moreno and Carlos Rivas.
It's not my favorite musical-and I am a huge fan of the genre-but I do own a copy and enjoy watching it from time to time. Deborah is dressed in some beautiful gowns, and the dance sequence "The Small House of Uncle Thomas" is fantastic. Plus, a perpetually shirtless, attractive man in the lead is always a benefit, and "Shall We Dance" is such an iconic number, it's impossible not to get goosebumps every time you watch it.
In case you didn't know, it's the musical version of Anna and the King of Siam, which was based on the true story of Anna Leonowens. Deborah Kerr, with the help of Marni Nixon's excellent singing voice, takes the lead as the stubborn English governess in one of her most memorable roles. Yul Brynner, who also played the part on Broadway, won an Oscar for this movie, forever forcing actors who played the King in later years to shave their heads in homage to the original.
The King and I is the type of movie that will reinforce your opinion of musicals, whatever it is. If you love musicals, you'll revel in the lavish costumes, production designs, and familiar Rodgers and Hammerstein songs. If you hate musicals, you'll roll your eyes during the less-than-stellar songs, mentally check out while trying to decipher Yul's accent, and fall asleep during the silly love story between Rita Moreno and Carlos Rivas.
It's not my favorite musical-and I am a huge fan of the genre-but I do own a copy and enjoy watching it from time to time. Deborah is dressed in some beautiful gowns, and the dance sequence "The Small House of Uncle Thomas" is fantastic. Plus, a perpetually shirtless, attractive man in the lead is always a benefit, and "Shall We Dance" is such an iconic number, it's impossible not to get goosebumps every time you watch it.