The Man Who Would Be King Reviews

• John Huston is the real King !

  
  By A3LPMI7GGRU83E on 2003-03-04
  He began with 'The Maltese Falcon' which one must admit is not too bad for a first film, don't you think?

  Then for years he wanted to bring this adventure story by Kipling to the screen. How many years? Well, originally he had Bogie and Gable in mind for the leads, you do the math.

  Fortunately for us, he eventually got the green light for his project.

  He then found Peachy and Danny in Michael Caine and Sean Connery, movie stars who are also great actors-- of which there ain't many, folks---and who are perfectly cast in the roles.

  Moreover, Caine and Connery had been friends for a long time and this undoubtedly helped bring to life the camaraderie between the misfit heroes.

  It is the late 19th century and Danny and Peachy, formerly sergeants in Her Majesty's Army, find themselves stranded and penniless in India. Their ungrateful country has no further use for them, although their officers once called them heroes "We fought our way up the pass yard by bloody yard."

  Now, bureocrats are running the show "with long skinny noses for looking down on you" and Danny and Peachy are considered 'undesirables'.

  So they are faced with three choices: Go back to England and take jobs as a porters or something equally lower class and menial, stay in India and continue to live more or less as petty criminals, or. . .

  Well, let's not give the plot away. Suffice it to say that when a reasonable Kipling (wonderfully played by Christopher Plummer) tries to dissuade them from their insane scheme, on the grounds that the odds against them are truly suicidal, Peachy dismisses his concerns with "Well, if a Greek can do it, two Englishman certainly can !"

  --The Greek in question being Alexander the Great--

  And yes, women as well as men will enjoy this great film. It's a not a "buddy movie", it's a classic.

  Thank you, John Huston.
  
  

• Great great film, so so DVD - with one startling omission

  
  By on 1999-10-31
  This is, of course, a great film, with every aspect of what makes a great film fully exploited. But I did discover something strange on the DVD - there is an entire scene missing. After Sean Connery falls from the bridge, instead of the process shot that shows him falling in slow-motion and the crown falling from his head (which is in every version of the film I've ever seen) the scene dissolves to Christopher Plummer listening to the final words of Michael Caine's narration. What happened to the scene?? Why would it have been removed?? My only other quibble about the DVD is that the sound is not very full. It is an early release DVD so in subsequent releases they might address that issue, but PUT BACK THE MISSING SCENE!
  
  

• Masonic Mysteries In The Exotic East ~ In The Footsteps of Alexander The Great

  
  By A141HP4LYPWMSR on 2005-09-08
  This film has met all the prerequistes necessary for producing a profound and rewarding entertainment experience. One of the greatest directors of all-time (John Huston), an all-star cast: Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Christopher Plummer and Saeed jaffrey, and an incredibly original storyline incorporating ancient Masonic mysteries, exotic locations and crisp, witty dialogue. This is a story I wish I had written! Even more delightful, it meets all expectations!
  
  Rudyard Kipling (Plummer) finds an unexpected guest awaiting his presence in his darkened study one night. Without proper introductions the hooded intruder begins to share with Kipling a fantastic tale of adventure and discovery from a faraway land that many thought only existed in myth and legend. The study of the famous writer soon disappears as we are taken along with the mysterious narrator on a fantastic journey to a foreign land.
  
  We are now introduced to Daniel Dravot (Connery) and Peachy Carnehan (Caine), two ex-British soldiers and Masonic brothers turn fortune hunters. Seeking fame and fortune they are about to undertake the adventure of a lifetime. Their destination, the Far East in search of the legendary lost treasure of Alexander the Great.
  
  And what an adventure it is! As Daniel and Peachy work their way across the vast Indian landscape towards the remote region of Kafiristan they encounter the usual severe natural hardships and hostile inhabitants as you might expect. However it's the discovery of an archaic religious cult that happens to share many of the same symbols and beliefs found in their own Masonic brotherhood that really makes them begin to wonder. As they unravel the secret origin of this esoteric connection they are faced with the truth behind a two thousand year old secret concerning Alexander the Great and his mythical lost treasure.
  
  Great film from '75. It may seem a little dated to young viewers, but give it a chance and you won't regret it! Great supporting performance from Saeed Jaffrey ( one of the greatest character actors of all time) the who plays their native guide Billy Fish, along with a brief and rare appearance by the lovely Shakira Caine as Roxanne.
  
