The Man Who Would Be King (1975)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Tim S

  
  The Man Who Would Be King tells the story of two men out to seek their fortunes as they go into a small village and build themselves up as people of importance in order to start their own nation. This is a film that I had been hearing about for a long time from various people that it… More
  The Man Who Would Be King tells the story of two men out to seek their fortunes as they go into a small village and build themselves up as people of importance in order to start their own nation. This is a film that I had been hearing about for a long time from various people that it was just a fantastic movie and one that doesn't get much attention these days. While I agree it's certainly underrated and not talked about, I wouldn't call it a masterpiece. The film definitely has some merit to it, but I do have to say that I was sort of bored for the first half hour or so. Things take so long to set up in a story a little over two hours long that you just want it to get there already. There's no real conflict character-wise until the third-act, which is a bit off-putting. Sean Connery and Michael Caine give good performances, of course, but the story is very uneven to me. I liked it, but I can't say that I'd recommend it without mentioning some of its faults.

• Jens S

  
  Good old fashioned adventure film after a lesser known Rudyard Kipling story. Two British soldiers decide to create an empire on their own by traveling from India into the wild Afghan mountains, soon finding traces of Alexander the great. There is plenty to see here, two excellent… More
  Good old fashioned adventure film after a lesser known Rudyard Kipling story. Two British soldiers decide to create an empire on their own by traveling from India into the wild Afghan mountains, soon finding traces of Alexander the great. There is plenty to see here, two excellent leading men with Connery and Caine, gorgeous landscapes and bizarre local rituals make for a very entertaining, sometimes funny, often brutal ride, even if the heroes are cocky and still believe in making the world a better place just by being British. You see their eventual downfall coming but still cheer for them of course. Gladly, the tragic ending doesn't feel forced but as the only possible solution.

• xGary X

  
  Two likable rogues Michael Caine and Sean Connery hatch a scheme to conquer the untamed wilderness of Kafiristan using their military training to unite its warring tribes. Seeing Connery and Caine together is reason enough to recommend this film to anyone, but John Huston's… More
  Two likable rogues Michael Caine and Sean Connery hatch a scheme to conquer the untamed wilderness of Kafiristan using their military training to unite its warring tribes. Seeing Connery and Caine together is reason enough to recommend this film to anyone, but John Huston's adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's classic story lives up to all expectations. There is no superfluous action, love scenes or unnecessary bells and whistles; just pure storytelling at its finest. Unsurprisingly, the central double act play off each other brilliantly and together with an excellent Christopher Plummer as Kipling himself, they make for a fantastic parody of and homage to "Britishness" amid a perfect blending of humour and derring do. Huston effortlessly shifts tone, darkening the mood til the wonderful twist in the tale with a similar morality message to his own The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre. One of the last of the true boy's own classics and another of the "they don't make them like that anymore" category.

• Anthony L

  
  Based on the brilliant book by Rudyard Kipling, The Man Who Would Be King was Huston last great adventure film (Not actual last, just last great) and undoubtedly one of the last great adventure films of an era. It's all jolly good fun, very British but also quite dark, I mean,… More
  Based on the brilliant book by Rudyard Kipling, The Man Who Would Be King was Huston last great adventure film (Not actual last, just last great) and undoubtedly one of the last great adventure films of an era. It's all jolly good fun, very British but also quite dark, I mean, what an ending!! It inculpates Kipling's style perfectly, and Connery, Plummer but particularly Caine are all brilliant, as is Jaffrey in a smaller role. A classic buddy movie too!

• Bruce B

  
  An outstanding film, Be Prepared to sit a while and enjoy, Filxster write up says its 2hr 9 Min the version I watched was much longer. Sean Connery and Michael Caone are basically con-men in the British Empire Of India, They travel North where no white man has gone and come back, in… More
  An outstanding film, Be Prepared to sit a while and enjoy, Filxster write up says its 2hr 9 Min the version I watched was much longer. Sean Connery and Michael Caone are basically con-men in the British Empire Of India, They travel North where no white man has gone and come back, in there travels Connery is mistaken for the Son of Alexander the great, and Travels to the holy city. Makes for an interesting adventure, Remember this was filmed in 1975, based on that I give this one 4 Stars

• jay n

  
  Disappointing dull

• Randy T

  
  Have you ever noticed that Sean Connery is always playing Sean Connery? I mean sure, he's a Scotsman who usually plays an Englishman. Occasionally he'll stretch his acting skills and play an Irishman, but he's always himself. The beauty of it is that he's so damn… More
  Have you ever noticed that Sean Connery is always playing Sean Connery? I mean sure, he's a Scotsman who usually plays an Englishman. Occasionally he'll stretch his acting skills and play an Irishman, but he's always himself. The beauty of it is that he's so damn likeable nobody ever questions it. Hell, I'd bet few even notice it. He's my favorite James Bond, his Irish cop was the best part of <i>The Untouchables</i> and his persona was completely acceptable as a Russian submarine commander in <i>The Hunt of Red October</i>. In my opinion, any movie is better with Sean Connery in it. Which brings me to <i>The Man Who Would Be King</i>. Absolutely fantastic! And not just because Connery is in it. Michael Caine's 'Peachy' is spot-on. An epic drama with a surprising amount of humor. Very, very good stuff.

