The Man Who Would Be King (1975)

Directed by: John Huston | 124 minutes | adventure | Actors: Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Christopher Plummer, Saeed Jaffrey, Larbi Doghmi, Jack May, Karroom Ben Bouih, Mohammad Shamsi, Albert Moses, Paul Antrim, Graham Acres, Shakira Caine

Two former soldiers from the British army are in last century India in search of great riches. They take it for granted that they regularly break the law. So they planned to attack a raja, a local ruler. The two friends fail in their resolve. That they are lucky enough not to end up behind bars is only due to a mutual Freemason: the English writer Rudyard Kipling (played by Christopher Plummer).

Kipling, known from The Jungle Book, among other things, plays the role of declarant in his own story. The somewhat goofy and gullible writer therefore gives way to the two adventurers: Daniel Dravot (Sean Connery) and Peachy Carnehan (Michael Caine). Because after the failed robbery, their plans are by no means smaller. Somewhere, far in the far north of India, there are tribal tribes that have hardly been cultivated due to their isolation. The sight of the countless riches that must be there without a doubt makes her heart run wild. Why don’t they try, with all their wisdom and fighting experience, to become king of one of the tribes.

Before that, however, she still has a long journey ahead through inhospitable and icy plateaus. No Westerner has gone before them since Alexander the Great. They soon realize that the peoples they encounter in their path are not so peaceful and helpful. But with their bravado and cunning, the duo bravely get through anything. As a result, their dreams reach even further. After all, why would you be a king, if you could also become a god.

Although the two charlatans in their pursuit of money and fame don’t seem particularly lovable at first sight, they are above all sincere adventurers. The journey, and all their experiences, are therefore given all the space they need. This is accompanied by the necessary, sometimes somewhat dated humor. ‘The Man Who Would Be King’ mocks not only the alleged superiority of the British ruler, but also the equally imaginary barbarity of the Indian people. As a result, the film moves somewhere between the work of Multatuli and that of Monty Python. What helps here is the unadulterated enthusiasm of Connery and Caine, who take full advantage of the roguish humour.