Musical Monday: The King and I

Monday, September 03, 2007 by

HA! You didn't think we could do it, did you? Well, it's still Monday (even if you're probably not going to read this until Tuesday at the earliest), which means that come hell, high water, or shitty wireless internet connection because our DSL line STILL isn't hooked up, there WILL BE a Musical Monday, goddammit!

SIAM - or a not-particularly-reasonable facsimile thereof!

And here is Anna and her son...whose name escapes us. They are pale, British, and in need of a good enema from the looks of them. Anna is a widow and figures that the best way to deal with her grief is to run off to faraway lands, dragging her poor limp-wristed son behind her, in a desperate attempt to find some meaning to it all. Also, to accept a job teaching the King's children.

Meanwhile, Rita Moreno is being brought in on a tray for King Yul Brynner. She is Tiptum or Tuptim or Tic-Tac or something like that. We could look it up, but it'll be more fun if we just wing it with the names. Anyway, she's been given to Yul as a gift from the King of Burma, but her heart belongs to Loompa (or something like that).

The Prime Minister doesn't like Anna and so he thrusts his nipples at her to disconcert her.

Anna introduces herself to the King and he laughs at her ridiculous clothing. She's not feeling the love and wonders if she shouldn't high-tail it back to that ship and see if they're looking for prissy English schoolmarms in Malaysia.

But once she realizes that Yul has about a hundred children and that she could treat them all like slaves, the job starts looking a lot more appealing all of a sudden.

Later, she finds the King's harem stealing her luggage.

She stamps her feet and threatens them with whippings, but the wives only laugh at this silly, pale thing in their midst.

Anna decides to shock them all by showing her ladyparts. When the wives remain unimpressed, she farts at them.

Tip-toe pleads with Anna to help her reunite with Lump-Thing. Anna smiles and tells her that she can't understand a word she's saying with her thick accent.

She arranges the wives like dolls and forces them all to compliment her while she sings.

Back in the throne room, the King has just completed his 8-Minute Abs tape and desperately wants someone to notice.

He comes across his son and heir, Changalottacorn or something like that. He's a "special" boy who sometimes likes to pretend that he is a supemodel or cabaret singer or showgirl.

Later, Anna does something condescending and imperialistic again.

The King is furious with her and flexes his abs at her. She snorts at him and claims she's seen better.

The Prime Minister shrieks at her for not loving the King's abs enough and threatens to scratch her eyes out if she does it again. Then he gives her one snap and sashays out of there.

That night, a couple of trick-or-treaters show up at her door. She sends them away because their costumes are ridiculous and besides, they don't have Halloween in Siam.

Lunktha and Tum-Tum meet secretly and sing instead of fucking their brains out.

The next day, the King refers to Anna as his servant and bitch HITS. THE. ROOF.

That night, she makes a sudden realization: this isn't her hair.

Then, the King forces her into a sex ritual, which she pretends to protest, but no one believes her.

For fun, she dresses the King's wives up like Nevada whores just before the British Ambassador is set to arrive.

The King is upset at his whorish wives and disguises it by taunting Anna for having such small breasts.

Later, the Ambassador shows up and waves his penis at the ladies.

Okay, serious for a moment. We can't say we exactly love this film. The story is a bit treacly and there aren't any particularly memorable songs outside of "Getting to Know You," but two things worth watching if for are Yul Brynner's wonderful performance and the Siamese ballet of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," which is both beautiful and cute at the same time. We would be the last people able to tell you if the piece is even remotely culturally accurate (it feels more "Siamesey" than true Siamese, if you know what we mean), but it is entertaining and visually stunning. For once, we actually like the ballet sequence in the middle.

After the show, TimTom and Oompaloompa sneak out by pretending to be Mary and Joseph.

Anna is upset that the King doesn't like her breasts, but she's too hot for him to let it get to her.

TipTop is found and dragged before the King. Anna pleads for her life. That guy on the right is ready to blow any second.

The King wants to beat TumTum, but he can't ...get it up (figuratively speaking) with Anna standing there and judging the size of his whip. Anna is disgusted and decides to leave.

While packing her things, she discovers her son, who has been trapped under something the entire time, since we haven't seen him since the beginning of the film. She struggles to remember his name.

