Stream it now The Man Who Would Be King 1975

 

Rudyard Kipling's under-the-microscope look at humanity makes for one of the most humorous and scintillatingly powerful epics ever to touch the silver screen. My father-in-law, who still think John Wayne beats Laurence Olivier, even loves this one. I've entertained him with it five or six times in the last twenty years and every time when its done he actually discusses the film intelligently from a moral-religious viewpoint with a new perspective each viewing. Connery and Caine are unforgettable.

A truly ripping yarn.

A very good movie. After the two main characters do such an amazing job getting themselves into an idyllic situation, it's a bit difficult to accept that they'd blow it all so stupidly.

An epic tale of friendship in the days of Empire - great cast and story.

They don't make 'em like this anymore.

Two over the top conmen, and ex british soldiers, Danny (Sean Connery) and Peachy (Michael Caine) head to war ridden Kafiristan to lead their villages in a takeover, and become kings. Unfortunately things get complicated for the duo when Danny is mistaken for a God, and son of Alexander the Great. The duo decide it best to play off the mistake, and while all goes great at first, soon the power goes to Danny's head and the two are lead down a painful slope into tragedy.

From the opening shot of a disheveled Peachy talking to an old friend, and mason counterpart, Kipping (Christopher Plummer), the movie sets its tone as an oddball, dark humor ridden, and yet tragic tale of two men seeking out their dream. Huston's classic directing style brings about a powerful story very reminiscent of his early masterpiece Treasure of the Sierra Madre.

Tragic, yet morally intriguing, and at the same time very degrading, and judging of non-british cultures, The Man Who Would Be King brings about a lot of complex way of looking at the film, and yet retains a lot of its interest only putting in the necessary scenes for the story, and not over clogging itself with side treks and subplots. I admire any director, especially one like Huston, who can maintain such complex notions in films, and retain so much concern with that core story about which all of it comes. So that while TMWWBK (yes that's a long abbreviation) may not be perfect, it's an amazing sequence of classic storytelling, and a powerful story well worth the watch.

I just couldn't really get in to this movie. It seemed to be like a Bob Hope road movie for the first 3/4 and then tried to get weirdly serious.

I am not a big fan of John Huston's films, but this film is pretty entertaining with Michael Caine and Sean Connery as the leads.

The Man Who Would Be King (1975): "Different countries, different customs. Musn't be prejudiced, Peachy." - Daniel

After listening to Kipling's "The Man Who Would Be King" on the Classic Tales podcast, I searched IMDB and discovered this adaptation by John Huston, with Sean Connery and Michael Caine in the lead roles. The story follows two British soldiers stationed in India in 1888 who resign their posts to acquire the power of gods in the remote regions of Kafiristan in Afghanistan.

A great plan that was working like a champ, boosted along at critical times by their association with the Masons, until Danny decided it was time for him to have his queen. The good Kafiri's couldn't quite see what a god would want with a woman.

Besides the acting from two of the best, Morocco is beautiful filmed and their is some terrific costume work.

A great movie, has been on of my favourites for many years now. There's nothing much else to say, it is just a great movie, and it will never become dated like other great movies, it's timeless.