tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post478630887224250397..comments2024-03-27T21:42:56.131-05:00Comments on 1001plus: I MIssed the MusicSJHoneywellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-55361764688922683462016-02-22T09:16:14.455-06:002016-02-22T09:16:14.455-06:00I think it's likely that I would have liked th...I think it's likely that I would have liked this more had I seen it first, but my expectations were naturally colored by having seen the big, colorful musical before this. Rex Harrison is good, but no one could compete with Brynner in this role in the history of ever. But, as I say above, I genuniely prefer Dunne over Kerr despite Kerr winning a nomination and Dunne being overlooked. <br /><br />You may (or may not) have noticed that I did not classify this as a romance. <i>The King and I</i> definitely is one, but the romantic angle isn't played up here. It leads to a very different overall feel for the story. <br /><br />There's a lot to like here, but given the choice, I'll take the pageantry. SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-57343020936438587282016-02-22T00:10:11.854-06:002016-02-22T00:10:11.854-06:00I love The King and I but it's such a strange ...I love The King and I but it's such a strange experience watching that one versus this. In ways they seem films telling similar stories rather than different versions of the same tale. <br /><br />The King and I while it has its moments of sadness is by and large a bittersweet romance with beautiful songs, charismatic leads, vivid colors and amazing production design. While it would have been nice if this one was in color the black & white suits the more somber pitch of the story, a lot of which was removed in the adaptation to music, especially true with Tuptim. In this she's a major player in the rethink her role is diminished and she just sort of disappears after a certain point.<br /><br />The casting of non-Asians was so prevalent then it didn't both me that every single character was filled that way. I agree that Yul Brynner owns the role but I saw this first which helped me appreciate Rex's take on the part without the extra baggage of Yul's inimitability. He comes across closer to what an absolute ruler's temperament would be. Dunne and Kerr's readings are both excellent but quite different. <br /><br />I like Linda Darnell's proud take on Tuptim more than Rita Moreno's more girlish one, like Rex's it seems more in character for someone raised with her beauty and in the upbringing we're too infer she had. The fact that she falls for someone she's not intended for wouldn't totally displace years of training. <br /><br />In a sad bit of foreshadowing Linda Darnell was slightly burnt during Tuptim's climatic scene adding to her lifelong fear of fire, she had it put in her contract from that point that her characters weren't to be in serious peril from fire, tragically that is how her life ended years later.<br /><br />I watch the musical more often but this is a very good film. joel65913https://www.blogger.com/profile/14526657073681774683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-54642368745924110312016-02-21T18:48:42.917-06:002016-02-21T18:48:42.917-06:00Surprisingly, he's pretty good, but yea, it...Surprisingly, he's pretty good, but yea, it's a little weird.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-81810060074193220532016-02-21T13:32:17.504-06:002016-02-21T13:32:17.504-06:00So I've seen The King and I (and was in the sh...So I've seen The King and I (and was in the show in high school) and I was reading your review, in the back of my mind wondering who played various roles, and suddenly ::record scratch:: Rex Harrison?!? Rex "I couldn;t be more British if I tried" Harrison?<br /><br />Wow. What a casting choice.Ipecachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15157560182505626755noreply@blogger.com