Which is the 'real' story? The play was based on Anna Leonowens' memoirs, which only provided her side of events. She saw herself as bringing culture to a backward people, and that attitude comes across in the earlier versions.
Charmed, charmed, charmed!
I'd say it wasn't the one where everyone gets up and sings a lot.
Love is never having to say you're sober.
After having read Anna's memoirs as well as the novel based on them, I'd say this version is closest to what really happened.
However, IMO Chow Yun-Fat's performance was very flattering to the real King Mongkut, as the real King, from what I understood, was more impulsive, aggressive and moody.
I think the Rex Harrison version was probably closer. Non-musical and less romance but more circumspect in behavior on the screen.
shareIn both cases the story of Tuptim didn't happen. Such a thing would have been officially recorded, it isn't, and the gruesome tale as depicted in either film just isn't in line with the facts. Anna made it up based on a few fragments of palace gossip about something that happened while Mongkut's older stepbrother (Rama III) was in charge.
Well, the city's being built and I'm winning this game. So don't interrupt us with trifles.
The 'real story' was largely fabricated itself.
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