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The King and I (1999 film)
Encyclopedia
The King and I is a 1999 animated film adaptation of the stage musical The King and I
, which in turn is adapted from the Anna Leonowens
story. The film was produced by Warner Bros. Animation
and Morgan Creek Productions
, and released theatrically by Warner Bros. Family Entertainment
on March 19, 1999. The animation was done by the Indian company Pentamedia Graphics and the US-based Rich Animation Studios in association with Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment
. This is Morgan Creek's first animated feature film.
. The film was also a box office flop. It took in $4,007,565 in its opening weekend, taking the #6 spot at the box office,but only managed to gross nearly $12 million at the box office. As a result, the estates of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein have now refused to allow any of their other musicals to be made into animated features forever.
The King and I
The King and I is a stage musical, the fifth by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The work is based on the 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon and derives from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, who became governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in...
, which in turn is adapted from the Anna Leonowens
Anna Leonowens
Anna Leonowens was an English travel writer, educator, and social activist. She worked in Siam from 1862 to 1868, where she taught the wives and children of Mongkut, king of Siam. She also co-founded the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design...
story. The film was produced by Warner Bros. Animation
Warner Bros. Animation
Warner Bros. Animation is the animation division of Warner Bros., a subsidiary of Time Warner. The studio is closely associated with the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies characters, among others. The studio is the successor to Warner Bros...
and Morgan Creek Productions
Morgan Creek Productions
Morgan Creek Productions is an American film studio that has released box-office hits like Young Guns, Dead Ringers, Major League, True Romance, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The King and I, The Crush, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and others. The studio was co-founded in 1987 by James G...
, and released theatrically by Warner Bros. Family Entertainment
Warner Bros. Family Entertainment
Warner Bros. Family Entertainment is the family film label of Warner Bros., established in 1992. It is best-known for producing numerous family films and television series in either live-action or animation .-History:The division was founded in 1992 to produce more family-friendly films.The first...
on March 19, 1999. The animation was done by the Indian company Pentamedia Graphics and the US-based Rich Animation Studios in association with Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment
Rankin/Bass
Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc. , also known as Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment, was an American production company, known for its seasonal television specials, particularly its work in stop-motion animation. The pre-1974 library is currently owned by Classic Media,while the post-1974 library is...
. This is Morgan Creek's first animated feature film.
Synopsis
The story follows an a young Englishwoman who travels to the Siam to become the King's royal schoolteacher in the 1860s. A clash of cultures occurs when the strong-minded Anna Leonowens brings a different way of thinking to the King of Siam and the many children in the royal academy.Voice cast
- Miranda RichardsonMiranda RichardsonMiranda Jane Richardson is an English stage, film and television actor. She has been nominated for two Academy Awards, and has won two Golden Globes and a BAFTA during her career....
- Anna LeonowensAnna LeonowensAnna Leonowens was an English travel writer, educator, and social activist. She worked in Siam from 1862 to 1868, where she taught the wives and children of Mongkut, king of Siam. She also co-founded the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design...
(speaking) - Christiane NollChristiane NollChristiane Noll is an American singer and actress known for her work in musicals and on the concert stage. She is perhaps best known for originating the role of Emma Carew in Frank Wildhorn's Jekyll & Hyde, as well as her roles in Urinetown and City of Angels.-Life and career:Noll was born in New...
- Anna LeonowensAnna LeonowensAnna Leonowens was an English travel writer, educator, and social activist. She worked in Siam from 1862 to 1868, where she taught the wives and children of Mongkut, king of Siam. She also co-founded the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design...
(singing) - Martin VidnovicMartin VidnovicMartin Vidnovic is an American actor and singer.Born in Falls Church, Virginia, Vidnovic made his Broadway debut in the ill-fated Home Sweet Homer which, following a one-year tour, closed on opening night...
- The King of SiamMongkutPhra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Mongkut Phra Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama IV, known in foreign countries as King Mongkut , was the fourth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1851-1868... - Ian RichardsonIan RichardsonIan William Richardson CBE was a Scottish actor best known for his portrayal of the Machiavellian Tory politician Francis Urquhart in the BBC's House of Cards trilogy. He was also a leading Shakespearean stage actor....
- The Kralahome - Darrell HammondDarrell HammondDarrell Hammond is an American actor, stand-up comedian and impressionist. He was a regular on Saturday Night Live from 1995 until 2009, the longest tenure of any cast member. Upon his departure, Hammond, at age 53, was the oldest cast member in the show's history...
- Master Little - Allen D. Hong - Prince ChulalongkornChulalongkornPhra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama V was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang . He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam...
(speaking) - David Burnham - Prince Chululongkorn (singing)
- Armi Arabe - Tuptim (speaking)
- Tracy Venner Warren - Tuptim (singing)
- Adam WylieAdam WylieAdam Augustus Wylie is an American television and motion picture actor, as well as a Broadway musical performer and a former Crayola spokesman.-Early life:...
- Louis Leonowens - Sean Smith - Sir Edward Ramsay
Critical and Box office response
The film received mainly negative reviews with a 13% "Rotten" rating on Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
. The film was also a box office flop. It took in $4,007,565 in its opening weekend, taking the #6 spot at the box office,but only managed to gross nearly $12 million at the box office. As a result, the estates of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein have now refused to allow any of their other musicals to be made into animated features forever.