The King and I (1956 film)

The King and I
Theatrical release poster by Tom Chantrell
Directed by	Walter Lang
Produced by	Charles Brackett
Written by	Ernest Lehman
Based on	The King and I by Oscar Hammerstein II
Starring	Deborah Kerr Yul Brynner Rita Moreno Maureen Hingert Martin Benson Rex Thompson
Music by	Richard Rodgers
Cinematography	Leon Shamroy
Edited by	Robert L. Simpson
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date	June 28, 1956 (1956-06-28)
Running time	133 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$4.55 million
Box office	$21.3 million

The King and I is a 1956 American musical film made by 20th Century Fox, directed by Walter Lang and produced by Charles Brackett and Darryl F. Zanuck. The screenplay by Ernest Lehman is based on the Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II musical The King and I, based in turn on the novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon. That novel in turn was based on memoirs written by Anna Leonowens, who became school teacher to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in the early 1860s. Leonowens' stories were autobiographical, although various elements of them have been called into question. The film stars Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner.

The film was a critical and commercial success, and was nominated for nine Academy Awards, winning five, including Best Actor for Brynner.

Another film adaptation of the same musical, the animated film The King and I, was released in 1999.

Strong-willed, widowed schoolteacher Anna Leonowens arrives in Bangkok from Wales with her young son Louis after being summoned to tutor the many children of King Mongkut. The two are introduced to the intimidating Kralahome, King Mongkut's confidante and Siam's prime minister. The Kralahome explains he has come to escort them to the Royal Palace where they will live – a violation of Anna's contract, which calls for them to live in a separate house outside the walls of the palace. Despite her threat to leave, Anna reluctantly disembarks with Louis and the Kralahome.