The original discrete stereophonic "music and vocal only" separation soundtracks for the KING AND I (also CAROUSEL, OKLAHOMA and SOUTH PACIFIC) are in the 20th. Century Fox studio vaults and could have been made available to the producers for these re-masterings if anyone had cared enough to ask. In fact, the deluxe laserdisc of THE KING AND I contained a CD of about 76 minutes including the complete vocal score and Alfred Newman's excellent underscoring, all completely free of extraneous sound effects and dialogue. Why weren't these tracks used for this CD release? These performances are important enough to use the best and cleanest sound source in existence and I don't think it is childish to comment on this omission. These original tracks should have been used exclusively for the expanded versions of these albums. The end result would have much more musically pleasing. As a long time audiophile myself I don't think this is asking too much and other Amazon reviewers of musical soundtracks in which the producer of this CD, Didier C. Deutsch, was involved have commented on the sound effect and dialogue snippets that marred the expanded versions of WEST SIDE STORY and MY FAIR LADY.

I can't imagine any intelligent person who would want these intrusions on a music only recording if an alternate source without them were readily available.

This recording of THE KING AND I as well as the film soundtracks of CAROUSEL and OKLAHOMA are musically the finest recorded performances of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musicals. These recordings deserve and could have gotten a far better sonic presentation than the producers and EMI-Angel gave them. I certainly don't expect everyone to agree with my personal observations concerning these releases. That is what this forum is all about, after all and from a musical standpoint I cannot recommend these soundtracks more highly. I just wish the producers had been more careful in their execution of these releases.


a superlative re-issue   November 20, 2002
Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

This new remastering job for the film soundtrack of THE KING AND I is long-overdue, but has been well worth the wait. Angel Broadway have outdone themselves.

The CD features all the musical numbers (including those cut from the film), some of the background incidental music as well as some of the dance music. But the highlight is the complete music for "The Small House of Uncle Thomas" ballet is included (oh happy day).

This score (like many of the R&H movie-versions) features a lot of dubbed voices. Deborah Kerr's was dubbed by popular Hollywood ghost-singer Marni Nixon (who would go on to dub for her again the following year in 'An Affair to Remember'). Carlos Rivas (who played Lun-Tha), had voice double Reuben Fuentes, and Rita Moreno's (who played the tragic Tuptim) voice was dubbed by Leona Gordon (despite that on many occasions Moreno has insisted that it is her own voice).

Terry Saunders remains a revelation as Lady Thiang, singing a heartfelt "Something Wonderful", and Yul Brynner, direct from the Broadway run, shows a new maturity of voice compared to the original Broadway cast-album.

The original session tapes have been cleaned up for this recording (there is a small amount of hiss and click, but with cast recordings this is quite normal), and the extensive liner notes are a fascinating read.

Highly recommended.


A fine King and I soundtrack reissue   February 10, 2007
Yi-Peng (Singapore)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Of the three recent EMI-Angel R&H film soundtrack reissues, I find that this reissue of the King & I soundtrack is the best-executed. The King and I shows a new maturing of the R&H element and this superb 1956 film adaptation more than certainly does it justice. The superb soundtrack presented here includes the complete score, along with some of Alfred Newman's underscoring, and boasts splendid performances by Marni Nixon and Yul Brynner. And of course the orchestra is sumptuous and properly lush, enveloping us in sweltering renditions of some of Rodgers' most heartfelt melodies.

I won't reiterate the critic-proof performances here. Other reviewers have covered them elsewhere. Nixon as a voice-dubber is in her element as Anna, and portrays her characterfully. Brynner is in his element as the King, as firm, commanding and authoritative as we've always known him to be. This performance shows him at his best, ripe, fresh and mature. Leona Gordon and Reuben Fuentes shine as the star-crossed lovers Tuptim and Lun Tha, bringing a melancholic quality to their brief numbers. It's really a treat to hear their renditions of the omitted songs My Lord and Master and I Have Dreamed. Rita Moreno as the real Tuptim acquits herself well when narrating the Uncle Tom's Cabin ballet sequence, presented for the first time on an official soundtrack recording. It's good to also hear Terry Saunders as Lady Thiang, in a heartfelt, humane and imploring rendition of Something Wonderful, and she is the icing on the cake of this superb soundtrack recording.