  

• "The most audacious thing in fiction..."

  
  By on 2000-02-12
  This movie is head and shoulders above most movies in this genre. "The man who would be king" is dead on target with its ability to thrill while telling Kipling's story of two British soldiers seeking more than their fair share of fame and fortune in the remote country of Kafiristan in the late 1880's. Our two heroes Danny Dravot (Connery) and Peachy Carnehan (Caine), outline a bold and seemingly unthinkable plan. They are to travel, unguided, through more than a hundred miles of hostile, remote territories, and, after training the local inhabitants in modern warfare and making their leader king of all he surveys, will "...subvert that king, and loot the kingdom four ways from sunday". There are many plot twists along the way, yet one is struck at how both plausible and bold the twists are. There's a keen sense of satire, particularly in Kipling's story, which is preserved in the film as a whole. The dvd version (panavision) is definitely the way to go. John Houston does a remarkable job of telling so much of the story visually and with a fine sense of style. When seen in the videotape (pan and scan) version, it loses much of the film's scope and grandeur, and the otherwise fluid story-telling is a bit hampered. The dvd also includes an eye-opening "Making of..." documentary. Highly recommended.
  
  

• Great movie----DVD has one flaw.

  
  By AFMWLT45X9H4R on 2002-05-30
  This is an exceptional treat with two great actors in Connery and Caine and a great director in Huston, who seems to have been born to make just such a film. Based on a short story by Rudyard Kipling (who is played exceptionally by Christopher Plummer in the film), The Man Who Would Be King tells the story of two former British soldiers in India who devise a scheme to go to neighboring Kafiristan, set themselves up as royalty and then loot the country for all they can carry back home. After running into bandits on the way, enduring freezing temperatures and with a little unintended help from an avalanche, the two meet Billy Fish who gets them set up where they would like to be in Kafiristan. Eventually, and you can see how and why for yourself, Connery comes to be regarded by the locals as a god. This will have its advantages for Connery and Caine, but in the end will be their downfall (no pun intended for those who have already seen the film).

  ... I saw nothing of poor quality myself. The picture seemed crisp and sound quality was acceptable as well. Here's the negative: unless anything has changed with the manufacturing of the disc itself, one has to flip the disc over about halfway through the film. That's right. A *and* B sides. While I would prefer that the film be continuous all the way through, the fact that it isn't is not enough to give the DVD a negative review.

  Also, there are some good extras here. There's a lot of "on location" and extra info about things that went on during the making of the film as well as a "making of" featurette (only about ten or fifteen minutes long). The featurette is nothing exceptional but it does show you what Connery landed on and how the entire cast and crew agonized over the bridge scene at the end of the film. It's also fun to see Connery sitting around in a camouflage hat on the set with the blood on his face that was so important to the story at the end of the film. You also get theatrical trailers for eight of Huston's films. Overall, if you want to see a sweeping film that has Connery and Caine playing roles they were born to play, pick this one up.
  
  

• Fantastic movie, confounding DVD
  By A1O8JGYLL11OOJ on 2006-04-04
  In response to Anne V. Hammond's review, the DVD release does, in fact, end abruptly partially through the film. Turning the disc over continues the movie where it left off. One wouldn't know this unless they made a guess. The disc itself reads 'reverse side additional content', which would suggest that extra or special features were on the other side, not the rest of the movie.
  
  Why they did this? I can't quite say. Considering the DVD release is presented in mono with no fancy video or audio overhead that would prevent a movie from being fitted on one side of a disc, it really makes no sense.
  
  The DVD release is also plagued with menus that are difficult to read (menu options printed over graphics which makes making out the printed text a chore to make out).
  
  Shame, really, because this is without a doubt one of the finest movies ever made.
  
  It is a 5 star film, but it's a shining example of poor presentation and little thought in the DVD release.
  
  I should note that the video transfer on the DVD is just fine, just the way they put it on there that's bad.
  
