vs 'The King and I'
Which portrayal do you prefer Yul Brynner / Rex Harrison ?
Deborah Karr / Irene Dunne ?
All four performances were very good, however, I feel Rex Harrison's portrayal
of the King in Anna and the King of Siam was outstanding. Later in the story,
when he finally shows his evil side, Harrison's transformation is incredible.
What do you mean shows his evil side?
I just believe he made a wrong decision based on tradition and pride.
Does this make him evil? Or human? Or just someone who made an extremely bad choice?
I do agree with you though that his performance was outstanding. I found it hard to believe that was Rex Harrison on the screen. He became the King.
"Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand."
Maybe not as much evil as he was barbaric, especially in his treatment of women.
shareHmmm...
Thank you for your clarification.
I believe that maybe HE wasn't necessarily barbaric. He was just relying on old customs and traditions of his country that were barbaric.
I don't believe he was barbaric because after all he was trying to change the customs and be more modern.
Why I am being so defensive of him I don't know.
So you think *I'm* the murderer? What do I have to do to convince you that I'm not….. be the next victim?
Burning your wife at the stake because she leaves you is not "human," it's "EVIL."
Admittedly this is an unbelievably racist production, the insults that they are somehow less than and uncivilized because they are not British in their customs and manners, the constant subserviance of all the people in the castle to this teacher...., telling her they are less than she is, can never be what she is, do what she does.... But, it is still evil to torture people by burning them at the stake. It is human to fight the impulse to strike back when hurt or embarassed, and not give in to baser natures. We alone among living beings can recognize the need to strive to be better. The values of Asian countries and their religions recognize this even more than most parts of Christianity, the way they have followers turn inward rather than follow an Earthly leader. Even if they don't dwell on concepts of evil the way western religions do, they get to the same place by striving for the betterment of their soul, fighting earthly desires, selfishness, materialism, sometimes carnal desires, and definitely fighting the desire to hurt others. Evil is evil. Torture and killing are evil even if within the king's prerogative.
It can be an evil act without making him an evil person. Such a judgement may not be for other people to make, but at a minimum, it takes more than one terrible choice to qualify as an evil person. He stove to be a better person most of the time. That counts for more than a single hideous act.
I agree that he transformed himself as an actor when making this terrible decision, exercising his royal prerogative. The hurt, pain, humiliation, anger, petulance, etc, all shown in his demeanor. A 10 performance.