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The Man Who Would Be King

Play trailer Poster for The Man Who Would Be King PG 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 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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The Man Who Would Be King

Critics Reviews

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Helen Frizell Sydney Morning Herald 02/25/2025
Very good, indeed, it is mysterious, sometimes chilling, and always attention-holding. Go to Full Review Pauline Kael The New Yorker 10/25/2023
The director's love of the material is palpable; it makes one smile. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert H @RT67230581 Jul 25 Connery and Caine at their very best. See more Matthew D @OceanSage Jun 1 Classic John Huston epic! John Huston’s epic adventure-comedy The Man Who Would Be King (1975) is an all timer with a grand scale and intimate dramatic performances. John Huston seems to clearly influencing Dreamworks for their delightful adventure-comedy musical The Road to El-Dorado beat for beat. The Man Who Would Be King is a splendidly entertaining picture with scores of extras and massive sets. The camels, goats, and mules are outnumbered by all the Moroccan actors in the vast deserts there as Huston filmed a believable odyssey through Afghanistan. I think John Huston strikingly adapts Rudyard Kipling’s original story, while conveying his parable theme of greed destroying men without morals. Sean Connery is very funny as this stout Scottish conman Daniel Dravot, especially alongside the ever hilarious and engaging Englishman Michael Caine as Peachy Carnehan. Their chemistry has perfect comedic timing and a natural charm. See more Ellen S @ECSchwartz Mar 19 This is my favorite movie of all time. The acting is terrific--Caine and Connery are alternately endearing and infuriating complex characters. The dialogue is wonderful. It hews closely to the Kipling original; it also expands and fleshes out elements of what is really just a short story. Settings are exotic, fantastic. The music both expresses the action and the emotions, while evoking the exotic aspects of this wonderful adventure story. See more Jim P @RT08384096 Mar 9 Caine and Connery together in a fine adventure yarn. Great entertainment! Watch out for the girl "Roxanne"; Caine's wife in real life! See more Seth C @SPChamberlain Mar 2 A perfect Greek Tragedy See more 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. See more Read all reviews
The Man Who Would Be King

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Cast & Crew

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John Huston

Director

Sean Connery

Daniel Dravot

Michael Caine

Peachy Carnehan

Christopher Plummer

Rudyard Kipling

Saeed Jaffrey

Billy Fish

Karroum Ben Bouih

Kafu Selim

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The Man Who Would Be King

The Man Who Would Be King (1975) The Man Who Would Be King (1975) The Man Who Would Be King (1975) The Man Who Would Be King (1975) View more photos

Movie Info

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