Two musicals, old and new, to watch at home this weekend

Music is essential to movies. It’s sometimes unnoticed, serving only as background to support what’s happening on screen. Other times, it’s one of the main reasons to watch, as is the case with the musicals The Song and The King and I.

The Song is a music-driven update of the story of Solomon. Successfully transferring biblical stories to the motion picture requires savvy and a subtle touch, especially if the story is an updated version of the original account. In this romantic drama, a man named Jed King searches for significance and meaning. Actor-singer Alan Powell received rave reviews for his performance as King, a singer on tour who, despite what he has waiting at home, still faces the temptations of fame.

The prowess of writer and director Richard Ramsey make the film. Ramsey adeptly transfers to film Solomon’s wisdom about what really matters in life, found in Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. He presents the sanctity of marriage both intellectually and emotionally and never overwhelms the story with sermons. His cast reaches all the right notes, and the crew’s technical contributions help energize the proceedings.

The Song is rated PG-13 for adult subject matter, which is suitable for teens and older. A moving, entertaining ode to marriage, The Song was one of the best films of last year.

The Rodgers and Hammerstein classic The King and I from 1956 concerns an English schoolteacher, played by Deborah Kerr, who comes to Siam to teach the children of that country’s monarch, magnificently portrayed by Yul Brynner. Mrs. Anna quickly becomes involved with his highness, a man torn between new scientific developments and ancient traditions. Based on true events, The King and I won several Oscars and is now on Blu-Ray, with lots of extras.

The songs were all well-known at the time, and some of them became standards, including “Hello,” “Young Lovers” and “Getting to Know You.” But the drama, the message, and the memorable songs all lead up to one moment, a milestone in musical theater, when the king and Mrs. Anna twirl around an empty ballroom in each other’s arms.

Listen to Phil Boatwright’s DVD review on The World and Everything in It.