Customer Reviews

The King And I: From The Soundtrack Of The Motion Picture (1956 Film) [Soundtrack]

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This so-called expanded CD of THE KING AND I is not nearly as good as it could have been mainly because the source used for this CD is plagued with Foley effects and dialogue which don't make much sense separated from the visual elements of the film and actually detract from the musical enjoyment of this great score.

The original discrete stereophonic "music and vocal only" separation soundtracks for the KING AND I (also CAROUSEL, OKLAHOMA and SOUTH PACIFIC) are in the 20th. Century Fox studio vaults and could have been made available to the producers for these re-masterings if anyone had cared enough to ask. In fact, the deluxe laserdisc of THE KING AND I contained a CD of about 76 minutes including the complete vocal score and Alfred Newman's excellent underscoring, all completely free of extraneous sound effects and dialogue. Why weren't these tracks used for this CD release? These performances are important enough to use the best and cleanest sound source in existence and I don't think it is childish to comment on this omission. These original tracks should have been used exclusively for the expanded versions of these albums. The end result would have much more musically pleasing. As a long time audiophile myself I don't think this is asking too much and other Amazon reviewers of musical soundtracks in which the producer of this CD, Didier C. Deutsch, was involved have commented on the sound effect and dialogue snippets that marred the expanded versions of WEST SIDE STORY and MY FAIR LADY.

I can't imagine any intelligent person who would want these intrusions on a music only recording if an alternate source without them were readily available.

This recording of THE KING AND I as well as the film soundtracks of CAROUSEL and OKLAHOMA are musically the finest recorded performances of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musicals. These recordings deserve and could have gotten a far better sonic presentation than the producers and EMI-Angel gave them. I certainly don't expect everyone to agree with my personal observations concerning these releases. That is what this forum is all about, after all and from a musical standpoint I cannot recommend these soundtracks more highly. I just wish the producers had been more careful in their execution of these releases.

This new remastering job for the film soundtrack of THE KING AND I is long-overdue, but has been well worth the wait. Angel Broadway have outdone themselves.

The CD features all the musical numbers (including those cut from the film), some of the background incidental music as well as some of the dance music. But the highlight is the complete music for "The Small House of Uncle Thomas" ballet is included (oh happy day).

This score (like many of the R&H movie-versions) features a lot of dubbed voices. Deborah Kerr's was dubbed by popular Hollywood ghost-singer Marni Nixon (who would go on to dub for her again the following year in 'An Affair to Remember'). Carlos Rivas (who played Lun-Tha), had voice double Reuben Fuentes, and Rita Moreno's (who played the tragic Tuptim) voice was dubbed by Leona Gordon (despite that on many occasions Moreno has insisted that it is her own voice).

Terry Saunders remains a revelation as Lady Thiang, singing a heartfelt "Something Wonderful", and Yul Brynner, direct from the Broadway run, shows a new maturity of voice compared to the original Broadway cast-album.

The original session tapes have been cleaned up for this recording (there is a small amount of hiss and click, but with cast recordings this is quite normal), and the extensive liner notes are a fascinating read.

Highly recommended.

Of the three recent EMI-Angel R&H film soundtrack reissues, I find that this reissue of the King & I soundtrack is the best-executed. The King and I shows a new maturing of the R&H element and this superb 1956 film adaptation more than certainly does it justice. The superb soundtrack presented here includes the complete score, along with some of Alfred Newman's underscoring, and boasts splendid performances by Marni Nixon and Yul Brynner. And of course the orchestra is sumptuous and properly lush, enveloping us in sweltering renditions of some of Rodgers' most heartfelt melodies.

I won't reiterate the critic-proof performances here. Other reviewers have covered them elsewhere. Nixon as a voice-dubber is in her element as Anna, and portrays her characterfully. Brynner is in his element as the King, as firm, commanding and authoritative as we've always known him to be. This performance shows him at his best, ripe, fresh and mature. Leona Gordon and Reuben Fuentes shine as the star-crossed lovers Tuptim and Lun Tha, bringing a melancholic quality to their brief numbers. It's really a treat to hear their renditions of the omitted songs My Lord and Master and I Have Dreamed. Rita Moreno as the real Tuptim acquits herself well when narrating the Uncle Tom's Cabin ballet sequence, presented for the first time on an official soundtrack recording. It's good to also hear Terry Saunders as Lady Thiang, in a heartfelt, humane and imploring rendition of Something Wonderful, and she is the icing on the cake of this superb soundtrack recording.

