Anna and the King of Siam (1946)

Parents Guide:

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Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 August 1946 (UK) See more »

Also Known As:

Anna und der König von Siam See more »

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden - 301 N. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, California, USA See more »

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation See more »

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Trivia

While most of the Caucasian actors playing Asians in this film wore dark make-up, Gale Sondergaard was allergic to the make-up being used. Instead, through several weeks of cautious sunbathing, she acquired a deep enough tan to compensate. See more »

Goofs

Anachronisms: The banquet scene includes a performance of Siamese theatrical dance. However, the music which accompanies this performance is unmistakably Balinese gamelan, not Siamese. Furthermore, it's "gong kebyar" style, which hadn't been invented yet in the 1860s. See more »

Quotes

Kralahome: [the Kralahome has just arrived to tell King Mongkut of the loss of Cambodia. Anna, meanwhile, continues to press the King about the issue of a private residence, to the point where even the King's staff members are singing "Home, Sweet Home"] Your Majesty! It has begun, Toongramon. We've lost Cambodia. Our governor of Cambodia has made a treaty with the French government. They have recognized Cambodia as independent of Siam, placed it under their "protection," and this governor of ours still protests his loyalty to Your Majesty.
King Mongkut: So, a camel's nose is in the tent. The partition of Siam, it has begun.
Kralahome: For a long time, we've said this hour must come. Now it is no longer talk. It is upon us. What do we do?
King Mongkut: Nothing. We shall do nothing whatever in this matter... because there is nothing we can do.
Kralahome: Your father took such a man once and burned out both his eyes, hung him in the sun in a cage over cool running water, until he went mad.
King Mongkut: [Heartbroken, yes resigned] We have not the right to waste ourselves on something which cannnot be changed. We shall save what strength and cunning we may have to hold together what is left of Siam. And if we cannot save all that is left, we shall save what we can.
Kralahome: [after a long pause] Tell me something Toongramon. A long time ago, I came to you and asked you to leave a life of peace, and to be King. If I could ask you now to make that choice, what would your answer be? Think well before you answer that. Think what this can mean to you.
King Mongkut: You feel great responsibility for me, don't you, Chow Koon?
Kralahome: You might still be living peacefully at the monastery if I had not persuaded you. Perhaps it is not too late to return. Think well on that. The monastery instead of this place, where you have only enemies and danger. Well, you know this is not the end. The ships of Europe will crowd thicker on our seas, greedy for conquest. They have the power... and the cunning. They know how to set your nobles against you, how to buy and threaten them. How can you hope to hold Siam together against enemies without and within? All that it can mean to you is that, in the end, you will die in a lost cause.
[pause]
[...]
See more »

Connections

Referenced in The Making of 'My Fair Lady' (1995) See more »

Soundtracks

"Alphabet Song for Toddlers"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung by the King's children learning the English alphabet See more »