Wife Number One pleads with Anna to come and see the King before she leaves because he's dying. Okay, what the fuck. Where the hell did THAT come from.

Prince Chuckalongcorn stares at Anna's breasts, trying desperately to will himself into a heterosexual attraction. No dice.


Anna goes to see the King. He dies. The end.

Seriously, WHAT THE HELL? What just happened there?

72 comments:

LittleKarnak said...

Wow, 1st comment! This is one of my fav musicals (how can you not love the entrance of the king's children?) and I was fortunate enough to see Yul Brynner perform in it on his last tour. My mom and her best friend took about 8 of us 14 and 15 year olds to see it. Yul was about a hundred years old and still hot as hell but not as hot as the eye candy who played Tup Tim's man Lun Tha (I think that's right). He was so smokin' we stalked him as he left the theatre, my mom and her friend included!

So glad you guys were up to the challenge on Labor Day since all I am doing is sitting around trying to decide what to wear for my 1st day of work: Red scrubs or Blue Scrubs? Wow what a fashion dilemma.

Anonymous said...

Shall We Dance!!! Oh come on!! How can you not looove that number. To dance around a room with a hunky guy in a glorious dress. sigh. I find it hard to believe you guys couldn't relate.
I too saw Yul Brynner on his last tour and man-o-man was that guy super hot. Every woman around me--no matter how young or old just SCREAMED during the curtain call when he threw up his arms and let us get a really good look at his chest. He was a total hambone but a totally sexy one!

lsaspacey said...

What I loved was how this was the first movie musical where I wanted all of the leading man's clothes instead of the leading lady's.

I think they came up with the king suddenly dying because the story they made really calls for him to come running and tell her not to go. However, interracial love was a no-no so, of course, he had to die.

Kent said...

"Anna decides to shock them all by showing her ladyparts. When the wives remain unimpressed, she farts at them."

"Back in the throne room, the King has just completed his 8-Minute Abs tape and desperately wants someone to notice."

"That night, she makes a sudden realization: this isn't her hair."

You two are in TOP FORM today. Seriously, how funny was this review?! And you're spot on, that ending made NO sense whatsoever. Rodgers and Hammerstein apparently loved the idea of dying of a broken heart though.

Good luck with the DSL. Internet of any kind can be a bitch.

Pumpkin Man said...

Hey guys!!!
I love your blog so much!
But I wish you would update it more often... Once a week is not enough!! :-(

We need more!!

With love,

M.

stormy said...

I'd pay good money to see you give the Musical Monday treatment to High School Musical and its sequel.

Consider it?

The Scarlett said...

Yul was HOTTTTT!!!!!!!111

And he always brings out the inner 14 year old in me when I look at his heaving chest. Hot!

I just realize I have nothing intelligent to add because YB reduces me even from the grave into a hormonal puddle.

Anonymous said...

T & L - THANKS for posting on Labor Day! Of COURSE I had to check to see if Musical Monday was here -

I've always loved this musical - has to be the big dresses and the huge rooms . . . oh yeah, and Yul! (That "8 Minute Abs" pose is the same one he uses in "Ten Commandments" whenever he says "Moses, Moses, Moses")

Okay - not sure it qualifies as a gen-you-ine musical, but I watched (the original) "Gidget" last night (with hunky Cliff Robertson, Bobby Darren and Sandra Dee) ---- too much material there, right down to her lesbian best friend, the shirtless surfers, trying to lose her virginity, and "The Four Preps" "rock band" , the "orgy luau" on the beach. . . think about it, anyway - the summer is ending, boys, and this is the perfect end of summer movie - Bobby D. DOES sing a few numbers! pleeeeeeese!

LOVE you guys -

ProfP

Ted said...

"Back in the throne room, the King has just completed his 8-Minute Abs tape and desperately wants someone to notice."

FUCKING HILARIOUS, Boys!

LindaLA said...

Oh my god, that is so funny. I can't stop laughing. I hate this movie.

namastenancy said...

Thank you for laboring for us on Labor Day. Funny funny funny take on Anna and the King. I remember writing in a high school essay that Anna and the King were NOT in love and getting a lower grade because of that. But they WEREN'T. He and the Prime Minister were the real couple in the movie although Yul was so hot that he could have had anybody he wanted.

