The Man Who Would Be King

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The Man Who Would Be King

PG

1975

2h 9m

Adventure

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

34 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Based on a short story by Rudyard Kipling, this adventure film follows the exploits of Peachy Carnehan and Danny Dravot, 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

02/25/2025

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

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

10/25/2023

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

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Geoff Brown

Sight & Sound

01/28/2020

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.

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Steve Warren

The Barb (Atlanta)

05/09/2023

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

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David Dugas

United Press International

08/03/2022

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.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

04/16/2021

3.5/4

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.

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Jim P

@RT08384096 2d

Caine and Connery together in a fine adventure yarn. Great entertainment! Watch out for the girl "Roxanne"; Caine's wife in real life!

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Seth C

@SPChamberlain Mar 2

A perfect Greek Tragedy

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Chris H

@RT60525826 Feb 2

A great watch. A mad adventure, with a clever premise and historical intrigue; the performances are terrific and the landscapes are stunning. The "frame story" structure gives both the beginning and end of the film added resonance.

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Susan W

@Soosie Jan 31

An absolute banger of a movie. I was in my 20s when this film came out and never got to see it although I was at the pictures every week. Great westerns, war films and thrillers were my film fodder so how this magnificent film got past me I'll never know. Im mystified as to how the fabulous locations were sought out and the indigenous extras included. This film rates with Lawrence and Kwai in my book. There's is no need to stress the charisma and excellence portrayed by Connery and Caine absolutely faultless. Miss it at your peril.

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Fer S

@RT07531533 May 1

It is quite good. Very interesting. I found the beginning to be confusing. I also think it got kind of slow. I wanted it to end already.

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Paul T

@RT69215654 Apr 23

A true adventure, a story of friendship and daring. Connery and Caine give their best performances. This film picks you up at the beginning and doesn't let you go.

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John Huston

Director

Sean Connery

Daniel Dravot

Michael Caine

Peachy Carnehan

Christopher Plummer

Rudyard Kipling

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Kafu Selim

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Synopsis

Based on a short story by Rudyard Kipling, this adventure film follows the exploits of Peachy Carnehan and Danny Dravot, 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, Devon/Persky-Bright, Columbia Pictures Corporation
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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