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The Man Who Would Be King on DVD (1975)

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Average rating: (75%)
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3.5
 
Starring: Michael Caine | Sean Connery | Christopher Plummer | Saeed Jaffrey | Shakira Caine | Paul Antrim | Doghmi Larbi | Jack May
Director: John Huston
Studio: SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time: 123 mins
Certificate: PG
User collections: You will laugh, cry, scream, and thrill! | Films that won't ever be surpassed | 50 Films I Recommened You See Before You Die | The films I like are better than the films you like | Favourites
Genres: Action/Adventure | Thriller
Languages: English
Dubbed: French, German, Italian, Spanish
Subtitles: Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
Released: 28/10/2002

Brief synopsis of The Man Who Would Be King

Based on the classic story by novelist Rudyard Kipling, THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING follows two British adventurers (Sean Connery and Michael Caine), former soldiers in Her Majesty's Service, as they give up the drudgery of eking out a living, legal and illegal, in poverty Raj-ruled India, and set out for the isolated, desolate land of Kafiristan to become heroes or, perhaps, even kings. Christopher Plummer stars as Kipling himself in John Huston's engaging adventure picture.

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 5 stars out of 5 Radio Times

This movie version of Rudyard Kipling's right royal 19th-century adventure stars Sean Connery and Michael Caine as the veteran army squaddies who bamboozle a remote mountain tribe into accepting Connery's regal credentials. Greed and circumstances topple the comic elements of the tale into a serious fable about the vanity of human endeavour, in keeping with Kipling's original story and the philosophy of director John Huston's greatest movies. Huston matches character to action in masterly fashion, aided by the brief bonus of an aloof commentary on the situation by Christopher Plummer, as Kipling himself.

Rating of 1 stars out of 4 Halliwell's Film Guide

After an ingratiating start this ambitious fable becomes more predictable, and comedy gives way to unpleasantness. Despite its sporadic high quality, one does not remember it with enthusiasm.

Los Angeles Times

"...Wide-screen action and adventure don't get much more satisfying than this..."

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 5 starsKing of Kafiristan

sadboy69 from tyne & wear , 25/01/2005

Sick of all the latest movies that have loads of CGI? Fed up with remakes?

Tired of movies with poor stories and bad acting?

If so try this gem from 1975. No CGI, great story, fantastic actors

Michael Caine and Sean Connery star in this tale of grand adventure

in the days of empire.

A movie you can watch again and again.

  5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starssimply excellent!

DrMikey from Middlewich , 28/05/2004

This is such a top movie - if you like Connery / Caine, then you must watch this! There is so much chemistry in this Kipling tale of two old troopers on the look out for a quick fortune - a story of friendship, greed and loyalty, wrapped in humour, action and wonderful scripting.

The settings of India and the mountainous country are rich, and you really get taken back in time to the days of the Raj.

It may be an oldie, but its a totally class act.

  4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsTally Ho!

Cuirassier from West Yorks , 12/03/2004

A thrilling Victorian adventure with superb performances by the two leads (Caine and Connery) - possibly their best. Any fan of the Flashman books will love this film. And if you do love this film and haven't read Flashman - I strongly urge you to!

It is also a good representation of the times of Empire, and the attitudes of societies prevailing at the time.

One for the history buff as well as for fans of boy's own adventure!

  4 out of 5 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 stars

A customer from BRADFORD , 29/06/2004

This is a fantastic film which is suitable for everyone to view. Connery and Caine are superb together and you are left with the feeling that there characters have a long and close friendship. The actors really became absorbed in the roles, some of the improvisations that are used in the final edit prove this (e.g. Connery's last drink before the contract).

The film is lighthearted with some very funny moments included, however throughout the whole film (as soon as Caine appears as the crippled scruff at the beginning of the film) you are aware that everybody does not live happily ever after. At the end of the film when we discover the fate of the 2 companions I would be surprised if there is anyone who doesn't feel a stirring of some kind towards the characters.

To summarise; this is one of the most enjoyable films I can remember watching, it definitely does justice to the Rudyard Kipling story and in my opinion improves on it. Thoroughly recommended to everyone!

  3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
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