Anna and the King

Anna and the King is a 1999 film that recounts the story of the romance between the King of Siam (now Thailand) and widowed British schoolteacher, Anna Leonowens, during the 1860s
 * Directed by Andy Tennant. Written by Steve Meerson and Peter Krikes, based on the 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon.

Prince Chulalongkorn

 * She was the first English woman I had ever met. And it seemed to me she knew more about the world than anyone. But it was a world Siam was afraid would consume them. The monsoon winds had whispered her arrival like a coming storm. Some welcomed the rain, but others feared a raging flood. Still she came, unaware of the suspicion that preceded her. But it wasn't until years later, that I began to appreciate how brave she was, and how alone she must have felt. An English woman. The first I had ever met.
 * I was only a boy, but the image of my father holding the woman he loved for the last time has remained with me throughout the years.
 * It is always surprising how small a part of life is taken up by meaningful moments. Most often they are over before they start, although they cast a light on the future and make the person who originated them unforgettable. Anna had shined such a light on Siam.

Anna Leonowens

 * In my letter confirming my employment, Your Majesty, you claimed you wanted Siam to take its place among the nations of the modern world. You spoke of building something greater than yourself. A country where no man is above the law. Which is why I chose to come here.
 * [to King Mongkut] Life is... precious, especially if you're a Christian and only allowed to have one.
 * Most people do not see the world as it is. They see it as they are.
 * Everyone should have legends. It allows us to dream.

King Mongkut

 * [to Anna] When a woman who has much to say says nothing, her silence can be deafening.

Dialogue

 * King Mongkut: You are teacher?
 * Anna Leonowens: Yes, Your Majesty, I am.
 * King Mongkut: You do not look sufficient of age for scientific teaching. How many years have you?
 * Anna Leonowens: Enough to know that age and wisdom do not necessarily go hand in hand, Your Majesty.


 * King Mongkut: I have never danced with a English woman before.
 * Anna Leonowens: Nor I with a king.


 * Beebe: How was the King compared to the other Englishmen?
 * Anna Leonowens: He was charming, very charming. I don't think I will ever forget, how he held his hand out to me, like I was...
 * Beebe: One of his 26 wives?
 * Anna Leonowens [A bit distraught]: Thank you Beebe, I never thought of it in that way.
 * Beebe [Knowingly]: Perhaps you should.


 * Anna Leonowens: My mind has taken me down many roads of late. All of which lead absolutely nowhere. What would Buddha say of that?
 * King Mongkut: That roads are for journeys, ma'am, not destinations.


 * Prince Chulalongkorn: Son of teacher forgets that I am son of King.
 * Louis Leonowens: Son of teacher couldn't care less.
 * Anna Leonowens: Louis, remember what I told you.
 * Louis Leonowens: I'm sorry Mother, but he started it.
 * Prince Chulalongkorn: In my country, man never tell a woman he is sorry. If you had father, you would know this.
 * Louis Leonowens: You don't have a father, you have a map.
 * [Louis pushes the prince.]
 * Anna Leonowens: Louis!
 * Prince Chulalongkorn: It is forbidden to touch royalty.
 * Louis Leonowens: I didn't touch you — I shoved you. Why don't you get one of your servants to shove me back?


 * Louis: Moonshee, why does the king have so many wives?
 * Moonshee: That is an excellent question — For your mother.


 * Anna Leonowens: Lord Bradley, may I have a moment?
 * Lord Bradley: I'm afraid a moment is all we have.
 * Lady Bradley: We're leaving on the next boat, and so should you.
 * Anna Leonowens: My place is here.
 * Lord Bradley: Your question?
 * Anna Leonowens: Are the British behind these Burmese attacks?
 * Mr. Kincaid: Stick to teaching, Ms. Leonowens. It's clear that you know nothing of pollitics.
 * Anna Leonowens: I know that Burma would never make a move without England's blessing.
 * Lord Bradley: Precisely. But, if our economy was threatened, then it would be our duty to protect our interests.
 * Anna Leonowens: Our economy?! Our interests?!
 * Lady Bradley: The ways of England are the ways of the world, my dear.
 * Anna Leonowens: Yes, a world that I am ashamed to call my own!
 * Lord Bradley: You forget yourself madam. Now if you will excuse us.
 * [They turn to leave]
 * Anna Leonowens: No, I will not. You toasted him! You praised him for his learning! And all the while you were planning to take the throne from him!
 * Lord Bradley: Well, you should do well to remember your own self, next time you are cheek to cheek with the king!


 * King Mongkut: If Alak crosses the bridge, everything I love will die.
 * Anna Leonowens: But they are only children!
 * King Mongkut: Yes, and heirs to the royal throne.
 * Anna Leonowens: What will you do?
 * King Mongkut: We will blow up the bridge.
 * Anna Leonowens: Will that work?
 * King Mongkut: It will, if he is on it.
 * Anna Leonowens: Your Majesty, promise me, promise me I will see you again!
 * [King turns and looks at Anna]
 * King Mongkut: If your Bible is correct, then the world was created in seven days. Who is to say that four men can not stop an army?
 * [The King puts his hand on Anna's cheek hesitantly, then walks away.]


 * Anna Leonowens: You have the power to lead your people...
 * King Mongkut: Now is not the time to change the way that things are done!
 * Anna Leonowens: Well, if not now, then when? How many more people must die so that you might save face?


 * King Mongkut [Coming back alive]: Why did you not take everyone to the monastery like king ordered!?
 * Anna Leonowens: Because I already lost one man to the jungle, your majesty... I wasn't about to let it happen again.


 * King Mongkut: Why did you come back?
 * Anna Leonowens: Because I could not imagine a Siam without you.


 * Anna Leonowens: [Gazing at the King on a balcony] What?
 * King Mongkut: Am wondering, giving circumstances, if it is proper for king to ask Anna to dance.
 * Anna Leonowens: I have danced with a king before, Your Majesty.
 * King Mongkut: And I with an English woman.
 * [They start to dance, and he pulls her close]
 * King Mongkut: Until now, Madame Leonowens, I did not understand supposition, man can be satisfied with only one woman.
 * [He kisses her hand, and they dance closer.]

Cast

 * Jodie Foster - Anna Leonowens
 * Chow Yun-Fat - King Mongkut
 * Bai Ling - Tuptim
 * Tom Felton - Louis T. Leonowens
 * Randall Duk Kim - General Alak
 * Kay Siu Lim - Prince Chaofa, King Mongkut's Brother
 * Melissa Campbell - Princess Fa-Ying
 * Deanna Yusoff - Queen Thiang
 * Geoffrey Palmer - Lord John Bradley
 * Ann Firbank - Lady Bradley
 * Bill Stewart - Mycroft Kincaid, East India Trading Co.
 * Sean Ghazi - Khun Phra Balat
 * Syed Alwi - The Kralahome, Prime Minister
 * Ramli Hassan - King Chulalongkorn
 * Keith Chin - Prince Chulalongkorn
 * Alif Silpachai - Chulalongkorn's brother
 * Kenneth Tsang - Justice Phya Phrom
 * Shantini Venugopal - the nanny
 * Goh Yi Wai - Mongkut's daughter
 * Harith Iskander - Nikorn