← Back to results
The Man Who Would Be King
1975 129 min United Kingdom, United States of America PG 6+
★8.4
Adventure, Drama
Director: John Huston
📖 Based on the novel
«The Man Who Would Be King»
byRudyard Kipling
Trailers
EN
EN
EN
Description
Tired of life as soldiers, Peachy Carnehan and Danny Dravot 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.
Budget:
$8M
Worldwide:
$12,678
Starring
Sean Connery
Actor
Michael Caine
Actor
Christopher Plummer
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 1976
— Best Costume Design
Golden Globe 1976
— Best Original Score
Academy Awards 1976
— Best Film Editing
Academy Awards 1976
— Best Adapted Screenplay
BAFTA 1976
— Best Costume Design
Academy Awards 1976
— Best Production Design
BAFTA 1976
— Best Cinematography
Key opinion
The Man Who Would Be King is widely regarded as a masterful, classic adventure film that benefits significantly from the magnetic chemistry between Sean Connery and Michael Caine. While it excels as a character-driven epic exploring themes of colonial ambition and hubris, its pacing and historical authenticity divide some viewers.
| Cinematography | The naturalistic cinematography of Morocco provides a tactile, authentic scale that stands as a superior alternative to modern CGI-heavy spectacles. | |
| Acting | The onscreen chemistry and improvisational nuances between Sean Connery and Michael Caine drive the narrative and elevate the material. | |
| Direction | John Huston delivers a masterful, epic directorial vision that balances lighthearted adventure with a somber, philosophical exploration of greed and power. | |
| Adaptation | The adaptation remains largely faithful to Kipling’s core story while effectively expanding the narrative to explore deeper anti-imperialist and existential themes. | |
| Pacing | Opinions on the film's pacing are split; some appreciate the gradual, character-focused build, while others find the opening segments sluggish or boring. | |
| Production | While many praise the choice to film in Morocco for its gritty realism, others criticize the use of these locations as an inaccurate and insufficient substitute for the geography of India and Afghanistan. | |
| Acting | The performances of Connery and Caine are debated, with some viewers finding them perfectly matched, while others argue one actor significantly outshines or underperforms the other. |