The King and I/Trivia

• Banned in China: Not surprisingly, the film is rather disliked in Thailand. What's worse is that no matter how the filmmakers rework the story, it always seems to get banned in Thailand. A key part of the problem is that there are very strict laws about lese-majeste (basically, insulting the monarch) in Thailand; it wasn't so long ago that the king was literally revered as a god, and he still has a very special status. King Mongkut is viewed by today's Thai people with the respect that Americans would have for, say, Abraham Lincoln (the present holder of the throne, King Bhumibol, who's reigned for over 60 years, is greatly beloved in Thailand). The fundamental problem here is that no matter how respectfully and positively modern filmmakers may portray the King, the basic story still implies that Thailand is a backward country in need of "civilizing" by Westerners.
  • It doesn't help that Anna Leonowens' books have, at best, only a passing acquaintance with the truth, and the Thai royal family is not fond of them for that reason.
• Non-Singing Voice: In the 1956 film, Marni Nixon dubbed Deborah Kerr, who played Anna, Leona Gordon dubbed Rita Moreno, who played Tuptim (Moreno did her own singing for "Small House of Uncle Thomas"), and Rueben Fuentes dubbed Carlos Rivas, who played Lun Tha. The 1999 film also includes some non singing voices, noted below.
• Old Shame: The estates of Rodgers and Hammerstein were greatly displeased with the liberties the animated film took with its original source material, and banned the creation of any more animated movies based off the duo's works.
  • Some of the voice cast have also since expressed dissatisfaction with the film.