It is fitting that in reverse alphabetical order Lady and the Tramp comes right before The King and I. As there are two Siamese cats in our previous film and Yul Brenner plays the King of Siam in The King and I. There are many great musicals out there, but they just don't make them like they used to! Rodgers and Hammerstein were geniuses when it came to musicals. Their music and lyrics shaped my childhood as I was exposed to the film versions of their Broadway classics.
The King and I is no exception to this genius. The story is about an English woman who arrives in Siam to teach the King and his children Western ways. The King is very interested in making Siam a modern country with Western influence. There are some wonderful songs, my favorite being "Getting to Know You," which I sing about as frequently as "Good Morning" from Singing in the Rain. It is one of those songs where you really only know the chorus but you sing it over and over again anyway. Singing in the Rain is missing from this blog because it is one of those films I own on VHS so it is not included in the project-- but maybe one day when I finish the DVDs I will have to move on to the VHS.
Part of Siam becoming a wise Western-like nation includes the King being challenged by Anna, our Western expert. When she first arrives the King's wives and others refer to her as "sir" because she is smart in a scientific way, unlike a woman. Well of course I have seen this movie before, but this part struck me this time. Maybe because it is March and its Women's History Month and I am a bit more sensitive to statements like that, or maybe its because I am older. Since assuming the Director role in my department in 2010 I have learned a great many things about the perception people have of a woman in charge. I did not observe this in any role I have had at the College up til now, I think it can be said that lots of roles in Higher Ed are occupied by women, until you get into the Director, Dean, Vice President spots.
That is most obvious when you travel to national conferences and see the Senior Student Affairs Officers lounges with lots of men in ties or the president of the College or University you are visiting is male. One of my former supervisors (well sort of supervisor:)) AnnMarie Klotz did her doctoral research about being a woman in the world of College Presidents and from what I read on her Twitter and blog- it is some good stuff! I encourage you to check it out.
While Anna was in Siam she was challenged in her views about women and their role in society as she met and taught the King's wives and also in her interactions with the King. There is some humor built in as the King teases her in parts about her head not being higher than the King's. There is also a mini story line about a woman who was a gift for the King but she loved another man and we see that unfold. Even though it is not an overtly obvious love story, the King and Anna develop a strong appreciation and fondness for one another. Anna challenged the King and as viewers we are lead to believe that Siam becomes a better country for it. It can also be argued that Western influence and its perceived superiority should take its imperialistic attitude elsewhere and leave countries like Siam alone. But I am choosing to focus on the love story :)
Anna is a kick ass kind of lady that makes me smile. I enjoy watching films that highlight women like her and in 1944 when the book Anna and the King of Siam came out there were probably not too many books that highlighted women like that. It gets even better that the book and then subsequently the musical were loosely based on a true story about the real life Anna Leonowens. I often think I was born in the wrong era- it would be been quite interesting to meet women like Anna in real life.
Again I am going to break with the spirit of the blog and skip the RA program with this film. Instead I want you to read AnnMarie's blog or spend some time celebrating Women's History Month today!
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