Brandenburg3rd said...

Y'all are amazing. You've achieved a standard of moving that none will equal.

Your loyal poodles and kittens thank you.

LAUGHED MY ASS OFF!!!! "TicTac... TipTop... " whatever! And Yul was so hot in this movie. Woof. "Fall on the floor and I'll whip you." "You betcha, ace!" Even my mother used to sigh this funny sigh when K&I came on (and you KNOW your mom doesn't think about sex, right?).

Sewhat? said...

"etc., etc., etc.", that always cracked me up. But now the "8 Minute Abs" has replaced that.

You guys made me snort out loud.

Seriously, are there any non-racist or xenophobic musicals?

Jules said...

Thanks T&L for coming through on a holiday Monday! You are just the best!!!!

Suzanne said...

How amazing were those GOWNS though?
I don't love this movie. And not one vagina hat.
Sucks.

LOVE the Gidget idea though!! James Darren was HOT!!!

Anonymous said...

No "shall we dance?" commentary? I luff that part.

I also luff all the names! ROFLMAO

Miranda said...

The guys said "Seriously, what the hell?"

Word.

I totally agree about the ballet sequence -- it and Yul Brynner are the only really worthwhile parts of this show. *Not* my favorite Rodgers and Hammerstein (that would be "Oklahoma!"), but not my least favorite either (that would be "Carousel").

fiadnaita said...

Great job, guys! I was rolling at Yul's abs & Kerr's small breasts.

As to why he died so suddenly.... The film was based on a memoir, Anna and the King of Siam. In the book the king died very suddenly of malaria just after Anna left the country and while she was negotiating a new contract for her to return. The filmmakers apparently didn't seem to know what to do with that ending because, you're right, it doesn't make any sense in the movie. Man of giant abs who was perfectly healthy and happily whipping slaves two minutes ago is suddenly lying in bed dying? If they had at least mentioned malaria, it might have seemed an eentsie bit more plausible.

And if you think this movie is imperialistic and xenophobic, read Anna's book. I had to read it in a college course, and it left a really bad taste in everyone's mouth.

Anonymous said...

Nice job. I'd have been a tad upset if you had dissed the dance sequence in this film.

As for the music, "Shall We Dance," "Something Wonderful," and "Hello Young Lovers" are all lovely pieces. As a musician, this is a fun musical.

Along with someone who posted earlier, we saw Yul in his final tour as well. Despite being quite ill with cancer, he could still command the stage.

snf in va said...

I read this last night and went to bed chuckling...way to bring summer to a close, T Lo!

Bernd said...

Anna's second job is to sweep the floors of the palace. All she needs to do is walk twice across the rooms with that dress of hers.

Guys, your comments are so much better than the movie. I stopped watching after the first hour or so and now I know how it ends (yawn)

Bill said...

Boys, that was wonderful. So funny.

Okay - show of hands - how many have wanted to be polka'd around that palace in a big gold hoop skirt? That just looks like so much damned fun.

"That night, she makes a sudden realization: this isn't her hair."

Later, while singing, she makes another realization: This isn't her voice. It's Marni Nixon's.

I agree that the story is xenophobic and racist. But it does have strong appeal for many. There was an earlier (1946) non-singing B&W version called "Anna & the King of Siam" with Irene Dunne and Rex Harrison playing the leads. Sexy Linda (Forever Amber) Darnell is Tuptim and the fabulous Gale Sondergaard is Lady Thiang. 1999 saw the release of both the live-action non-musical "Anna & the King" with Yun-Fat Chow and Jodie Foster and an animated musical "The King & I".

I also recall a one season TV series when I was a kid. It starred Yul Brynner, of course, and Samantha Eggar. I loved it because one of my favorite 70's child actors, Eric Shea (of Poseidon Adventure fame), played Louis.

I love the score form this musical. There are numerous terrific recordings of it. The Donna Murphy/ Lou Diamond Phillips version from the 1996 revival is quite good (and Lou made a surprisingly effective king). There is a Hollywood Bowl recording with Julie Andrews (who I normally loathe), Ben Kingsley (as the King), Lea Salonga, Peabo Bryson and Marilyn Horne that is just wonderful.