This EMI-Angel R&H soundtrack offers an extra benefit in addition to the extra musical sequences. Unlike the companion CDs of Oklahoma and Carousel, it presents the extra material from the original unmixed studio vault masters, except for the Prayer to Buddha and the Uncle Tom's Cabin ballet. This means that this reissue is blessedly free of the extraneous sound effects that plague the Oklahoma and Carousel CDs. I know that the sound effects and little snippets of dialogue drown out the music, but at least these reissues are a start in presenting comprehensive R&H soundtracks worthy of their films. What a pity that none of these R&H soundtrack reissues aren't 2-CD sets, otherwise we would have been able to hear the underscore.

In short, this is a superb presentation of a fine R&H film soundtrack.

The film version of "The King and I" is one of the best (and best-loved) filmizations of a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, and for good reason. With that wonderful, melodic score so superbly orchestrated, Yul Brynner magnificently recreating his (and I do mean HIS) stage role of the King, and the wonderful Deborah Kerr as Anna, how can you miss? The soundtrack of the film is equally good, with the lovely orchestrations and performances of the songs retained beautifully. Marni Nixon, the legendary "ghost singer," dubs Deborah Kerr, in her most successful assignment to date as far as integrating her voice with Kerr's goes, (magnificently demonstrated in "Shall I Tell You What I Think of You," a great song unfortunatly cut from the film). She is also in peak voice, too, and sounds beautiful. Brynner's two songs, the great "A Puzzlement" and "Song of the King," are fine, as well, though he doesn't dominate the CD as he did the movie. But then, why complain about that, with so many other good things to make up for it? With such charming, beautiful songs as "Hello, Young Lovers," "Getting to Know You," and, of course, "Shall We Dance," all superbly performed by Nixon, as well as a good supporting cast of singers. Leona Gordon "augments" the voice of Rita Moreno's Tuptim, and though she falters a little bit when hitting the high notes of "My Lord and Master," (also cut from the film) otherwise her voice is beautiful, nicely bolestering a less-than-steller Reuben Feuntes (who dubbed Carlos Rivas's Lun Tha) during the beautiful "We Kiss In A Shadow" and "I Have Dreamed." (The last song, also cut; a shame) And Terry Saunders' Lady Thaing gives a beautiful, moving reading of "Something Wonderful," as well. One of the best recordings available of a classic R and H score, and not to be missed.

The movie soundtrack recording for the KING & I is the best available for this score. Mainly because of Alfred Newman's and Ken Darby's rich symphonic Oscar winning scoring. The cast is great also. Byrnner never sounded better and the Kerr/Nixon combination is expertly done. Its mostly Kerr's voice in SHALL I TELL YOU WHAT I THINK OF YOU, A song unfortunatly cut from the final release version. Carlos Rivas (LunTha) is also dubbed(by Ruben Fuetes), but does any one know if Rita Moreno used her own singing voice? The soundtrack recording differs from the film in many ways. The great symphonic OVERTURE, for some mysterious reason, was never part of the film. WHISTLE is longer on the album. LORD AND MASTER was recored and included in the album but was apprantly dropped from the final shooting script and never filmed. I HAVE DREAMED and the afore mentioned SHALL I TELL YOU were filmed and included in preview versions of the film but cut at the last minute prior to the offical premiere to achieve a shorter running time. SONG OF THE KING is a longer alternate version on the ST album. The special collector's laser disk issue of KING AND I included a limited 77 minute expanded version of the score. This included the original album along with generous portions of Newman's underscore. This "updated" version should replace the standard cd which has been available since 1956.