  
• "It was detriments like us that built this bloody Empire!"
  By A3U56M0Y8LYO6J on 2003-01-26
  John Huston's The Man Who Would Be King is a film that both celebrates the adventuresome spirit of the nineteenth-century and illustrates everything that was wrong with British colonialism. The film is based upon the famous Rudyard Kipling tale and follows the exploits of Peachy Carnehan (Michael Caine) and Daniel Dravot (Sean Connery). The two men hatch a plan where they will travel to Kafiristan and employ their wits and battle knowledge to become kings of Kafiristan. Skirmish after skirmish ensues and after one particular battle, Dravot survives being shot by an arrow and is presumed to be a god. Peachy and Dravot exploit this misunderstanding to the fullest and use their new stature to plunder the riches of Kafiristan. However, Dravot soon falls victim to his own human frailties and both he and Peachy are exposed as the frauds that they are. The rise and fall of Peachy and Dravot mirrors in microcosm the actual rise and fall of the British Colonial Empire itself. The subjugation of the natives leads to a brutal reckoning once the con men's motives are revealed to be less than noble just like the brutal reckoning the Empire experienced when the rest of the world adopted a more enlightened stance toward colonies the world over. In this sense, The Man Who Would Be King functions as a cautionary tale on the dual evils of racism and exploitation. Don't get the sense that this film is a heavy-handed "message" film though. Much credit must be given to Huston for managing to keep this film an adventuresome piece of mainstream entertainment despite its darker elements. Caine and Connery give great star turns as the dishonest schemers and we're overjoyed to be accompanying them on their treacherous journey into Kafiristan. When the film is over, we're depressed that their endless enthusiasm couldn't have been directed to more noble pursuits, but we're still glad we took the journey with them.
  
  
• Love the movie, hate the DVD...
  By A95ITODNGR0YZ on 2005-05-12
  It seems to be a common complaint, but I am still amazed how willing some people are to overlook the flaws of the dvd and give it 5 stars. A two-sided DVD is simply inexcusable, it's not an exceptionally long movie, nor does it have an exceptional amount of special features. I remain convinced that if it were so inclined it could easily fit both the feature and the special features on one side of one DVD. Anyway, am I the only one who likes to get situated and comfortable when watching a movie? flipping it an hour into the movie is incredibly annoying.... and yes, I'm picky enough to give this movie the worst possible rating simply for that
  
  
• A FIVE STAR CLASSIC on a 1 STAR DVD
  By A39DG4TOWZQ9GI on 2006-05-17
  This was one of my favorites, and a "must have" in my DVD library. The story is still great,and the dialog between "Peachy" and "Daniel" is still among my favorites still.
  
  But the DVD was dissappointing. The movie is split on two sides, and has to be flipped to view the remainder of the film.The DVD only has Dolby 1.0 Sound (Digital but MONO)and apparently very weak in the mix. Overall a better picture than my old worn VHS, but very weak audio overall.
  
  The menu's and commentary are hard to read, and there were points in the movie where the transfer to DVD looked "jumpy".
  
  More than disappointing presentation overall.
  
  This deserves a "director's cut", or an audio remix to serve those of us who will cherish whatever copy we have, forever.
  
  
  
  
• One of My Favorites!
  By A332MW6OA1LYDF on 2000-06-22
  This movie is an unsurpassed, old-fashioned adventure tale about friendship, and tragic, over-reaching ambition. As an adventure, it far exceeds the wildly more popular but childish Indiana Jones series.

  This movie follows the adventure of Daniel Dravot and Peachy Carnahan, two rakish ne'er-do-wells in the British Army in India. They leave the service, and, alone, they pack guns and supplies and head north to Kafiristan, a distant and mysterious land they've only heard tales about, to become Kings, and plunder the kingdom.

  When they arrive, they pit warring communities against each other. During battle, Connery's character is mistaken for a god when he is shot (in his leather bandolier), and doesn't bleed. As a result, he is made King. He is brought to the Holy City, where the holy men mistake him for "Son of Sekander," that is, the Son of Alexander The Great. They prostrate themselves before him, and give him access to Alexander's treasure, which they have guarded for centuries.

  Instead of taking the money and running, however, Connery gets big-headed, gets to liking the role of King, and wants to stay and administer his kingdom, which he does, and does well, it seems.

  As you would expect, that's not the end of the story...but I don't want to give any more away.

  This movie is also humorous. It certainly isn't a comedy, but the heroes joke with one another, and the humor arises from their relationship, their fondness for one another, not from improbably comic situations.

  This is a grand movie that treats grand themes, and it is worth seeing over and over again. I can't recommend it enough.
  
  

• Would have been 5 stars but for the sound!
  By on 1998-10-28
  "The Man Who Would be King" features two actors who have become better loved as time has passed since the making of the film; Sean Connery and Michael Caine. In this movie, they are two chums who are off to make their fortune in India. "High Adventure" I think is what John Huston says they are after. Huston's comments are included in an excellent documentary added to the film.

