Trivia: The film's producers wanted to shoot Anna and the King in Bangkok. Due to disagreements concerning the script with the Thai Government (King Rama IV in the movie was the great-grandfather of the present Thai King), the crew and cast were not allowed to film in Thailand at all. This film was shot in Malaysia instead.
Trivia: When the scene where the cow is blown up was threatened to be cut due to money constrictions George Clooney paid for the effect out of his own pocket feeling it important to the scene. He was right, the scene was wildly popular with audiences. (Source George Clooney Biography at http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/george_clooney_biog/5).