The Man Who Would Be King (John Huston, 1975): UK / USA

Reviewed by Byron Potau.  Viewed on DVD.

John Huston’s The Man Who Would Be King is such a masculine, rousing, adventure that you get the sense that he, as well as the film’s stars, had a blast making it.  When the enthusiasm of such talent comes through, it rubs off on the audience as well.

Based on a short story by Rudyard Kipling, who himself is admirably played by Christopher Plummer, the film begins with Peachy (Michael Caine) worn, scarred, and crippled returning to Kipling’s office to relate to him the story of their adventure.  He and Danny (Sean Connery), two brash former English soldiers-turned-adventurers, set off to do the nearly impossible: reach Kafiristan from India to become kings and return wealthy men.  Their idea is to train one warring tribe and lead them to victory over another tribe, take the spoils, absorb the defeated tribe’s men and train them, leading them to victory against their enemies and so on until they have helped all the tribes are under them.  They would then take the throne and become kings.  When in battle, an arrow sticks in Danny’s uniform and he pulls it out without bleeding the tribes think he is a god and the son of Alexander the Great.  Danny and Peachy go along with this, and their path to the throne is made much easier…until Danny begins to take his new role as god too seriously.

The camaraderie of the two main characters, Peachy and Danny, is central to the story, and it is great fun to watch them.  The excellent screenplay by Huston and Gladys Hill is aided by wonderful performances by its stars Caine and Connery who have excellent chemistry together.  When their fate looks grim at one point, they discuss their lives.  They know they are scoundrels for whom no one will weep when they are gone, but they regret none of it because few have seen the incredible things that they have seen.  They are the loveable rogues we cannot help but like.  Also noteworthy is Saeed Jaffrey’s performance as Billy Fish, who serves as Peachy and Danny’s translator when they reach Kafiristan.  The film is filled with expansive compositions, battles, adventure, danger, humor, and character.  This is another gem from this directing legend, and the kind of big screen fun films so often try for, but rarely achieve.