Anna and the King (1999)

***Anna and the King*** is a 1999 American biographical period drama film directed by Andy Tennant and written by Steve Meerson and Peter Krikes. Loosely based on the 1944 novel *Anna and the King of Siam*, which gives a fictionalized account of the diaries of Anna Leonowens, it stars Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-fat in the titular roles.

The story concerns Anna Leonowens, an English school teacher in Siam during the late 19th century, who becomes the teacher of King Mongkut's many children and wives. It was mostly shot in Malaysia, particularly in the Penang, Ipoh and Langkawi region.

*Anna and the King* was released in the United States on December 17, 1999 by 20th Century Fox. The film was subject to controversy when the Thai government deemed it historically inaccurate and insulting to the royal family and banned its distribution in the country. It received mixed reviews from critics who praised the production values, costume design, and musical score but criticised its screenplay and length, as well as Foster's choice to play the character which many deemed a role that required her to play beneath her intelligence. The film grossed $114 million worldwide, against its $92 million budget. It received two nominations at the 72nd Academy Awards: Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.

Kate Winslet was offered the role of Anna after the huge success of *Titanic*, but turned it down along with the lead part in *Shakespeare in Love* to do the independent film *Hideous Kinky*.

## Shooting

* Filming was from February 28th, 1999 - June 23rd, 1999.

## Cast

* Jodie Foster - Anna Leonowens
* Chow Yun-Fat - King Mongkut
* Bai Ling - Tuptim
* Tom Felton - Louis T. Leonowens
* Syed Alwi - The Kralahome, Prime Minister
* Randall Duk Kim - General Alak
* Kay Siu Lim - Prince Chowfa (as Lim Kay Siu)
* Melissa Campbell - Princess Fa-Ying
* Keith Chin - Prince Chulalongkorn
* Mano Maniam - Moonshee
* Shanthini Venugopal - Beebe
* Deanna Yusoff - Lady Thiang
* Geoffrey Palmer - Lord John Bradley
* Ann Firbank - Lady Bradley
* Bill Stewart - Mycroft Kincaid
* Sean Ghazi - Khun Phra Balat
* K.K. Moggie - Phim
* Dharma Harun Al-Rashid - Noi
* Harith Iskander - Nikorn
* Yusof B. Mohd Kassim - Pitak
* Afdlin Shauki - Interpreter
* Swee Lin Neo - Lady Jao Jom Manda Ung (as Swee-Lin)
* Ramli Hassan - King Chulalongkorn (voice)
* Robert Hands - Captain Blake
* Yu-Beng Lim - Scarfaced Leader (as Lim Yu-Beng)
* Kenneth Tsang - Justice Phya Phrom
* Thuan Chye Kee - Second Judge (as Kee Thuan Chye)
* Patrick Teoh - Third Judge
* Aimi Aziz - Lady of Court No.1
* Ellie Suriaty Omar - Lady of Court No.2
* Tina Siew Ting Lee - Lady of Court No.3 (as Tina Lee Siew Ting)
* Ruby Wong - Lady of Court No.4 (as Wong Chui Ling)
* Zaridah Abdul Malik - Lady of Court No.5
* Fariza Azlina - La-Ore
* Ahmad Mazlan - Scout No.1
* Razif Salimin - Scout No.2 (as Mohd Razib Saliman)
* Zaibo - Siamese Trader
* Pak Ling - Shipping Dock Woman
* Mahmud Ali Basah - Mercenary
* Zulhaila Siregar - Distraught Villager

**Rest of cast listed alphabetically:**

* Katrin Butt - Guest (uncredited)
* Espérance Pham Thai Lan - Lady Thiang (uncredited)
* Jean-Luc Russier - French Ambassador (uncredited)