Synopsis

In 1860s Siam, widowed schoolteacher Anna Leonowens arrives with her young son to educate the children of King Mongkut. Her independent outlook clashes with palace customs and royal protocol, but mutual respect gradually develops between Anna and the king. As political threats endanger the kingdom, their relationship becomes part of a larger struggle involving modernization, tradition, loyalty, and Siam's survival.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film is based indirectly on Anna Leonowens' memoirs, through Margaret Landon's fictionalized 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam. It is also a remake of the 1946 film Anna and the King of Siam.

• Thailand refused permission for the production to film there, and the movie was shot largely in Malaysia, including locations around Penang, Ipoh, and Langkawi.

• Thai authorities banned the film's distribution in Thailand, objecting to what they considered historically inaccurate and disrespectful depictions of King Mongkut and the royal family.

• The palace set reportedly covered more than eight acres, making it one of the largest sets built for a film at the time.

• The production received Academy Award nominations for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.

• Although presented as a historical drama, the film takes substantial dramatic liberties with the relationship between Anna and King Mongkut, as well as with several palace events and characters.