Over the years, we have continued to experience the magic of Broadway through unbelievable film adaptation our favorite musicals. Some were even an Animated makeover. Back in 1999, Warner Bros. Pictures and Morgan Creek Entertainment released a a full length cartoon adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein‘s timeless and legendary musical The King and I.
As we all know, the story of THE KING AND I is set in the medieval Kingdom of Siam (before it was renamed Thailand). It tells the story of “Anna Leonowens”, a British school teacher who has been hired to educate the royal children of a strict, stern, and very stubborn king (as part of the drive to modernize his country). It features all the notable Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II songs we know in love like I WHISTLE A HAPPY TUNE, GETTING TO KNOW YOU, I HAVE DREAMED, and SHALL WE DANCE.
This Animated version was only the 2nd time THE KING AND I was translated from stage to screen. The original version was released in 1956 starring Deborah Kerr and of course the legendary Yul Brynner (who won both the Tony and the Oscar for this musical).
With making this timeless musical an Animated film as family friendly, several songs from the stage version was cut and changes were updated to the storyline. Some of these changes included….
The love story of “Tuptim” was changetd to her falling in love with King’s eldest son “Prince Chualalongkorn”. Sadly, the role of “Lun Tha” was cut,
The removement of “Lady Thaing”,
“The Kralahome” being changed into becoming the main antagonist with his very own sidekick created for the Animated film named “Master Little”.
The changing of the ending as happy…… Instead of “The King” dying from a heart condition, he is injured in a battle against “The Kralahome” who tries to kill him. He lays in bed, recovers in a few days and they have their romantic dance,
and
The removement of THE SMALL HOUSE OF UNCLE THOMAS BALLET, WE KISS IN A SHADOW, and SOMETHING WONDERFUL. SHADOW and WONDERFUL however was heard in the end credits and performed by Barbra Streisand.
It also featured several roles being double casted (both for acting and singing). Under the direction of Richard Rich and a screenplay by Peter Bakalian, Jacqueline Feather, and David Seidler, the voice over cast included….
Oscar nominee Miranda Richardson (with Tony nominee Christiane Nolls singing voice) as “Anna Leonowens”,
Martin Vidnovic (who previously played “Lun Tha” in the 1977 Broadway revival) as “The King”,
Armi Arabe (with Tracy Venner Warren’s singing voice) as “Tuptim”,
Allen D. Hong (with David Burnham’s singing voice”) as “Prince Chualalongkorn”,
Tony nominee Ian Richardson as “The Kralahome”,
Adam Wylie as “Louis Leonowens”,
and
Saturday Night Live favorite Darrell Hammond as “Master Little”.
The Animated film was a huge flop receiving negative reviews and was a huge box office bomb.
Ironically when this Animated film came out, 8 months later came another adaptation of THE KING AND I….. based on the original story that inspired the musical….. Anna and the King.
Check out the trailer below.
Who remembers this Animated version of THE KING AND I?
