The Man Who Would Be King (1975)
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Two rogue ex-soldiers travel from British India to the remote land of Kafiristan, where one is mistakenly worshipped as a god.
The story
In 1885 British India, journalist Rudyard Kipling meets two ex-sergeants of the British Army, Peachy Carnehan and Danny Dravot. Frustrated by a lack of opportunities in a civilizing India and the United Kingdom, the men hatch a plan to travel to the virtually unknown country of Kafiristan. They intend to offer their services to a local ruler to help him conquer his neighbors, with the ultimate goal of overthrowing him and looting the country. After signing a contract of mutual loyalty, the two set off on an overland journey north beyond the Khyber Pass, facing bandits and harsh weather.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1885 British India, journalist Rudyard Kipling meets two ex-sergeants, Peachy Carnehan and Danny Dravot. The men plan to travel to Kafiristan to help a local ruler conquer his neighbors, then overthrow him and loot the country. They travel through Afghanistan, eventually meeting Billy Fish, a Gurkha soldier who helps them rise to power. They offer their services to a village chief, training a force in modern weapons. During a battle, an arrow pierces Dravot's jacket but is stopped by his bandolier; the locals take him for a god. They are eventually summoned to the holy city of Sikandergul by a high priest. A ritual to see if Dravot bleeds reveals a masonic tag around his neck, which the locals believe is a sacred symbol of Alexander the Great. Hailing Dravot as king and god, the locals grant him the royal treasury. However, Dravot begins to enjoy the adulation and settles disputes, eventually falling in love with Roxanne and breaking his pact with Carnehan. When Roxanne bites Dravot, causing him to bleed, the people realize he is human and attack. Dravot is captured and falls to his death from a rope bridge while singing a hymn. Carnehan is crucified but survives, returning to India as a crippled beggar. Kipling finds Dravot's skull wearing a golden crown.
- First release year
- 1975
- Runtime (minutes)
- 129
- Production countries
- United States; United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- John Huston
- Writers
- John Huston · writer; Gladys Hill · writer
- Cast and characters
- Sean Connery · Peachy Carnehan; Michael Caine · Danny Dravot; Christopher Plummer · Kipling; Saeed Jaffrey · Billy Fish; Shakira Caine · Roxanne
- Genres
- epic historical adventure; adventure drama
- Themes
- Ambition; Avarice; Colonialism; Friendship
- Tone and mood
- Epic; Adventure; Melancholy; Swashbuckling
- Premise and plot tags
- Historical; Adventure; Drama; Action; Period Piece
- Source material / true-story basis
- Rudyard Kipling's 1888 novella
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised Huston's direction and the performances of Connery and Caine. It was also a commercial success. It was described as a 'meditation on the excesses of ambition and avarice' and a 'swashbuckling adventure'.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 91 · review count: 15
- Awards and nominations
- Oscar · Best Adapted Screenplay · 48th Academy Awards · Nominated
- Production trivia
- The role of Roxanne was originally slated for Tessa Dahl, the daughter of Roald Dahl and actress Patricia Neal.; The stuntman Joe Powell performed the fall from the rope bridge at the film's climax, a fall of 80 feet.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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