• Pierluigi P

  
  Another everlasting glimpse of John Huston's adventurous and relentless soul. The epic tale of two petty rascals who embarked on a quest for wealth, but found instead the essence of life itself, and most importantly, remained together against all odds. An incisive ethnographic… More
  Another everlasting glimpse of John Huston's adventurous and relentless soul. The epic tale of two petty rascals who embarked on a quest for wealth, but found instead the essence of life itself, and most importantly, remained together against all odds. An incisive ethnographic and existential study, and a chant to camaraderie and glory narrated with vigor and beauty.

• Ken S

  
  Good old fashion high adventure. Featuring Michael Caine and Sean Connery's wicked chemistry.

• Stella D

  
  god's holy trousers! two rogues get more than they bargained for when they set out to be kings. a fantastic road movie and my favorite adventure film. originally conceived as a vehicle for bogart and gable tho it's hard to imagine anyone being better than connery and… More
  god's holy trousers! two rogues get more than they bargained for when they set out to be kings. a fantastic road movie and my favorite adventure film. originally conceived as a vehicle for bogart and gable tho it's hard to imagine anyone being better than connery and caine are here. it may not be 'politically correct' but i love this movie! and isn't it all about the dangers of imperialism? still relevant today i think

• Lanning :

  
  You call it luck. I call it destiny. <p> And, in the darkness of 20-20 hindsight, it could be called fate. Fatal. The fatal flaw. Hubris. Greed. The egotistical assumption of divine calling. Delusions of grandeur. A never-ending laundry list of tragic flaws unfolding… More
  You call it luck. I call it destiny. <p> And, in the darkness of 20-20 hindsight, it could be called fate. Fatal. The fatal flaw. Hubris. Greed. The egotistical assumption of divine calling. Delusions of grandeur. A never-ending laundry list of tragic flaws unfolding in the character of unthinking people and obtuse peoples. The rise and fall of Daniel Dravot; the rise and fall of the British Empire. Kipling and Huston tell the age-old tale of the quest to reach out, reach out and conquer someone. It is an historically repetitive universal tale of tragic overreach which can rarely end happily. <p> But the English author, my dear Rudyard Kipling, who was born and lived in India, in Vermont, and in England, points fingers not just at his own English countrymen. The phrase "savages all" comes to mind. No people is perfect. Some are just more egregiously and overbearingly imperfect than others. <p> <b> 09/11/06 update:</b> On this fifth anniversary of 9-11, Kipling's story is ringing some huge bells. The abysmally ignorant and avaricious clawing of George Bush and his twistedly horrid group of dark-force jackass -- just say no to politics. <p> Sorry. My apologies. I must remember to restrain this kind of venting. <p> So for a brilliant segue: The team of Connery and Caine is another beautifully energetic male pairing not to be missed. A great friendship/road movie despite the downside. If you've not seen this gem, flixster friends, you must do so as soon as the opportunity presents itself. You will not be disappointed. <p> Note: Michael Caine's real-life wife, Shakira Caine, who, kinkily enough, plays Sean Connery's love interest in this movie, adds a whole other level to the intrigue value of this movie.

• Simeon D

  
  Terrific performances from Connery and Caine, and skillful direction by John Huston that evokes wonderful imagery and cinematography. A bit slow in the beginning though and it's mighty difficult to understand exactly what's going on with Kipling's meandering dialogue… More
  Terrific performances from Connery and Caine, and skillful direction by John Huston that evokes wonderful imagery and cinematography. A bit slow in the beginning though and it's mighty difficult to understand exactly what's going on with Kipling's meandering dialogue and the two leads' strong Scottish accents. Wears out your patience after a while. As a well directed witty and audacious spectacle, it's worth a look. 86/100

• MJS M

  
  This is an odd one, on one hand I found this an enjoyable little romp, on the other hand its attitudes toward race are a little less than ?PC.? This John Huston directed effort features some really fun performances by Michael Kaine and Sean Connery, it?s a fun adventure story, and it… More
  This is an odd one, on one hand I found this an enjoyable little romp, on the other hand its attitudes toward race are a little less than ?PC.? This John Huston directed effort features some really fun performances by Michael Kaine and Sean Connery, it?s a fun adventure story, and it has some really funny moments. However, it?s based on a Rudyard Kipling story, and as such it has a pretty offensive attitude in regards to British colonialism. The Afghan tribe the characters run into are completely stereotypical and are depicted as little more than ignorant savages. Maybe I?m just being too sensitive, but I couldn?t? help but find the film?s attitudes a little disturbing. That said this is a very well made romp.

• Barry L

  
  I genuinly enjoyed this film and have it in my library.God save the Queen

• Sarah B

  
  A must see, just for Connery and Caine scoring points off of each other, playing off each other and making the film palatable.

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