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The Man Who Would Be King

Play trailer Poster for The Man Who Would Be King PG Released Dec 17, 1975 2h 9m Adventure Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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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 (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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The Man Who Would Be King

Critics Reviews

View All (34) Critics Reviews
Pauline Kael New Yorker The director's love of the material is palpable; it makes one smile. Oct 25, 2023 Full Review 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 Full Review Jay Cocks TIME Magazine John Huston has been wanting to make this movie for more than 20 years. It was worth the wait. Apr 20, 2010 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Issy J My Dad took me to watch this at the cinema on release way back then mid 70's. I was nearly 8 years old and what an impression it made on me. Real boys own stuff with a wonderful cast and exotic feel to the movie. Remains one of my all time favourites, if only to bask in the nostalgia and relive the memory of that first time seeing it with my Dad . He took me to see a reissue of Zulu that same year, another spectacular movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/31/24 Full Review Alec B Easily one of Huston's best movies. I tend to think the narrative sort of lulls you into thinking it is a certain kind of 19th century swashbuckling adventure, only to wind up as a cautionary tale. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The Man Who Would Be King

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

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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