Other notable Annas in the onstage musical: Gertrude Lawrence (the original Anna), Celeste Holm, Angela Lansbury, Constance Towers, Patricia Morison, Marie Osmond, Stephanie Powers and Sandy Duncan.

I always found it interesting that Anna helped little gay prince Chulalangkorn advance toward young womanhood but left her own son, Louise...I mean Louis, to twist in the wind.

Chulalangkorn was played by Patrick Adiarte. He also played Wang San in R&H's Flower Drum Song on Broadway and in the movie. He was the Amnericanized brother of Wang Ta (romantic male lead James Shigeta). He also guested on the fabulous two-part episode where the Brady Bunch went to Hawaii and played Hawkeye & Trapper John's houseboy Ho-Jon on M*A*S*H*.

Oh - and favorite Deathmatch Dame/Diva Maureen O'Hara was originally supposed to play Anna in this musical. I would have loved to see her go toe to toe with Yul.

Meghan said...

I loooove this film, sugary-sweet or not. It is second only to the original Hairspray, in my mind anyway.

And for some reason "Changalottacorn" reminds me of Justin from Ugly Betty. :-/

Hutchlover said...

Suzanne said...
How amazing were those GOWNS though?
I don't love this movie. And not one vagina hat.
Sucks.>>>>

Just what I was thinking, Suzanne. Fabulous outfits, but where oh where are the vagina hats! That's what I look forward to the most in the Musical Monday reviews.

GothamTomato said...

While I'm loving your take on these musicals every week, I have to say I'm also loving Bill's encyclopedic additions as well!

If I ever get to go back on 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?' again, I want him to be one of my lifelines!

--Gotham Tomato

bitchybitchybitchy said...

I do love "Shall We Dance"-Yul and Deborah waltzing around the room is a wonderful sequence. I've also always had a soft spot for "Getting to Know You".

The 8 minutes Abs comment is priceless!

T&L, your commentary is beyond fabulous, as always!

Muse of Ire said...

Later, Anna does something condescending and imperialistic again.

Sums up the whole story right there.

Last month I saw the world's worst community theater version of this musical. Yeah -- just imagine all the racism and lack of sense without good acting, singing, or gorgeous costumes to make up for it. The only interesting part was a couple of snippets that had been excised from the movie. The first during the king's patter song, where he muses whether it's time to start telling Chulalongkorn about women. The second is a song Anna sings when she's ragin' in her bedroom after the king "insults" her. Part of the lyric goes: "I don't like polygamy. Or even moderate bigamy!"

Jennifer said...

People!

There are no vagina hats in this musical because everyone has clearly had sex. Uptight missionary sex maybe (Anna, I'm looking at you.) but still sex. Vagina hats are all about the repression, no?

thombeau said...

Too freakin' funny!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh my GOD, this was funny. I vote the many many nicknames for Tup-Tim and whats'-his-face as the funniest bits.

I used to turn this musical off after the "Shall We Dance?" number when I was a kid, because I found the ending so depressing.

Anonymous said...

Jennifer wrote:

"There are no vagina hats in this musical because everyone has clearly had sex. Uptight missionary sex maybe (Anna, I'm looking at you.) but still sex. Vagina hats are all about the repression, no?"

Yes, Jennifer, you're so right!

Also, the hoops under those gigantic dresses more than made up for vagina hats. ooo, I'm just imagining having strapping young men just living under those hoops, doing all sorts of salacious things.... better sign off anonymously today....

cb said...

High School Musical on Musical Monday, please!!!!

i second that one - I've never seen that musical either, but I would pay money to read y'all's take on it!

another laura said...

No, no, no, no, "High School Musical" is not worth commentary by TLo. Was forced to see a stage production of this because of the participation by a nephew and no, no, fluffy lovely kittens and bitches, this is not worth the powder to blow it to hell, much less our Tom and Lorenzo's special brand of magic.

Yul Brynner - made me wriggle in my little rocking chair when I didn't know what it meant. Hot, hot, hot, campers.

The older movie: saw it once, Rex Harrison looking and sounding absolutely ridiculous and he burns Tuptim and her lover at the stake and makes Missus Anna listen to the screaming. Yikes! I'll take the Technicolor musical with the faboo dresses, anytime!

