persau: 'The King and I' is Number 8

I unashamedly say I LOVE MUSICALS. I love Broadway and the musical films that come from it. I also love some made just for film musicals. Most people and groups consider 'Singin' in the Rain' the best film musical. In all honesty it would not make my top 200. I don't get it.

My film musical experience begins in the 50's. 1954 brought '7 Brides for 7 Brothers', 1955 brought 'Oklahoma' followed by 'Carousel' and 'The King and I' in 1956 and finally 'South Pacific' in '58.. These five films formed my musical point of view. I still like them all but I don't love them all anymore. The brides and brothers seem too hokey now. 'Carousel' too stilted. Why the hell did they keep jumping from location to soundstage in the same scene? 'South Pacific' too corny. And what the hell was Josh Logan, director, doing with those color changes? Sheer madness. It is barely watchable nowadays. 'Oklahoma' does hold up though. But it is 'The King and I' that truly stands the test of time. This film continues to play like it came out in any given year you watch it.

So what about 'West Side Story'? I love it but just not more than 'The King and I'. Maybe if they got rid of that "Cool" number. That if for no other reason knocks this movie out of my top 10. You will all ask where your favorite is. Well they may yet show up. I'm not even sure yet as I am still formulating here. I really am taking taking this seriously the movie nut that I am.

As is my way I will first off SHAME the Oscars. The dismal, abysmal and long forgotten 'Around the World in 80 Days' won Best Picture in 1956. Gimme a break. Absurd, idiotic and downright insulting.

Score, costumes, cinematography, choreography, screenplay, orchestration, sound,sound mixing, direction and acting are all brilliant. And then there are Deborah Kerr the I and Yul Brynner the king. Yul will always be the King. Anyone else who plays the role is just fill-in. I also don't believe there will be another Anna as good as Deborah. She made Anna a fully equal sparing partner for the King as no one has before or since on stage. I say this with full apology to my old friend and neighbor Donna Murphy who won her second Tony for the role in the 90's Broadway revival. Great yes but no Deborah.

Now Mr. Brynner won the Oscar for his role here. Deborah did not. Why? There are two reasons really. The first is that Miss Kerr was not under contract to the producing studio, 20th century Fox and thus did not push for her to win. The second is the maddening reason. Ingrid Bergman made a return to Hollywood in 'Anastasia' after Hollywood, Congress and the Catholic Church publicly humiliated her for divorcing in 1949 and leaving her children. So seven years later Hollywood needed forgiveness and what better way than give an Oscar to the slandered party. So Ingrid in and Deborah out. The three other nominees were just fill-in in a lean year for women on film and at best should be forgotten like Carol Baker in 'Baby Doll'. God help us.
(p.s. congress and the church never apologized to Miss Bergman. But on second thought they did not have oscars to hand out.)

So here is just one of the six Deborah snubs. So I say to all nominees past and future if you feel you wuz robbed just remember you are in great company. I know that is no consolation but I try. And remember that your guess is as good as mine.

But enough....

If you do not know the film it's my pleasure to present to you my eighth favorite film: 'The King and I'.