  It's an excellent movie but it could have been so much better on DVD than they have given us.

  The sound is not very good! It's really too bad as the score by Maurice Jarre is worth hearing!

  "Dirty Harry" is no "The Man Who Would Be King", ( although I do like "Dirty Harry") however "Harry" features 5.1 sound and is so much the better for it.

  Given my experience with "The Man Who Would Be King", when I am shopping I will be on the outlook for those discs that fully utilize the technology available. END
  
  

• Danny and Peachy capture your heart
  By A3GQKB1KF0CRPE on 2003-01-19
  Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Christopher Plummer, John Houston....four of the biggest talents of our lifetime that came together to give you very special film. One so emotionally moving and involving I have a very hard time watching it, but then I likely hold the Guinness records on repeat views for Braveheart...so I tell myself I won't watch it again, but end up doing it.

  Based on a Rudyard Kipling story, it is full of exotic locates, adventure, and such warm humour, under the master John Houston's direction. Houston had this in mind originally for Clark Gable and Humphrey Bogart (not to knock them, but total miscasting), then later was going to do it with Butch and Sundance (Paul Newman and Robert Redford in typically Hollywood style of going for names rather than perfect actors for the roles). Fortunately, Newman had the insight to pass on it and suggested going with the pairing that was absolute perfect as Danny and Peachy.

  Caine had showed as Bromhead in Zulu, that he had the proper mien for a man in a red coat and pith helmet, and we know Connery can do anything given the crack. Since both are personal friends off screen, their on screen charisma comes is amplified by the fact the two men who actually like each other, giving good foundation in which to bring Danny and Peachy alive.

  Danny and Peachy decide they have had enough with soldering for the British Empire and think it a marvellous idea to go forth into the world and find a forgotten corner and create their own,
  and the most forgotten place they can find on the map is Kafiristan. There they plan to become rich as kings. It is a super adventure getting there, but after the reach the small country, the lark turns into something more, with Danny taking being King Quite serious.

  Look for a cameo of Mrs. Caine playing the woman to wed Connery.
  It just does not get any better than this, with fine fine acting, writing and directing. Just have a hankie near for the ending.
  
  

• Calling for a new DVD issue
  By A1H8LMYXWTYYTI on 2007-03-10
  More years ago than I'd like to remember (okay, it was 1983), in my first job out of college, I compiled and edited (among many other things) the TV listings "picks" for a weekly regional music/arts newpspaper. I recall the publisher, an aging hippie, carping about my recommendation of a TV broadcast of a movie based on a short story by an alleged apologist for British imperialism, Rudyard Kipling. Kipling may be un-PC these days, but I wonder if my long-ago publisher actually read "The Man Who Would Be King" or saw the wonderful 1975 movie that director John Huston fashioned from it. If he did, he might have realized it was a clear-eyed cautionary tale, not a celebration of British incursion. "TMWWBK" is one of those "they don't make 'em like that anymore" near-classics, and watching it you're glad that Huston had to wait so long to make it, because with all due respect to the late great director, his earlier choices for the leading roles (Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Burt Lancaster and Paul Newman among them) would not have worked nearly as well as the team of Sean Connery and Michael Caine. The two actors bring authority, humor, and not a little poignancy to their roles as ex-soldiers who decide to journey to a remote, hostile Asian land and set themselves up as its rulers.
  
  Watching the DVD again recently, I was reminded of what a strong impact "TMWWBK" made on me as a teenager, and it has stood the test of time better than many highly-regarded movies of its day. However, my enthusiasm is muted by the fact that the DVD itself hasn't held up nearly as well. It was issued circa 1997, when so-called "flippers" (DVDs that made you play both sides to see the entire movie, like an LP with awkward side breaks) were not unheard-of, even with flicks that ran for only two hours like this one. Oswald Morris' handsome Panavision cinematography translated pretty cleanly to silver disc (thankfully, it's letterboxed rather than pan-and-scan), but after a decade's advancements in DVD technology, a remastering would produce a sharper picture (and would probably improve the lackluster transfer of the soundtrack, monaural though it is). Double-sided or no, the disc is very short on extras--and as has been noted elsewhere, a key moment near the end of the movie has been inexplicably deleted, or more accurately replaced with a character's narration delivered to the camera rather than as a voice-over of this sequence. The movie deserves far better, and it's a shame that this 10-year-old "flipper" hasn't been superceded. The high rating I'm giving this disc is for the movie itself, not for the indifferent DVD, which will have to suffice until, I hope, a better one comes along.
  