NahnCee said...

You didn't highlight the "Shall We Dance?" number!!! It's the best thing in the whole movie.

One of the pictures you posted does have the dress she wears in that number, which I'm remembering that it weighs something ridiculous like 75 pounds or something.

The sexual tension when he first touches her waist to begin the waltz is exquisite. The first step he takes in the waltz, his bare feet are turned up, literally, like a Siamese dancers' fingers. And the *energy* that they both have as he gallops them around through the song.

I *love* this scene. Did you nod off for a few minutes and miss it?

BTW, now that we know a little bit more about Muslim customs such as honor killings, multiple wives and beheadings, the story makes a lot more sense than it did when the movie first came out.

Bill said...

BTW - Gertrude Lawrence, Anna in the stage version, died during the initial Brodway run of "The King & I" and was buried in the ball gown she wore during the "Shall We Dance" number.

Deborah Kerr is still alive and kicking and soon to turn 86. If they buried her in that gold dress, I don't know where they'd find a casket to contain it all.

(BTW - Irene Sharaff nabbed an Oscare for her costume designs for this movie)

macasism said...

I never got the Yul Brenner thing, sorry. and this musical sucks, but that's they way we like it here on Musical Mondays!

Thanks TLo for your diligence in the face of lowered bandwidth. We are not worthy!

Jeff said...

Thanks for covering this one, Tom and Lorenzo. When I was just a little baby gay (fifth grade) my best friend went to try out for a part as one of the eleventy billion royal children, and convinced me to come along too. Somehow I ended up as Louis in the Fauquier County production, and had a blast.

I can't help but watch the movie whenever it comes on. I love the music, the costumes, the sets...and of course Yul Brynner's marvelously open shirts. Lots to like in this one, and y'all make it even better.

Asian Spices said...

NahnCee said...
BTW, now that we know a little bit more about Muslim customs such as honor killings, multiple wives and beheadings, the story makes a lot more sense than it did when the movie first came out.


Right. And we shouldn't let a piddling little fact like these characters are BUDDHISTS get in the way of your rush to score some sort of political point off them.

Sewing Siren said...

NahnCee said...

BTW, now that we know a little bit more about Muslim customs such as honor killings, multiple wives and beheadings, the story makes a lot more sense than it did when the movie first came out.

The county of Thailand (which was called Siam until 1939) is only about 4% Muslim today. The predominate religion is Buddism. The King of Siam in the 1850's would have most certainly been Buddist.

Anonymous said...

Could we possibly make an exception to the "musical" requirement and do Cleopatra soon? I just saw the four-hour-plus version in 70 mm and it was stunning and oh so ripe for T&L's picking. Amazing.

Anonymous said...

bill said...
I also recall a one season TV series when I was a kid. It starred Yul Brynner, of course, and Samantha Eggar. I loved it because one of my favorite 70's child actors, Eric Shea (of Poseidon Adventure fame), played Louis.

I so remember that show! But my love interest was the king's son, played by Brian Tochi, earlier in a Star Trek episode, later in "Revenge of the Nerds".

Emma P.

Badger said...

What's really remarkable aboutYul Brynner's performance here and on stage is that he only had one lung having lost the other to cancer and had to get oxygen backstage. Also, he was kind of the ipso facto director of the stage musical mainly because he was the only one who Gertrude Lawrence would listen to. In Oscar Hammerstein's autobiography, he writes that he and Dick Rodgers were quite unhappy over what they saw as Miss Lawrence's poor performance and they actually sent her a letter telling her to get with the program. This was before anyone knew she had terminal cancer.

Also, this movie - and I imagine the Rex Harrison version and all other versions stemming from the Leonowens book - is banned in Thailand because of its portrayal of the King. From what I gather, the author took a lot of liberties with the truth and made him look a lot worse than he really was. For instance, the Lady Tuptim episode was completely made up. And Chululangkorn did become a great reformer king. By the way, didn't Sal Mineo play him on Broadway? He didn't originate the role but I think he did it later.

BrianB said...

Marlene Dietrich and Yul apparently had a long term affair and in a book I read about her I got the idea that Yul's 8 Minute Abs weren't his only impressive feature!

