Based on a true story, John Cromwell's ANNA AND THE KING OF SIAM stars Irene Dunne as Anna Owens, a recently widowed young mother who accepts employment as the governess for King Mongkut of Siam (Rex Harrison). In Siam, she finds that her highly intelligent employer is also a backward tyrant with a childlike temperament. Using her strength of will and getting help from the king's first wife, Lady Thiang (Gale Sondergaaard), Anna tries to transform the king and educate his children while also preserving her own dignity. Film studio 20th Century Fox left no stones unturned in this lavish, brilliant production. Exquisite sets, costumes, and cinematography combine with a witty, rich script and an impeccable performance by Dunne to make this one of the most enduring films of the 1940s. Director John Cromwell (THE PRISONER OF ZENDA, OF HUMAN BONDAGE) deftly blends comedy and tragedy to create a masterpiece that transcends time and cultural boundaries. The film was remade several times, most famously as the Yul Brynner-led musical extravaganza THE KING AND I.

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