This EMI-Angel R&H soundtrack offers an extra benefit in addition to the extra musical sequences. Unlike the companion CDs of Oklahoma and Carousel, it presents the extra material from the original unmixed studio vault masters, except for the Prayer to Buddha and the Uncle Tom's Cabin ballet. This means that this reissue is blessedly free of the extraneous sound effects that plague the Oklahoma and Carousel CDs. I know that the sound effects and little snippets of dialogue drown out the music, but at least these reissues are a start in presenting comprehensive R&H soundtracks worthy of their films. What a pity that none of these R&H soundtrack reissues aren't 2-CD sets, otherwise we would have been able to hear the underscore.

In short, this is a superb presentation of a fine R&H film soundtrack.


Magnificent recording of classic R and H score   May 28, 2000
Tommy Peter (Baltimore, Maryland)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

The film version of "The King and I" is one of the best (and best-loved) filmizations of a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, and for good reason. With that wonderful, melodic score so superbly orchestrated, Yul Brynner magnificently recreating his (and I do mean HIS) stage role of the King, and the wonderful Deborah Kerr as Anna, how can you miss? The soundtrack of the film is equally good, with the lovely orchestrations and performances of the songs retained beautifully. Marni Nixon, the legendary "ghost singer," dubs Deborah Kerr, in her most successful assignment to date as far as integrating her voice with Kerr's goes, (magnificently demonstrated in "Shall I Tell You What I Think of You," a great song unfortunatly cut from the film). She is also in peak voice, too, and sounds beautiful. Brynner's two songs, the great "A Puzzlement" and "Song of the King," are fine, as well, though he doesn't dominate the CD as he did the movie. But then, why complain about that, with so many other good things to make up for it? With such charming, beautiful songs as "Hello, Young Lovers," "Getting to Know You," and, of course, "Shall We Dance," all superbly performed by Nixon, as well as a good supporting cast of singers. Leona Gordon "augments" the voice of Rita Moreno's Tuptim, and though she falters a little bit when hitting the high notes of "My Lord and Master," (also cut from the film) otherwise her voice is beautiful, nicely bolestering a less-than-steller Reuben Feuntes (who dubbed Carlos Rivas's Lun Tha) during the beautiful "We Kiss In A Shadow" and "I Have Dreamed." (The last song, also cut; a shame) And Terry Saunders' Lady Thaing gives a beautiful, moving reading of "Something Wonderful," as well. One of the best recordings available of a classic R and H score, and not to be missed.


The best KING and I recording   July 4, 1999
Joe NY
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

The movie soundtrack recording for the KING & I is the best available for this score. Mainly because of Alfred Newman's and Ken Darby's rich symphonic Oscar winning scoring. The cast is great also. Byrnner never sounded better and the Kerr/Nixon combination is expertly done. Its mostly Kerr's voice in SHALL I TELL YOU WHAT I THINK OF YOU, A song unfortunatly cut from the final release version. Carlos Rivas (LunTha) is also dubbed(by Ruben Fuetes), but does any one know if Rita Moreno used her own singing voice? The soundtrack recording differs from the film in many ways. The great symphonic OVERTURE, for some mysterious reason, was never part of the film. WHISTLE is longer on the album. LORD AND MASTER was recored and included in the album but was apprantly dropped from the final shooting script and never filmed. I HAVE DREAMED and the afore mentioned SHALL I TELL YOU were filmed and included in preview versions of the film but cut at the last minute prior to the offical premiere to achieve a shorter running time. SONG OF THE KING is a longer alternate version on the ST album. The special collector's laser disk issue of KING AND I included a limited 77 minute expanded version of the score. This included the original album along with generous portions of Newman's underscore. This "updated" version should replace the standard cd which has been available since 1956.