Yul Brynner as King of Siam in TV series

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33032, 27 September 1972, Page 4

Yul Brynner as King of Siam in TV series

(By

BOB THOMAS.

of the

Associated Press, through N.Z.P.A.)

Can Yul Brynner beat the jinx against film stars in television series? The answer will not be known until the rating race narrows to an early winter climax. Critics generally seemed pleased with the debut of Brynner’s series “Anna and the King.” The major drawback to success: the C.B.S. show is opposite “The Wonderful World of Disney,” nemisis of many a series. If Brynner makes the grade, he will reverse last season’s trend. The series of such film stars as Shirley Maclaine, James Stewart, Anthony Quinn, Glen Ford and Tony Curtis went down in flames.

Shiny - headed Brynner exudes confidence, and perhaps with good reason. His fellow stars apparently failed primarily because they did not have the vehicles to fit their talents. Brynner obviously does. “I’m signed to the series for five years,” he remarked between scenes at 20th Century-Fox. “When I finish, that will mark 10 years’ association with the same role, including four years on the stage and one with the film. “Do I tire of it? Never. Even in the theatre there were times when I felt tired and depressed. But immediately when I stepped on to the stage, I felt alive. The character is so alive, so vital that he carries you along.” The character, of course, is the fiercely autocratic king of the nineteenth century Siam. Brynner played him on Broadway and through the United States in Rodgers and Kammerstein’s “The King and I,” with Gertrude Lawrence as the English nanny for the king’s many children. He repeated the role in the 1956 film opposite Deborah Kerr, winning the Oscar as best actor. His co-star in the series: London-born Samantha Eggar, who is portrayed as an American. Brynner still can earn vast amounts as star of international films. Why, then, would he undertake a television series?

Money, of course is a strong motive. But he indicated that sentiment also played a part in his decision. “I want to do ‘The King

and I,’ in London,” he said. “I had a chance to do the London company, but I chose to tour the United States for a year instead. Now I want the show to be seen by my daughter, who is 9, my grown-up son and my wife.

"So I told my agents to seek a deal by which we might originate the show on the west coast, then take it

to London for eight months. Instead, they came back with the television series.” The deal was too good to pass up. Brynner would be involved in only 4 J months’ production each season, leaving the rest of the year for film work or leisure at his farm in Normandy, France.

He is enthusiastic about the quality of the series. “It has a better look than the movie,” the actor remarked. “When we did ‘The King and I,’ the idiots of 20th CenturyFox were pushing a new technique called Cinemascope 65. They used it for ‘Carousel,’ and ruined the picture. They almost ruined ‘The King and I.’ “The bright lights ‘burned out’ the sets on the picture. Now with the new fast film, you’re able to use younger children, which we couldn’t do on the stage or in the movie. I did a scene the other day with a three-year-old that was utterly charming.” Brynner himself feels more suited for the role. “When I first played it, I was 30 years old, and I was trying to portray a man between 55 and 60. Now I’m 52, and I can be more natural.”