ANNA AND THE KING (1972) – YUL BRYNNER’S SHORT-LIVED TELEVISION VERSION OF THE KING AND I

ANNA AND THE KING (1972) – It’s a shame that so few people remember this 13-episode attempt to make a television series of Margaret Landon’s classic novel Anna and the King of Siam. The producers even scored the coup of signing screen legend Yul Brynner himself to reprise his role as the King of Siam from the novel’s revered musical adaptation The King and I.

Samantha Eggar was cast as Anna Leonowens, the British governess brought to Siam in 1862 by King Mongkut to provide a more cosmopolitan element to the education of his children, including 12-year-old son and heir Prince Chulalongkorn, played by Brian Tochi.

The clash of cultures that the novel and musical depicted would be played out via shorter, much more succinct installments in this 30-minute … sitcom? 

In my opinion, reducing the timeless, universal messages of the core story in Anna and the King of Siam to glib, joke-riddled schmaltz each episode may have been the undoing of this project. Some may disagree, pointing to Executive Producer Gene Reynolds, remembered now for his involvement in the television series M*A*S*H. Unfortunately, in September of 1972 that credential was not yet the justification it might later have become for giving the show a longer chance at finding an audience.   

At any rate, I’m not even sure that making the tv version a drama would have worked. On a television budget, there are limits to how much material could be mined out of this program’s premise. Maybe a series of made-for-tv movie specials would have worked better, say perhaps 2 or 3 such telefilms per year for a few years.

We’ll never know, unfortunately. Before I move on to look at each episode of Anna and the King, I’ll mention that Anna’s son Louis was played by Eric Shea, Princess Serana was portrayed by future star Rosalind Chao, and in the role of Royal Household staffer Kralahome was the venerable Keye Luke. Kralahome was really watered down for tv audiences.  

Prominent Asian guest stars included Mako, Lisa Lu, John Fujioka, Philip Ahn, James Hong, Miiko Taka, and Frances Fong.

THE EPISODES:

PILOT (September 17th, 1972) – Anna and her son arrive in Siam and meet King Mongkut and his court. When the king learns that a snooty British diplomat (Bernard Fox) has referred to him as a barbarian he plans an elaborate dinner party and invites the Brit. This episode was directed by Executive Producer Gene Reynolds, who objected to the use of a laugh track in this pilot episode. 

THE BABY (September 24th, 1972) – Anna tries to intervene when a poverty-stricken Siamese woman sells her baby to King Mongkut’s household to be raised as a future servant. Her interference appalls the king for its disrespect toward his culture’s traditions. 

THE KING OR THE TIGER (October 1st, 1972) – A Royal Tiger Hunt results in lessons on courage for both Crown Prince Chulalongkorn and King Mongkut himself. 

CHULALONGKORN’S GRADES (October 8th, 1972) – King Mongkut is outraged when Chulalongkorn’s grades are low and he makes his son feel his disapproval. Anna feels that not even a crown prince can excel at everything.

ANNA’S ROMANCE (October 15th, 1972) – In the kind of zany sitcom misunderstanding that I was dreading, the king mistakenly believes that Anna wants to become one of his wives when she tells him women need a little tenderness.

THE BICYCLE (October 22nd, 1972) – More banal sitcom shenanigans when King Mongkut has an American bicycle shipped to him, then stumbles and bumbles at assembling it like he’s the dad in a 1950s or 1960s family sitcom. 

THE CHIMES (November 12th, 1972) – With Anna still uncomfortable with Siam’s treatment of women and other aspects of the culture, and with Louis miserable, she wishes to leave the country and take Louis back home. The king spoils them both to make them want to stay.

LOUIS THE PAWN (November 19th, 1972) – King Mongkut wants Anna to assume an additional duty and uses her son Louis as a pawn to get her to agree. This episode was directed by the very prolific Hy Averback.

THE HAUNTED TEMPLE (November 26th, 1972) – In this episode the king tells the children an old legend about a treasure hidden within a temple that is haunted by a ghost who wants a substitute for his dead son. The Crown Prince and Louis go treasure hunting there, having “an adventure just like the Goonies.” (I’m kidding!)

THE MARRIAGE OF PRINCE CHULA (December 10th, 1972) – King Mongkut arranges for the Crown Prince to meet his 10-year-old future bride, a princess from Burma. Anna insists on butting in. Khigh Dhiegh, Hawaii 5-0’s Wo Fat himself, guest stars.

THE KING AND THE EGG (December 17th, 1972) – The laughs never stop when an egg gets thrown at the king during an audience and he orders the perpetrator be put to death. The egg-thrower hides out with Anna.

LOUIS’ LOVE (December 24th, 1972) – More wacky hijinks ensue when a daughter of King Mongkut’s from one of his many wives develops a crush on Anna’s son Louis. Mother and son must navigate a way out of the fix without insulting the king.   

SERANA (December 31st, 1972) – The king’s 13-year-old daughter Princess Serana (Rosalind Chao) resists the marriage her father arranged for her. She wants to become a teacher like her British governess. Anna’s got some ‘splaining to do!

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