I love a lot of the music here but could never sit down and watch the movie all the way through. I couldn't have laughed harder at your review!

If you're taking suggestions for Movie Musical Monday, how about New York, New York, Carmen Jones with Dorothy Dandridge or A Star Is Born ala Streisand? Hey, have you guys done Bye Bye Birdie?

BrianB

Anonymous said...

Funnily enough, Bangkok actually does look a bit like the opening scene shown (well, if you ignore the modern buildings built around the temples). So it wasn't all that unreasonable a facsimile. Wierd that they would get that right.

megtheexpat said...

They cut my favorite K&I song from the movie version, "I Have Dreamed." They do play it instrumentally, though, in the movie.

I don't like Deborah Kerr in this movie. Blech. Why didn't they use women who could actually SING? Marni Nixon's voice gets old after all broads used her for dubbing (e.g. Natalie and Audrey).

shiver72876 said...

Loved the post boys! We've missed you! Hope you are finally crawling out from under your moving boxes and are getting settled in your new digs!

RE: Gidget - IT IS ABSOLUTELY A MUSICAL! Any time a character bursts into song for no apparent reason, it counts! And that happens several times in Gidget. Gidget would be fab as a musical monday for it's double hawtness alone: James Darren AND Cliff Robertson. I'd be the center of that sandwhich anytime!

mumblesalot (Laura A) said...

Scarlett said
"Yul was HOTTTTT!!!!!!!111

And he always brings out the inner 14 year old in me when I look at his heaving chest. Hot! "

Oh Yes Scarlett I totally agree.

Bill: I still want to dance in those gowns on that set count me in.

I love the set of "Shall we dance"

I came from a repressed home so my first crush was Pat Boone, yikes, then I graduated to Marlon Brando and Yul , and of course Omar Shariff. What the last three could do to a little Lutheran girl ....where do I send the thank-you note?

Anonymous said...

Please please please do "The Opposite Sex" !! It has songs in it!

Anonymous said...

I, too, would pay money to read the boys' treatment of High School Musical. As an after school teacher, I'd be happy to keep a little journal of my own every time we have to watch it (at least once every two weeks), and hey, every time a HSM song comes up during talent show, american idol, (insert any excuse the kids can think of to act out a scene).

Badger said...

James Darren trivia: Jim Moret who used to anchor SHOWBIZ TODAY and according to Wikipedia is now the chief correspondent for INSIDE EDITION, is his son.

"The Opposite Sex"? Hey, any movie that features a song performed by Jim Backus and Dick Shawn can't be all bad, can it?

Gorgeous Things said...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Snort!

Oh, I wish I had read this earlier today. I desperately needed it! Bravo darlings! And here's to Marni Nixon who once again showed those Hollywood leading ladies how to sing!

Noelia said...

This one was really funny guys!
You get better and better all the time!

wes said...

Guess what, T&L?

You know how I said I wasn't able to get on any of your blogs on my own computer? Well, that is no longer the case today! So hooray for me! I kinda figured that I could go on here after I was able to access another part of a website that I couldn't before. For the past few months, I've been accessing your blogs via my mom's laptop, but I guess that the "September Bug" as I'm calling it is dead.

Expect me to become a regular on your blogs.

Anonymous said...

Ahh King and I.... The theatre I usually work at is doing it this season-- big to-do, especially in terms of casting- since a really good Asian soprano (Lady Thiang) who's not busy is somewhat difficult to find around town. I didn't like the movie so much, but then again I don't have the highest opinion of R&H.

By the By, PLEASE DO NOT DO High School Musical. I have to deal with it at 10:00 in the morning everyday of the week.... luckily the stage show is slightly* better than the movie... still.... please no...

Anonymous said...

Brilliant as always.

Also since it looks like people are putting in requests. Is there any way you would consider doing Newsies for Musical Monday? It's full of hilarity and Christian Bale.

td said...

"8-minute abs" has gotta top the list of the funniest things you guys have ever written.

This play was my introduction to the world of musical theatre (straight high school boy + production at an all-girls high school = opportunity!).

I played the Prime Minister (badly, I might add); since not many guys tried out (this was 25 years ago when it wasn't nearly as cool for a guy to be in a play as it seems to be now), there weren't too many auditionees willing to go shirtless.

