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ANNA
AND THE KING filming locations
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CREDITS
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Plans
to film this retread of the 1946 Anna
and the King of Siam on genuine Thai locations
were scuppered by protests of historical inaccuracy
from the Thai Film Board.
The original Anna Leonowens, on whose memoir the story is
based, seemingly exaggerated her importance in, and
influence on, the Siamese court to the detriment of
King Mongkut.
The implied romantic aspect seems a little
dubious, since Anna Leonowens was 28 when she arrived
in Siam, while King Mongkut was a deeply religious man
of nearly 60. Thereís only one brief mention of Anna
in the kingís diaries. And, far from being historical,
the subplot was based on Anna Leonowensí fictional novel
Romance of the Harem.
After protracted negotiations and rewrites, Twentieth
Century Fox moved the production to Malaysia.
Most of the movie was filmed in Ipoh
and Perak, and Annaís
traditional village house is in Parit.
King Mongkutís Grand Palace was recreated at a secret
location, but part of the palace was filmed in Rumah
Besar Papan, a Mandailing mansion in Papan,
about ten miles from Ipoh. Filming also took place at
Langkawi Island
and Shah Alam, Selangor.
More scenes were filmed at Penang
in Malaysia. TheíBangkokí street scenes filmed on Armenian
Street, with very little set dressing to
the 19th century Armenian merchant houses. The ëRoyal
Court Roomí is the Grand Ballroom
of Penang Town Hall
on Jalan Padang Kota Lama (Esplanade
Road).
ëBangkok Harbourí is Swettenham
Pier, Penang Harbour. The temple, where Bai
Ling is captured by palace guards is Khoo
Kongsi clan temple. Anna and Prince Chulalongkorn
find the slave in chains in Syed
Alatas Mansion, 128 Armenian Street, the
1860s hoouse of an Arab trader from Sumatra, and one
of the best examples of an upper-class Muslim residence
from the period, is now the premises of the Penang Heritage
Centre.
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FILMING
LOCATIONS FOR ANNA
AND THE KING
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CHECK
OUT
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