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List Price: $8.94 | | Label: Angel Records
Salesrank: 2034
Released: March 13, 2001 |
| Our Price: $6.35 |
| Used Price: $6.99 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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The King and I (1956 Film Soundtrack) Track Listing:
1. Main Title [#] - Twentieth Century Fox Orchestra
2. I Whistle a Happy Tune - Marni Nixon, Rex Thompson
3. My Lord and Master - Rita Moreno
4. March of the Siamese Children - Twentieth Century Fox Orchestra
5. Anna and the Royal Wives - Twentieth Century Fox Orchestra
6. Hello, Young Lovers - Marni Nixon
7. Puzzlement - Yul Brynner
8. Getting to Know You - Deborah Kerr, Marni Nixon
9. Garden Rendezvous [#] - Twentieth Century Fox Orchestra
10. We Kiss in a Shadow - Reuben Fuentes, Leona Gordon
11. I Have Dreamed - Reuben Fuentes, Leona Gordon
12. Shall I Tell You What I Think of You? - Deborah Kerr, Marni Nixon
13. Something Wonderful - Terry Saunders
14. Prayer to Buddha [#] - Yul Brynner,
15. Waltz of Anna and Sir Edward [#] - Twentieth Century Fox Orchestra
16. Small House of Uncle Thomas [#] - Rita Moreno
17. Song of the King - Yul Brynner, Marni Nixon
18. Shall We Dance? - Yul Brynner, Deborah Kerr, Marni Nixon
19. Letter [#] - Twentieth Century Fox Orchestra
20. Something Wonderful (Finale)
21. Overture [LP Version][*] - Alfred Newman, Twentieth Century Fox Orchestra
Editorial Review:
Compared with the Broadway cast recording, the 1956 soundtrack to the film version of The King and I wins hands down. Yul Brynner is the king (literally and figuratively) in both formats (how could anyone else own such a role?), but the movie's score has better sonics, Brynner's voice is stronger, and the tunes are more memorable (thanks to Alfred Newman's conducting and Ken Darby's scoring) than on any of the various cast recordings. Marni Nixon sings the role of Anna (played onscreen by Deborah Kerr), Brynner delivers his hallmark performance, and the best-loved tunes--"Hello, Young Lovers," "Getting to Know You," and "I Whistle a Happy Tune" are the versions we'll always remember. A classic. --James Hendrickson
The King and I (1956 Film Soundtrack) Reviews:
Definitive Performances 
2009-11-11 - This is the motion picture adaptation Rogers and Hammerstein considered the best of all their stage successes and the performances are wonderful. The sound quality is, as might be expected, vastly superior to the original Broadway stage recording but not so good as the Todd-AO soundtracks of South Pacific or Sound of Music.
Re-issue mixup
2009-06-04 - This comment is for those looking for the original, unaugmented soundtrack, as on the original LP and re-issued in 1993. I apologize for these comments' being time-dependent; and I am independently notifying Amazon that it needs to change this listing. In the meantime, however, the reader needs to be aware of the fact that most of the other reviews under this listing refer to a substantially different re-issue, presumably The King and I (1956 Film Soundtrack), which contains additional music, but also foley effects.
This is an especially important consideration because at various times a particular reissue may command a very high price because of actual or presumed rarity. At the time of this writing the 1993 re-issue is not as rare as might have been assumed, and the reader should know that it is not necessary at this time to pay an extraordinary price to get the original release of all 3 (King & I, Carousel, & Oklahoma) as re-issued in 1993 version. (I had reconciled myself to the 2001 version, which for the most part gets excellent reviews here in spite of what some consider the intrusions of the foley effects. By fortuitous accident I received the 1993 release.)
Unfortunately, I don't know how the prospective buyer can know in advance which version (s)he will receive when clicking under this listing. I hope that by the time most of you read this Amazon will have specified whether this is the 1993 or 2001 re-issue.
I am not recommending one re-issue versus another; had I received it, I might well have enjoyed the extra material on the 2001 release. I suggest the customer read the competing opinions on this subject, as found in the reviews scattered among the various R&H soundtrack listings.
soundtrack "The King and I" 
2009-03-19 - I ordered a soundtrack tape of "The King and I" . I needed the song "Getting to Know You", for a project at our local Nursing Center. I ordered the tape and within 3 days the tape arrived. This was a used tape, but it was in excellent condition, just as advertized. I will certainly use Amazon.com again.
First Class 1956 Recording
2009-02-27 - This is the soundtrack from the 1956 movie. It is a high-fidelity, multi-track recording mixed to great stereo. Very rare in 1956! I think that few would agree with the audiophile (hcampo) who says that the dialog distracts from the soundtrack recording. I have not heard the other versions to which he refers, but I found the limited dialog on this version enjoyable - even though I am not all that familiar with the play/movie (I have seen the movie once). The blending of the voices of Deborah Kerr (the lead actress "Anna") and Marni Nixon (her singing double) is amazing. Overall, I think that this is about as good as it gets.
Favorite Musical
2008-08-02 - I have always loved this musical. Yul Bryner as the "King" was wonderful. I have never been able to picture anyone but him in this roll. When I listen to the music I can picture him on the stage performing the songs and creating the role, since I had the opportunity to see him do so on the stage. This is one of my favorite CD's and I listen to it often.