As I recall, the original 1956 LP release of THE KING AND I soundtrack was the first soundtrack to certify gold in its sales. It was originally released in mono and later in 1960 remixed for a stereo addition. Added here was Louis' voice in I WHISTLE A HAPPY TUNE and the actual whistles; lost was one and a half stanzas to GETTING TO KNOW YOU (remixed to feature only two renditions of the song, rather than the three and a half it gets in the film; combined were WE KISS IN A SHADOW and I HAVE DREAMED - heretofore discreet bands on the LP. What is new: The Main Title rendition of the March, Anna and the Royal Wives scene - Newman's wonderful underscoring only (this was used as an overture in the recent THX restoration print)-this segues neatly into the LP take of HELLO, YOUNG LOVERS; the Garden Rendezvous - again Newman's underscoring only, segueing into the LP take of WE KISS IN A SHADOW/I HAVE DREAMED with again Newman's underscoring to end of scene; Newman's underscoring of the Waltz; added music following the three LP stanzas of SHALL WE DANCE, seguing into the massive full orchestral rendition; Newman's underscoring for the Letter reading scene (which contains the musical into to the LP finale); more introductory music to the LP Finale; and two portions lifted from prints of the film itself as opposed to using background scoring tapes: PRAYER TO BUDDHA and THE SMALL HOUSE OF UNCLE THOMAS. Intact as heard on the original LP are: OVERTURE; I WHISTLE A HAPPY TUNE; MY LORD AND MASTER; MARCH OF THE SIAMESE CHILDREN; A PUZZLEMENT; SHALL I TELL YOU WHAT I THINK OF YOU?; GETTING TO KNOW YOU; SONG OF THE KING; SOMETHING WONDERFUL. It's marvelous sound and a more complete soundtrack than ever.

A few gripes though - we wish the Letter scene had started earlier with the high violin and ghostly rendition of GETTING TO KNOW YOU as Anna gazes out into the garden (a lovely piece of musical scoring) as well as giving us the atmospheric music accompanying Anna's first view of the King as Tuptim is presented to him (another masterstroke of scoring, setting not only the foreign dramatic tone in its orchestrations, but the hushed reverence in which we first see the King).

Also the liner notes have errors: 1. In the plot delineation with the numbers highlighted to show where they occur, I HAVE DREAMED is omitted; 2. The text states that three numbers were "omitted" without describing in detail their status (recorded but never filmed, partly scored, not filmed, filmed and deleted) as in the liner notes of the previous CD incarnation; 3. the writer can't count - stating the film was nominated for nine awards (it was nominated for ten) and stating it won seven (it won six)- where are the editors that should catch these things - even the writer should have been able to add up the categories he mentions and find his math wanting.

If you love the show and the film, add this to your CD library. It is one of Hollywood's finest aural hours.

I know I gave the CD four stars in my previous review, but after listening to a few other recordings, I have realised that THIS is the best. To start with, Yul Brynner has never sounded better, as he was just the right age at that time, and he had alot of experience too. Rita Moreno's singing was augmented by Leona Gordon, but it's hardly noticable. Moreno's/Gordon's soft, smoothe, gentle voice is very pleasent to the ear. MY LORD AND MASTER is Tuptim's solo, and WE KISS IN A SHADOW/I HAVE DREAMED are sung with Lun Tha, Carlos Rivas played Lun Tha in the movie, but his singing voice was dubbed by Rueben Fuentes, but it wasn't at all impressive(Rueben Fuentes is the only exception in this CD). Terry Saunders makes a really moving and convincing Lady Thiang. Just listen to her singing SOMETHING WONDERFUL. No one could have done it better. And last, but by NO means the least, comes Marni Nixon, who in my opinion, outshines EVERYONE. Many singers have sung for Anna Leonowens in many productions, but Nixon is by far the best. Just liten to her sing HELLO, YOUNG LOVERS, GETTING TO KNOW YOU, SHALL WE DANCE & I WHISTLE A HAPPY TUNE. Never in her life has she sounded more delightful, and I reckon that this was her most successful in dubbing. Her voice and Deborah Kerr's voice is so alike. SHALL I TELL YOU WHAT I THINK OF YOU is a Kerr/Nixon combination, and it's impossible to say where one stops and the other picks up. Believe me, out of the many versions of Anna Leonowen's songs in the many productions, these are the best, thanks to Marni Nixon and Deborah Kerr. Ofcourse, part of the credit goes to the excellent orchestrations and scoring by Ken, Darby and Alfred Newman who were at their very best. The orcehstrations and scoring in the original motion picture are the best, trust me. Ofcourse, MY LORD AND MASTER, SHALL I TELL YOU WHAT I THINK OF YOU & I HAVE DREAMED were cut off from the movie since they took up time, but once you've heard them, you'll keep wishing that they were NOT cut off, since they are equally wonderful. MY LORD AND MASTER is Tuptim's way of scorning the King's Pleasure at recieveing her as a gift from Burma. Tuptim and Lun Tha sing thier hopes and dreams in I HAVE DREAMED, and SHALL I TELL YOU WHAT I THINK OF YOU is Anna's soliloquy. Plus, the OVERTURE is an alternate version, and I WHISTLE A HAPPY TUNE & THE SONG OF THE KING are somewhat extended versions. A little booklet featuring full details on THE KING AND I is also another 'bonus'. So go ahead and buy this extraordinary CD. It's very well worth teh price and you won't be dissapointed...especially if you're a Marni Nixon fan.

