The Man Who Would Be King
The Man Who Would Be King

Movie spotlight

The Man Who Would Be King

1975
Movie
129 min
English

Tired of life as soldiers, Peachy Carnehan and Danny Dravot travel to the isolated land of Kafiristan, where they are ultimately embraced by the people and revered as rulers. After a series of misunderstandings, the natives come to believe that Dravot is a god, but he and Carnehan can't keep up their deception forever.

Insights

IMDb7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes90%
Metacritic77/100
Google Users89%
Director: John HustonGenres: Adventure, Drama, War

Plot Summary

In 1880s British India, two roguish ex-British Army sergeants, Daniel Dravot and Peachy Carnehan, embark on an ambitious journey to the remote region of Kafiristan to become kings. They believe they have found a land untouched by modern civilization, where they can exploit its riches and rule as god-kings. However, their grand scheme soon encounters the harsh realities of tribal politics and the dangerous consequences of playing with destiny.

Critical Reception

The Man Who Would Be King was met with widespread critical acclaim, praised for its epic scope, masterful direction by John Huston, and the charismatic performances of its lead actors. Audiences also responded positively to its grand adventure narrative and thematic depth, making it a beloved classic.

What Reviewers Say

  • A grand, adventurous epic with strong performances from Connery and Caine.

  • John Huston's direction is masterful, capturing the spirit of Kipling's tale.

  • Explores themes of ambition, colonialism, and the fine line between divinity and delusion.

Google audience: Google users overwhelmingly praise the film for its thrilling adventure, compelling performances by Sean Connery and Michael Caine, and John Huston's superb direction. Many highlight its epic scale and engaging storyline as significant strengths.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for 4 BAFTA Awards, including Best Cinematography and Best Production Design. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Art Direction.

Fun Fact

Sean Connery and Michael Caine were such good friends during filming that they reportedly had a pact to give each other a portion of their salaries if either of them felt they were holding the other back, though this never needed to be invoked.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

"Danny" (Sean Connery) and "Peachy" (Michael Caine) are a pair of chancers at the height of the Raj in British India, who decide that they need to go make their fortune. Thanks to a little help from Rudyard Kipling (Christopher Plummer), th...

Filipe Manuel Neto

Filipe Manuel Ne...

**A magnificent adventure film that adapts to the cinema a short story by Rudyard Kipling about greed, and the price that can be paid for it.** Born in India, Rudyard Kipling is one of the most distinguished British writers of the late 1...

John Chard

John Chard

From the upper echelon of boys own adventures comes - The Man Who Would Be King! Two ex-servicemen are lolling around colonial India, it's just the start of a journey that will see them in Kafiristan. Here the mountain dwellers believe t...