  
• One of the best films but one of worst DVDs
  By on 2002-03-02
  Rates 5 stars for film.

  Rates 1 star for DVD quality. Read technical information section. It says it all.

  BTW this this is a filper that losses data when fliped.
  
  

• Spot on!
  By A333J214SI1VFZ on 2003-10-23
  Just the sort of movie you'd like to see on a wet sunday afternoon when you have nothing better to do than watch television.

  Strangely, early reviews of this movie criticise the casting, insisting that Connery should have played Carnahan and Caine Dravot. Why this is, who knows. I think the two actors play superb roles and, as has been said before, the chemistry between them is startlingly obvious.

  Carnahan and Dravot are ex-British soldiers in 19th century India during the time of the Raj. Deciding that fame and fortune is to found in nearby Kafiristan, they set out to conquor the country. This they do by a quirk of fate when Danny is falsely claimed as a god and son of Alexander the Great.

  Things are fine until Danny takes a wife (played by Caine's real-life wife, Shakira). She bites him, he bleeds blood- indicating he is an ordinary mortal. Then things really go belly-up. Danny is sent plunging to the bottom of a very deep gorge and Peachy is crucified.

  Fine acting by Caine, Connery and Plummer. A special mention must go to Saaed Jaffrey who plays the part of Billy Fish, the loyal ex-Ghurka.

  Huston took his time to make this but, in the end, it was surely worth it.
  
  

• A word or two about the DVD
  By A22X4XUPKF66MR on 2004-12-06
  As movies go, The Man Who Would Be King is one of the all time best. It has barely aged at all (perhaps Caine's hair do is a bit dated) and is an example of great filmmaking. Probably by today's standard's it lags a bit in places (it's called pacing kids) and has some great action sequences but not too many exploding things. And don't forget that this movie was made before CGI etc (although several scenes are clearly matte paintings, but even those are top notch).
  
  In short a really good, entertaining action/historical adventure film that anyone should be able to enjoy.
  
  The DVD itself is fairly amazing. Yes, the DVD is one of those "two sided" deals that you will have to flip over half way through the movie, and yes, the movie tends to just start. You have to press menu to get to the menu, but those are minor quibbles. The real joy here is the amazingly clear picture transfer that was done for this film. Trust me, I have seen worse (Fiddler on the Roof for one). There are no marks, drop out or defects during the movie. Someone has really gone through and done a first class clean up job. It looks like it was filmed yesterday on digital film.
  
  The extras are interesting, so to speak. The 12 minute short "It Must Be Magic" is interesting in that is has dated very badly (it goes on about how Moroccans have never seen movies etc., in a very un PC way) but provides some insights. Warning: DO NOT watch it until you have seen the movie as it contains a fairly huge spoiler!
  There are also several fairly useless text info screens about Kipling and Masons etc. The other previews are for other films (although an original trailer for The Man Who Would Be King is on there too).
  
  In short, as good as you remember it and a pristine presentation make this a must have!
  
  
  
• The perfect pair, and Saeed Jaffrey, too!
  By A7OM80F804A1U on 2000-05-03
  This is easily one of my favorite movies. Huston takes the standard 1930s-40s "Hollywood Empire" movie (a la GUNGA DIN, WEE WILLIE WINKIE) and brings it up to date--to the 1880s. The true face of British imperialism, in its good and evil, is brought to light through the actions of two extremely human ex-sergeants in a remote Central Asian kingdom. Connery and Caine make a terrific pair, and probably should have been nominated (and tied) for Best Actor Oscars that year. Christopher Plummer is good in his limited roles as Rudyard Kipling (I cannot believe that this same guy has played Erwin Rommel, Inca Emperor Atahualpa, the Duke of Wellington, Rudyard Kipling, AND MIKE WALLACE! ), but I should also mention the terrific Indian actor Saeed Jaffrey, who plays the Gurkha renegade Billy Fish (while admittedly looking more Indian than Gurkha), and who has appeared in a number of other good movies, including GANDHI, A PASSAGE TO INDIA, and MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE. Maurice Jarre's music is outstanding. I can't bring myself to imagine what this movie would have been like had Huston made it with Bogart and Gable like he intended in the early 1950s (I love Bogart, but COME ON).
  
