Anna and the King of Siam (film)

Anna and the King of Siam is a 1946 drama film directed by John Cromwell. An adaptation of the 1944 novel of the same name by Margaret Landon, it was based on the fictionalized diaries of Anna Leonowens, an AngloIndian woman who claimed to be British and became governess in the Royal Court of Siam now modern Thailand during the 1860s. Darryl F. Zanuck read Landons book in galleys and immediately bought the film rights.

The portrayal of Tuptim in Anna and the King of Siam, is considerably less sympathetic than in the musical version The King and I, as the 1946 film shows animosity between Tuptim and Anna, while the musical makes her into a romantic character. Also, Tuptim is ultimately executed cruelly by the king, following an episode in Leonowenss book, while in the musical, her fate is made ambiguous.Anna Owens Irene Dunne and her son Louis Richard Lyon arrive in Bangkok in 1862 to tutor the Kings Rex Harrison children. She believes she is sufficiently acquainted with Asian customs to know what is proper in Siam, having read a book summarizing the same. However, when the Kralahome or Prime Minister Lee J. Cobb comes out to welcome her, he asks her a number of personal questions, and she does not know that this is common courtesy in Siam. Her letter from the King asking her to come to Siam includes a promise that she will have a house of her own away from the Palace, but the Kralahome says she will have to stay in the harem for now although shell have a private room there. ........

Source: Wikipedia