The Man Who Would Be King

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The Man Who Would Be King

PG

Released Dec 17, 1975

2h 9m

Adventure

Action

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Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Based on a short story by Rudyard Kipling, this adventure film follows the exploits of Peachy Carnehan (Michael Caine) and Danny Dravot (Sean Connery), English military officers stationed in India. Tired of life as soldiers, the two 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.

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Helen Frizell

Sydney Morning Herald

Very good, indeed, it is mysterious, sometimes chilling, and always attention-holding.

Feb 25, 2025

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

The director's love of the material is palpable; it makes one smile.

Oct 25, 2023

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Geoff Brown

Sight & Sound

The result, as one might expect, is lively, totally assured, and certainly one of Huston's more bracing movies, though inevitably the story emerges much expanded, with different emphases.

Jan 28, 2020

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Steve Warren

The Barb (Atlanta)

There is no point to The Man Who Would Be King-- it's just for fun, like the movie epics they used to make.

May 9, 2023

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David Dugas

United Press International

Huston finally has realized his ambition with the pretty much perfect teaming of Sean Connery and Michael Caine. Christopher Plummer is excellent as Kipling himself and it's a bloody good show.

Aug 3, 2022

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Director John Huston had wanted to adapt Rudyard Kipling's story for decades, but the adage "better late than never" certainly applies here, given the splendid results.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 16, 2021

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John M

One of the greatest movies I have ever seen. The work of one of the truly great authors in the English language, with some of the greatest of all actors, beautifully shot.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/25

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Ronnie R

One of my all time favourite movies

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/04/25

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Ray V

This movie is a highlight in the careers of Connery, Caine and Huston.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/06/24

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Radne A

Loved it after decades. Only ever remembered the last scene until I finally watched it again. The storyline and the movie adaptation and the actors are brilliant

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/24

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alan g

Great movie. Sweeps you up in the action. Great chemistry between the leads. A lot of fun.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/22/24

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Satin B

Eventually got there for 2h3m, great cast, just a tad long-winded plus many ManY MANY scenes could have been left on the cutting room floor ⚠️

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/24

Full Review

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John Huston

Director

Sean Connery

Daniel Dravot

Michael Caine

Peachy Carnehan

Christopher Plummer

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Synopsis

Based on a short story by Rudyard Kipling, this adventure film follows the exploits of Peachy Carnehan (Michael Caine) and Danny Dravot (Sean Connery), English military officers stationed in India. Tired of life as soldiers, the two 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.

Director: John Huston
Producer: John Foreman
Screenwriter: John Huston, Gladys Hill
Distributor: Allied Artists Pictures
Production Co: Allied Artists, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Devon/Persky-Bright
Rating: PG
Genre: Adventure, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 17, 1975, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 14, 2014
Runtime: 2h 9m

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