Redheaded Jill

Yul Brynner is a severely underrated actor in my opinion. He was uniquely handsome, vastly talented, and I wish he’d made more movies. I am not usually partial to a bald head, but he pulls it off. I’m not sure if it was a fashion choice or a physical trait, but it worked for him.

I believe his most well known role was the King of Siam in The King and I, with Deborah Kerr. As the King of Siam Brynner worries about raising his many children, teaching the crown prince to be a wise leader, keeping his children’s teacher happy, and showing Siam as a strong nation and not a barbaric one to the rest of the world. Charming and sad, this musical has a wonderful soundtrack, a diverse cast, and fascinating history. I actually started watching Thai Lakorns (dramas) in part because I recognized some of the traditional costumes from The King and I.

The next most noticeable role is (I would guess) Pharaoh Ramses in The Ten Commandments. “Based on the Holy Scriptures, with additional dialogue by several other hands, The Ten Commandments was the last film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. The story relates the life of Moses, from the time he was discovered in the bullrushes as an infant by the Pharoah’s daughter, to his long, hard struggle to free the Hebrews from their slavery at the hands of the Egyptians.” The cast is phenomenal, the score is unparalleled. I actually listened to this soundtrack a lot in college while studying. It’s SO good.

My favorite western of his is The Magnificent Seven (the original). “Academy Award winner Yul Brynner stars in the landmark western that launched the film careers of Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson and James Coburn. Tired of being ravaged by an army of marauding bandits, the residents of a small Mexican village seek help from seven American gunfighters. The only problem? It’s seven against 50! Also featuring Eli Wallach and Robert Vaughn, and set against Elmer Bernstein’s Oscar Nominated score, director John Sturges’ thrilling adventure belongs in any collection.”

When I think cowboy I hear The Magnificent Seven song play in my head.

I don’t remember how I found this next movie, but The Journey is a reunion of Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr. It has one of the most powerful kiss scenes I’ve ever seen (nothing too racy) but it’s the kind of scene that you’ll feel in your stomach. “In 1956, a band of international refugees flee Budapest, escaping the bloodshed of the Hungarian uprising. Among them are Lady Diana Ashmore (Deborah Kerr) and her lover, Hungarian Paul Kedes (Jason Robards, Jr.), who is forced to hide both his nationality and the wound he suffered in a street battle. The frightened refugees are halted at the Austrian border by Soviet Major Surov (Yul Brynner). Surov finds himself drawn to Diana as he interrogates the refugees in a hunt for suspicious persons. If Paul is discovered, everyone’s life may be in danger. The Journey reunites Kerr and Brynner three years after they won acclaim in The King and I.”

Last, but not least we have The Sound and the Fury. It’s based loosely on a book written by William Faulkner, who I am not a huge fan of. I almost read the book till I read a synopsis and decided it wasn’t as appealing as the movie. (Unusual for me…) The plot is a little strange. Yul Brynner plays the adopted son of a family and Joanne Woodward plays his niece. The family has fallen from grace both financially and morally. Brynner is keeping things together by being the only functional member of the family. His niece thinks he’s a villain even though he’s the only one who truly takes care of her.

Did I miss your Yul Brynner favorite? Let me know in the comments.

**As an amazon associate I earn a commission based on qualifying purchases. There is no additional cost to the buyer when purchases are made from affiliate and associate links.**