  
• stupid
  By ALX5KO0IPYSFW on 2001-04-03
  here you have one of the greatest movies ever made, a wonderful tory, you set the dvd into the machine and, amazingly, without any packaging warning, you have to flip the dvd to watch it in its entirety. why time warner continues to distribute so many of these flaws dvd products is beyond me but i strongly recommend no one buy these screwed up products until they correct the problem by re-releasing the dvd on a one-sided version. just plain stupid.
  
  
• You wont see many more like this in the future.
  By A2U7Z7RX0HVY7G on 2002-05-01
  May 1, 2002

  `The Man Who Would Be King' is probably the last American studio
  film that could be properly be termed `entertaining', `adult' and
  `male' at the same time. It is an unapologetic adventure movie
  filmed by a hard-drinker with plenty of joie-de-vivre.

  If they made this film today . . . it would star much younger
  stars. Let's say two hunky Aussies, like Hugh Jackman and Russel Crowe.
  Almost certainly, one of those two (Crowe) would also be the Executive

  Producer. Most of Peachy and Danny's seemingly buffoonish character
  traits would be transferred to supporting characters so that Hugh and
  Russell might seem strong and taciturn.

  If they made this film today all those bald-headed priests
  in the robes would've been slaughtered easily at the end of the movie.

  If they made this film today the action scenes would involve
  our Aussie hunks largely defeating opposing armies through the strength
  of their own tireless sinews. Said scenes would also be much bloodier
  and, for some reason, shot in vertigo-inducing Cut-O-Vision!

  If they made this film today opening captions would explain
  to modern audiences who Rudyard Kipling was and what stone masons
  are. That is, if these elements made it to the final cut at all.

  If they made this film today the final credits would run
  over an Aerosmith song.

  If they made this film today it would be `The Count Of Monte Cristo',
  or `The Man In The Iron Mask', or `Gladiator', or `Robin Hood: Prince Of
  Thieves', or `The Mask Of Zorro', or `The Three Musketeers', or . . .

  PEOPLE WHO'LL LIKE THIS MOVIE: men, mostly; fans of Michael Caine
  before he turned into Hollywood's favorite British hooker for the duration
  of the eighties, and Connery the nineties.

  PEOPLE WHO WONT LIKE THIS MOVIE: knee-jerks might lament
  the portrayal of non-whites here; not much here for the ladies.
  
  

• Some Movies Stand The Test Of Time
  By A35TN5YGURE6IV on 2002-07-26
  Some movies due to the fashion and other elements grow rapidly out of date but this is not one of them. This movie was made in 1975 and you do get a sense that it is not up to the current Hollywood standard in terms of special effects, Dolby surround, computer animation, and things of that nature. Despite this the movie still stands the test of time because of excellent performances, a good storyline, and a healthy dose of humor.

  First off it is based off a story by Rudyard Kipling and takes place in the hinterlands of India. Two former English soldiers (Connery and Caine) who are basically scoundrels set out to set themselves up with fame and fortune.

  They set out to the where no white men have been seen before and convince he locals they are gods. But look out anything that is too good is probably too good to be true or to last!

  Connery and Caine complement one another in this film very well I thought and again this is not a special effects flick this is shot with real backgrounds etc for the most part. If you were ever curious to get a sense of Kipling without the book this might be a good film to check out! It is also not terribly inappropriate for younger viewers, for example they make a promise to one another not to drink or chase women while on their quest.

  It is a period piece set in the late 1800s and depicts the railroads and remote countryside of colonial India in a day when might made right and individual adventurers could achieve glory and fortune. Or so legend would have it....
  
  

• Different Version
  By on 2003-02-12
  Although this is my favorite film, the DVD is severely lacking. I dislike the flipping, as previous reviewers mentioned, BUT, the DVD version is DIFFERENT than the VHS version. I think it may be a British version as some dialogue is different (e.g., sporan instead of moneybag). THAT is OK, even interesting, BUT, at the end, there is a critical scene missing of a charachter falling in somewhat slow motion while Caine narrarates. It is one of my favorite scenes and is missing completely from the film. I do not even watch my DVD because of this but just rely on my well-worn VHS copy. Hopefully they will put out another edition someday. Very disappointing.
  