The King And I soundtrack is presented magnificently on this excellent 76 minute CD. This CD offers us much music and vocals that were cut from the film as well as material that never made it to the record album release of the soundtrack back in 1956. We get stunning performances by giants including Yul Brynner, Terry Saunders and Marni Nixon. This CD is so complete and generous with it's treatment of the soundtrack that it must be considered as the definitive soundtrack edition of the music from The King And I.

The CD starts off with the music for the "main title" of the film; and this also serves as an appetizer to whet out appetites for what's to come. "I Whistle A Happy Tune" gives us Marni Nixon singing the vocals for Deborah Kerr; the melody is infectiously catchy; this song is one of the highlights of the CD. "My Lord And Master," performed by Leona Gordon who sang the vocals for Rita Moreno, is another masterpiece with a softness to it that belies the pain Rita's character Tuptim feels because she is separated from her one true love. "The March Of The Siamese Children" is performed by the 20th Century Fox Orchestra to perfection without a single superfluous note; the melody infuses this number with an Asian flavor as well.

Other gems on this CD--and that would, quite honestly, include every single track--include "Hello, Young Lovers" sung by Marni Nixon as Deborah Kerr's character Anna Leonowens laments a love gone awry back in England; the touching and heartrending "We Kiss In A Shadow;" Terry Saunders as Lady Thiang performing "Something Wonderful" with exceptional sensitivity and "Shall We Dance?" which is performed by Deborah Kerr, Marni Nixon and Yul Brynner. As you listen to numbers like "Shall We Dance?" that calls for Anna, played by Deborah Kerr, to speak and then sing, you will have a hard time discerning where Deborah Kerr leaves off speaking and Marni Nixon starts singing. It's THAT good.

As long as I include the words "Something Wonderful" when writing this review I must add that the extras you get are stupendous. As I stated above, the CD boasts much that the record album soundtrack never included. Indeed, we get music that didn't even make it to the final cut of the movie! I loved the beautiful and sensitive rendition of "The Small House Of Uncle Thomas" which was previously unreleased and "Shall I Tell You What I Think Of You" is a marvelous song--cut from the final edited edition of the film--that highlights Anna's contempt for the King's backward ways.

The CD package offers more still. Along with the CD comes a generous 32 page booklet with an extensive essay by Charles L. Granata that tells the history of both the stage play and the making of the stage play into a major motion picture at Fox. In addition, you get the song credits and there are rarely seen photographs as well.

The quality of the sound shines like solid gold. These performances reflect great sensitivity to the emotions each character felt. It is a special treat to listen to Yul Brynner's songs; he infuses each song and even every word with just the right emotions so that the listener experiences exactly what his character feels at every turn.

This CD is one of the very few that truly remind me of the old MGM logo which boasted of having "more stars than there are in the heavens." Indeed, five stars are nowhere near enough for this treasure. I highly recommend this CD for people who truly loved and appreciated The King And I both in its several onstage productions as well as on the big screen; and fans of show tunes will delight in this CD soundtrack with its' diamonds scattered broadly in all directions.