In fact, the pickings were so slim that Anna's and king's sons were played by girls, and the Ambassador had to double as a palace guard.

So even though I had to wear a skirt (and a plaid one!? figure out the mind of THAT costume designer), I somehow survived.

By the way, I can't believe no one has cited the whole part of "Shall I Tell You What I Think of You" when Anna sings

"Give us a kick if it please, Your Majesty
Give us a kick if you would, Your Majesty
Oh! That was GOOD, Your Majesty."

WHOA. Looking back, I can't believe we did this at a Catholic high school.

Thanks for another classic recap.

Anonymous said...

I'd like to put in a vote for Victor/Victoria. Robert Preston was great in that one!

Montserrat

NahnCee said...

Buddhists do multiple wives, hundreds of children and honor killings, too? I wonder if Richard Gere is aware of that.

Sewing Siren said...

NahnCee said...
Buddhists do multiple wives, hundreds of children and honor killings, too? I wonder if Richard Gere is aware of that.

Oh for the sake of fuck! It's a godddamn Hollywood musical made in the 1950's, they are not know for historical accuracy!

Anonymous said...

Quick movie plug:
Everyone go see _Once_. It's a marvellous little film, and it's a musical, albeit quite unlike what one usually associates with the word. When the characters break into song, it is an organic manner and integrally tied to the plot. It's absolutely lovely. Run out and see it now.

Anonymous said...

"The Opposite Sex"? Hey, any movie that features a song performed by Jim Backus and Dick Shawn can't be all bad, can it?



and don't forget that song about the bananas!

Anonymous said...

oops, sorry badger, forgot to credit you!

another plus for "The Opposite Sex" - Leslie Nielson when he used to be hot!

but not as hot as he was in "Tammy" lol

professor said...

hey my awesome mamanger showed me this site and told me about musical mondays i will be sure to tune in..thanks Joy!!!

Bill said...

Off Topic and I apologize - but I have to counter the anonymous plug above for the current indie musical "Once."

Ed & I went to see it and expected to love it based on all the very strong reviews. We hated it. I can usually find something to like in almost anything, but it was unbearavble for us. Had we not been in the middle of a row of people, we would have left half way through. It was a huge disappointment.

So I guess it's one of those love it or hate it type flicks.

Anonymous said...

Hi bill,

My apologies for dragging out the _Once_ tanget. It's a pity you didn't enjoy it. With the exception of the aspartame scene with the loan officer, I loved every minute. But, then again, I also like Ozu and gush on about movies like _A Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors_, so small, quiet movies might be my thing.

aimee said...

"Back in the throne room, the King has just completed his 8-Minute Abs tape and desperately wants someone to notice."

HA! You boys outdid yourselves this week. And you're so right about the ballet. The King and I was my very first community theater experience (I played in the orchestra) and I *loved* playing that ballet music. You're correct that it is not Siamese, but Siamesey, but still.... lovely.

Anonymous said...

Thank youuuuuuuuuuu for making my day.

Anonymous said...

hee hee...i love you guys....
i had to do a dance recital to getting to know you when i was about 6-ish and we had the most hideous costumes you could imagine. We looked like bellhops. We also had to wear these heinous hats-not quite vagina hats but they were damn ugly.

Elizabeth said...

LOVE IT. Best post-colonial send-up I've read all day and that's saying a lot!

bats :[ said...

This is a guilty pleasure for me (The King and I, not this site...I love this site!). "The Small House of Uncle Thomas"...it just can't be beat...bloodhounds, snow, the whole nine yards.

Somewhere, years ago, I found a photo of Yul Brynner nekkid; it was an art shot, so technically he posed nude. This was also before his K&I days. Very hot.

Rebecca V. O'Neal said...

you guys did a great job of bastardizing this one!!!

I love you two, but I love The King and I too........

funny - yes
but you guys took some serious liberties with this telling of the story (which is to be expected)

still hilarious

Maddy said...

hahaha, wow. Okay I watched this movie probably 50 times when I was little, and haven't seen it in years. I'm sure I didn't notice any of the sillyness when I was little, but I agree completely. The Uncle Tom's Cabin part I remember being totally awesome, even as a kid.

Great recaps! Glad I found your musical monday posts.