The King and I (50th Anniversary Edition)
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Movie Reviews of The King and I (50th Anniversary Edition)
Movie Review: The King and I finally gets the royal treatment on DVD.
Summary: 5 Stars
In 1999, Fox released all of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals on DVD - mostly in non-anamorphic widescreen DVDs that were very light on bonus materials. (The exception was The Sound of Music, which was released in single-disc fullscreen and anamorphic widescreen versions. In 2000, a 2-Disc "Five Star Collection" DVD of TSOM was released. This DVD is now out of print, as is the repackaged version with the same discs in a cardboard digipack, in favor of the newly restored 40th Anniversary Edition.) These DVDs were not restored, although THX remastered them for DVD.
In 2005, Fox started releasing all six movies in newly restored and remastered 2-Disc editions. Much controversy has surrounded these releases - particularly Oklahoma's Todd-AO transfer on the 50th Anniversary Edition, as well as the lack of restoration on the film elements being spliced back into the roadshow version included on the Collector's Edition of South Pacific. (The only one of these DVDs not labeled an anniversary edition.)
However, I just recieved and watched The King and I: 50th Anniversary Edition DVD today as a Christmas present, and suffice it to say, this DVD edition of The King and I is completely flawless.
The most important part of this DVD, naturally, is the film, and what a glorious way to view it! Presented in its original 2.55:1 aspect ratio and anamorphically enhanced, this is the best video version ever. This version has been restored from the original 1956 Cinemascope 55 film elements, for the sharpest, clearest, and most vibrantly colored transfer of this film to be seen since its original release. The film is not only presented with a digitally restored 5.1 Dolby Digital stereo track and the original restored 2-channel stereo soundtrack, but they also included a wonderful extra - the isolated music score, which finally allows you to hear the complete entire score of the film, including the instrumentals of the songs. (I believe, however, that We Kiss In A Shadow still has vocals on this track.) Also included is an audio commentary that I've not yet listened to.
Disc 2 houses the major bonus features of the set, and they seem to either hit or miss. The "Something Wonderful: The Story Of The King and I" featurette could have discussed the film a little more and been a little longer, but instead, is a short 25-minute featurette that focuses mainly on the Broadway production. However, the "Restoring Cinemascope 55" featurette gives good insight to the restorations of The King and I and Carousel, the only two films to my knowledge ever to be filmed in Cinemascope 55.
As with most of the new 2-Disc Rodgers and Hammerstein DVDs, we're given "Vintage Stage Excerpts," performances of one or more songs from the shows on TV before there was even a film. This time, we get to see Broadway stars Patricia Morison and Yul Brynner singing Getting To Know You and A Puzzlement in grainy black-and-white kinescope, introduced by the one and only Mary Martin, perhaps best known for her portrayal of Nellie in the original cast of South Pacific, Maria in the original cast of The Sound of Music, and, of course, the title role in the original Broadway cast and multiple TV broadcasts of Peter Pan. This is a wonderful little bonus feature to include on the DVD, as it gives us a glimpse of what it may have been like to see The King and I on Broadway back then.
Also included is a photo stills recreation of one of the deleted songs, Shall I Tell You What I Think Of You. I don't know what purpose this serves, as it's been available on every soundtrack release. However, we get to see lovely photos of Deborah Kerr, so maybe it's not a total waste. Not to mention it's a wonderful song.
Possibly the most interesting bonus feature on this set is the TV pilot of the unsuccessful 1972 TV series, Anna and the King, with Yul Brynner once again as The King and Samantha Eggar as Anna "Owens." The pilot was more or less a non-musical time-compressed version of The King and I. The series sadly lasted only nine episodes before cancellation. I haven't completely watched it yet, so what I've said is simply based on the chapter skipping I did. Eggar also provides audio commentary for the pilot.
To sum everything up, this DVD does wonderful justice to The King and I. A beautiful transfer of the film with beautiful crisp restored sound, a big mixed bag of bonus materials, isolated musical score, an option to only watch the film's wonderful musical numbers, sing-along subtitles, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. A DVD I'd suggest to any fan of the film.
Movie Review: Beautiful musical
Summary: 5 Stars
A true musical theater classic. Wonderful melodies that will last for years to come.
Other classics not to forget about are:
Mary Poppins
My Fair Lady
The Wizard of Oz
Chitty Chitty Bang Band
The first Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The Sound of Music
Oliver
West Side Story
Fiddler on the Roof
Singing in the Rain
The Wiz
Little Mermaid
Aladdin
Beauty and the Beast
Grease
The King and I
Oklahoma
The Music Man
South Pacific
My Voice Students are always asking me for recommendations so I though I'd post it for all! We can't forget about these great musicals!
Movie Review: Missing Songs
Summary: 4 Stars
Like Samantha Wiggins, I am saddened beyond belief at the missing songs, especially Shall I Tell You What I Think of You, which is essential to the story since she sings it in anger right before Lady Thiang comes to ask her to help the King, about whom Anna was just raging about. Every song in this film was pertinent to the story and it makes it unbearable for me to watch. But the sets and the singing (Marni Nixon did sing for Kerr, as she dubbed Natalie Woods' voice in West Side Story) are magnificent.
I'd give it 5 but for the missing songs, which I remember hearing when I saw the movie on its original release.
Movie Review: Oh, no! Fox has made another R&H-blunder!
Summary: 4 Stars
It's finally here! The so-called definitive version of this lovely classic has now been restored AGAIN from the surviving 55mm negative, and there is indeed cause for cheers. Yes, it is now finally anamorphic on DVD! And yes, it looks absolutely gorgeous! Better color, sharpness and contrast than the old DVD issued in 1999 - and that one still looks quite impressive thanks to THX, although sadly non-anamorphic. Even so, the new one looks superior and has lots more bonus material!
But now a sad warning: If you own the old DVD and want this beauty of a film in its complete roadshow version - keep it by all means! The new 50th Anniversary Edition lacks the Overture, the Intermission Music and the Exit Music!
Incredible! And all that lush music was available on the 1999 DVD! What goes on in the heads of the people in charge at Fox? After the fiasco with the Todd-AO "Oklahoma!" recently, Fox should very well know by now that fans of these Rodgers & Hammerstein-films are not likely to accept inferior and sloppy product. Here's a loud and clear boo aimed at Fox Home Video top brass from one fan! Get yourselves new jobs outside the entertainment industry and leave the DVD-business to smart film lovers who are also responsible professionals!
Movie Review: Rodgers and Hammerstein at their best!
Summary: 5 Stars
one of my favorite movies and musicals of all time - and props to Marni Nixon, who i'm pretty sure is the woman dubbing Deborah Kerr's songs.
The music is wonderful, sure to stick in your head for hours afterwards, and the story is even more fantastic because based on real events!