The 1956 soundtrack to the movie version of the musical "The King And I" is truely a classic.
The soundtrack has recently been remastered with a better sound quality, and bonus tracks, and most of all the complete movie version of the ballet "The Small House Of Uncle Thomas".

The soundtrack includes the voices Deborah Kerr and Marni Nixon as the singing voice of Anna. Marni dubbed the singing parts, and Deborah did the speaking parts of the songs.
Yul Brynner as the king. Rita Moreno and Leona Gordon as the singing voice of Tuptim. Leona Gordon slightly augmented some of Ritas parts on her songs. We have Terry Saunders as Lady Thiang. Ruben Fuentes who dubbed the singing voice of Carlos Rivas in the role of Lun Tha. And features Rex Thompson as Louis.
Those are all the voices you will hear on the soundtrack.

The soundtrack starts off with the Main Title. Next is Anna and Louis with "I Whistle A Happy Tune", where Anna teaches her son what do when afraid. Next is the beautiful "My Lord And Master" sung by Tuptim, where Tuptim sings how this King knows nothing about her, and how he may think shes just for him, he'll never know she loves another man. Rita Moreno does a beautiful job with the song and sadly was cut out of the movie. Next is "The March Of The Siamese Children", where the children are presented to Anna. Next is the underscoring of "Anna And The Royal Wives", followed by Anna's "Hello, Young Lovers", which is one of the most touching song in the score, where Anna sings to the Royal Wives how she once had a love of her own. Next is the kings "The Puzzlement", where hes states his confusions about his conflicts. Next is one of the most popular songs from the movie "Getting To Know You", where Anna sings to the Royal Children and Wives about getting to know them. Next is the underscoring "Garden Rendezvous". Next is Lun Tha's and Tuptim's beautiful "We Kiss In The Shadow", where the two lovers sing how they barely have any time to be with eachother, and hope for one day to be free. The song is mixed with "I Have Dreamed", their other duet, how they have dreams of them being together. Next is Anna's comical soliquy "Shall I Tell You What I Think Of You?". This is one song where you will hear Deborah and Marni going back and forth with the vocals, you can barely tell the difference. Next is the extremely touching "Something Wonderful", sung by Lady Thiang where she tells Anna deep down the king is truely something wonderful. Next is the "Prayer To Buddha", where The King and everyone pray to Buddha about the British comming. The British have arrived and Anna and her old friend Sir Edward see eachother and dance to the "Waltz of Anna and Sir Edward". Next is the beautiful ballet "The Small House of Uncle Thomas", narrated by Tuptim and sung with the Chorus, the ballet is Tuptims version of the story of "Uncle Toms Cabin". Next is the "Song Of The King", sung by The King and Anna, where the King expresses how many women belong to one man. Thats followed by another popular song, "Shall We Dance", where the magic start to spark between the King and Anna. Next is the underscoring "The Letter". The closing track is the "Something Wonderful REPRISE" sung by the chorus. The bonus track is the LP version of the "Overture".

Those are all the tracks, and they are amazing. Only a few songs from the score are missing including "Royal Bangkok Academy", Lady Thiang and Wives "Western People Funny", The Prince and Louis' "A Puzzlement REPRISE", And a few other Reprises are missing.

Overall, this classic soundtrack is worth it! You just have to own this classic.

I enjoyed listening to this CD VERY much! I watched the movie in July, this year, and was overwhelmed by it......and the songs too! THE KING AND I is ONE musiacl you cannot miss! Not to mention, its one of my all-time favorite movies, along like MY FAIR LADY and SOUND OF MUSIC. Marni Nixon's voice is beautiful, and the Deborah Kerr/Marni Nixon combination was excellent too! You can hardly say who sings what. My favourite songs were : 'Shall we Dance?', 'Hellow Young Lovers', 'Something Wonderful', 'My Lord and Master' and 'Shall I tell you what I think of you?'. (Thats more than half the songs! LOL!) In my opinion, they should NOT have cut off the songs:'My Lord and Master', 'I Have Dreamed' and 'Shall I tell you What I think of You?'. Those songs were simply terrific too! Rita Moreno's voice is so sweet, I can listen to it all day..... Anyway, all I can say is that if your a KING AND I fan, you MUST buy this CD......I think its fully worth the price.....