  
• I WILL PUT IT SIMPLY
  By A25DCPG2RCVL1T on 2004-06-08
  BUY THIS MOVIE

  I will give you three reasons why:
  1) Sean Connery: one of the best actors. Period.
  2) Michael Caine: another of the best. And he looks good in that hat.
  3) Kipling: you just can't beat that for a writer.

  ARE WE CLEAR?
  
  

• GREAT Movie - but a BAD DVD release!
  By A3V09QLXXYV4WG on 2005-04-03
  I first saw Huston's "The Man Who Would Be King" in a 2$-a-show movie theatre in Philadelphia in the summer of 1976 when, as a young actor, I was going to the movies (usually at this cheap theatre) almost every day. I was completely bowled over by it. Even in 1976, it was clear that this was the kind of movie we weren't likely to see again. Production costs were simply becoming too prohibitive.
  
  Over the years, I've tried watching it again a few times on TV, but with the small screen, canned sound and frequent commercial breaks, I never finished it. Now, in these home theatre days, I bought this DVD release looking forward to renewing my acquaintance with this true epic from a great master of the movies.
  
  How disappointing it was, that halfway through a slightly-over-two-hours-long movie and at a most inopportune moment, the movie stopped, the screen went black and I had to flip the disc to continue. In a longer movie with a planned intermission break this would not be a problem, but here it is simply unfathomable. It would seem that any intelligent production company would have put the complete movie on one side of the disc and then, if necessary, put the special features on the other, but no - here we have half the movie and all the special features on one side, and the other half of the movie (again with all the special features!) on the other. While this doesn't completely ruin the experience it does damage the continuity and lessen the viewing experience.
  
  That warning having been given, this is a magnificent movie. (And a "movie" it is, rather than a "film" - exciting, entertaining, moving, but with no pretensions, nothing of the gritty artiness of the mid-seventies films that today can look so dated.)
  
  The casting is as near to perfect as you could imagine. Huston uses both Connery and Caine brilliantly as a brace of thoroughly amoral yet endearing con men, getting the maximum advantage out of each actor's strengths. Plummer, in the smaller supporting role of Kipling, shines as an intelligent and compassionate man, if a little slow on the uptake.
  
  But it is Huston who, to my mind, is the real star. A screenwriter-turned-director, he excelled at taught, intimate dramas like The Maltese Falcon and Treasure of the Sierra Madre. (TotSM, despite being virtually all exteriors, still feels as claustrophobic as Hitchcock's Rope.) However, often when he took on larger projects he seemed to lose focus. Not here! This movie is brilliantly paced, with its flashback narrative structure, building to its sweeping climax and then its heartbreaking, slightly chilling denouement. Even more reason to be disappointed with the unneeded interruption lessening the dramatic flow of the story.
  
  Buy the DVD. Revel in this, one of the greatest movies of the action/adventure genre. But please forgive my anger at Warner Brothers for botching what should have been a great DVD release.
  
  
  
• Connery and Caine: how can you go wrong?
  By A2HB1S7PRHW4JL on 2001-03-07
  This is by far one of the most impressive movies my eyes have ever seen. The magnificant scope is truly amazing. Caine and Connery live up to their names by their performances.

  The two men head off to become Kings of unchartered lands. What befalls them are humor, triumph, greed, and loss. The individuals and circumstances the men become involved in are one of a kind.

  The magic of Huston is clearly seen by the images presented on screen. Shots that are near impossible in today's filmmaking world should be savored in this movie. You can almost hear his booming voice giving the men advice on their roles.

  As with many other films, greed does play a key factor in the shaping the Peachy and (more importantly) Daniel. Their quest began for riches and then the tastes of power began to emerge. Never wanting to let go or knowing when to leave becomes a dangerous issue for the two.

  This is film for all to see. My only complaint is that the DVD actually had to be turned over in the middle of the film. This is a throwback to the early laserdisc players of the 80's.
  
  

• Bittersweet Adventure With Loads of Atmosphere
  By A3JB0FTLVHKN4M on 2005-06-19
  So many people love this movie, and rightly so. As rugged adventurers who are also the best of friends, Sean Connery and Michael Caine reached their career peak as Daniel Dravot and Peachy Carnehan, respectively. But I think it's a mistake to call it an "action movie" or an "epic." For all the laughs and glamor, and the feel-good friendship of the two buddies, this movie is really a tragedy in the classical sense.
  
  Don't watch this movie expecting RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, where the good guys win and everybody leaves the story happy and alive. It's terribly important to remember that though this movie came out just one year before STAR WARS, John Huston is miles away from the infantile zap-zap action of children like George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.
  
  The movie charts the downfall of two men who try to rise too high, just like Icarus in Greek myth. Rudyard Kipling felt that men who serve in the ranks should not get "above themselves" and wrote this story to show what happens when such people get out of their place. At the same time, Kipling was trying to warn the English people that the British Empire would only last as long as the purpose was justice rather than greed.
  
  Watching the movie, it's hard not to be torn. The two heroes fail in terms of empire building and politics, because they break faith with their native subjects one time too many. But at the same time, they never break faith with each other. The movie asks the question, can any person really be a failure if he/she has sacrificed everything for friendship? The final "defeat" of the pair is also final victory in that they maintain the one thing in their lives that was always above corruption -- their friendship. The bittersweet ending is complex and ambiguous, and signals that this is truly a masterpiece by giants of a nobler age.
  
  John Huston is gone now, replace by pygmies like Spielberg and Lucas. They don't make movies like THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING.
  
  
• My favorite movie
  By A1XTLPXADYVJ68 on 2000-05-11
  Everything that you need to know about friendship, ambition, and freemasonry (hey, I needed a third thing, ok?) is contained within this film. Sean Connery and Michael Caine are, of course, brilliant. John Huston directed, so you know this ain't gonna be "Waterworld". The pacing is great and the characters feel real. I think this film achieves, in the end, more than it set out to. What starts as a nice retelling of a Kipling short story ends up as a meditation on what it really means to live one's life to the fullest. Strongly recommended.
  
  
• A Great Adventure Movie
  By ASKTOJBK0474T on 2000-04-04
  They don't make 'em like this anymore. A brilliant adaption of Rudayard Kipling's saga of two ne' er well former British soldiers left behind in India. They are leading a life of con games when the happen upon another fellow Mason( hint), Christopher Plummer as Rudyard Kipling.

  The rest is pure adventure as Connery and Caine search for a lost city of jewels across land never traveled by any "outsider" since Alexander the Great (hint hint). This is a must see if you ever wish to see Micahel Caine and Sean Connery teamed with John Huston's wonderful film.
  
  

• Warning
  By A3T9ECPTZ6AH06 on 2004-01-18
  The film itself deserves a 5 star rating. It's great and deserves to be everyone's collection. However, be warned. This is an early DVD release (1997) and although the movie is only 129 minutes in length, at approximately the 73 minute mark the disc stops and you must eject the disc and manually flip it over to see the second half. If any movie deserves a re-release, "The Man Who Would Be King" does. A double layered, newly remastered edition with a few extras would be wonderful. (Almost all of the extras on this edition are script only, and the print is difficult to read.)
  
  
• KIPLING+CONNERY+CAINE=PERFECTION
  By AE9F1QLKBLQT3 on 2004-08-08
  By a stroke of genuis and a bit of serendipity, John Huston managed to get hold of the only two actors in the world who can portray lovable rogues Peachy and Dan in Michael Caine and Sean Connery. Both obviously relish their roles here, and their spontaneous chemistry works perfectly. Like Rudyard Kipling's short story, the film is sheer delight from start to finish!
  
  
• The Raj and The Craft
  By A1TAWJ2PA3USVX on 2005-03-02
  You can't get any better than this: Director-John Huston, from the nvoella by Rudyard Kipling. Starring Sean Connery and Michael Caine, with support from Christopher Plummer, Shakira Caine, and the gifted Saheed Jaffrey! Take that talent and set a ripping adventure yarn in the British Raj. Throw in a good soundtrack and passable location shots from Morocco and the Alps.
  
  Could it get better? It does. A great Masonic theme from Kipling, who was himself a Mason and loved the craft as much as he loved the Raj and his cigars! Now spice it up with a clever script and wonderful chemistry between the stars.
  
  Forget The Jewel in the Crown, Gunga Din, The Four Feathers, and even A Passage to India. This is the best film set in 19th century India.
  
  The plot? Well, go buy the film and watch it! Let's say that Kipling's own words from The Ballad of the East and West ring true. And as for this movie, if we may paraphrase Rudyard, "A woman is only a woman, but if she marries a god, she smokes!"
  
  

• The Wind and the Lion
• Zulu
• Khartoum
• Zulu Dawn
• Lawrence of Arabia (Single Disc Edition)