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List Price: $19.98 | | Label: Warner Home Video
Salesrank: 3368
Released: November 19, 1997 |
| Our Price: $13.79 |
| Used Price: $8.95 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Two soldiers of fortune leave 19th century India for the primitive land of Kafiristan where they plan to become kings.
Genre: Feature Film-Action/Adventure
Rating: PG
Release Date: 18-NOV-1997
Media Type: DVD
Description of The Man Who Would Be King:
A grandly entertaining, old-fashioned adventure based on the Rudyard Kipling short story, The Man Who Would Be King is the kind of rousing epic about which people said, even in 1975, "Wow! They don't make 'em like that anymore!" When director John Huston (The Maltese Falcon, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The African Queen) first started trying to make the film, with Gable and Bogart, the project was derailed by the latter's death. It was a few decades before Huston was able to finally realize his dream movie--and with an unimprovable cast. Sean Connery and Michael Caine are, respectively, Daniel Dravot and Peachy Carnahan, a pair of lovably roguish British soldiers who set out to make their fortunes by conning the priests of remote Kafiristan into making them kings. It's a rollicking tale, an epic satire of imperialism, and the good-natured repartee shared by Caine and Connery is pure gold. In today's screen adventures, humor is usually imposed on the material by a writer or director trying to make some kind of cleverly self-aware comment ("Hey, we know it's a movie!"), but that sort of jokiness can create so much ironic distance that it pushes the audience right out of the picture. Huston lets the humor emerge naturally from the characters, for whom we wind up caring more deeply than we ever expected. --Jim Emerson
The Man Who Would Be King Reviews:
A Crowning Achievement 
2009-11-07 - Hoping for riches beyond belief, two British officers set off into the blank spots on the map with only a few crates of guns and the willpower to become more. They have a plan, too, and it involves creating a powerbase that will make them rich beyond their meager means. When they find themselves surrounded by gold and thought to be the rightful heirs of alexander the Great's riches, however, the two find themselves caught in a golden web that promises to either make them god-men or make them deadmen. All because of the masonic symbol, a nice little arrow, and the color of their skin.
While many movies boast of having a powerful cast and a great script, this movie really does have both. It begins with two powerful actors that want to be more than common soldiers, and so they tempt fate and cross over some horrific terrain. When they get to wherever they are going, they show the people rifles, begin setting up camp, and find themsleves getting more material gains. Then they hear of a temple on top of a sacred mountain and decide that they should go there and see what they can get from the seemingly peaceful people that stand guard over a mountain of gold and gems. The real power is not in the gold and jewels, however, but is instead hinged around the the acting prowess of our two main characters. One begins to believe himself a god and the other begins to wonder why they don't take the loot and split. Add to that woman problems - or obsession and the want to have it all - and you have yourself a tale that has stuck with me since i was a little kid. It has left my side as Christmas presents, as birthday gifts, and as other forms of tribute to get people to never forget it, either. and that is because it is a classic, and the story it tells rivals many of the things that people hold in the highest regard.
If you have never heard of the movie, you need to drop everything and order it now. you will feel reward right away, and you will thank yourself for listing to the cash that wanted you to spend it. If you have heard of it but have not seen it in a long time, watch it again and see it in a different light. Every few years I notice something different here, something I thought I had a grasp on, and that is enough to convince me to say that is worthy of keeping around forever. An army of people agree with this accessment, too, with the movie finding itself voted into the Top 20 movies of all time by lists like TMC, many guidebooks, people that really do not matter, and so on. The one person that does matter is you, though, and seeing this will make you rememeber what it was like to watch a movie that was bigger than life and that made you wonder if the characters could hold the cards in check or if they would see their kingdom come crashing to dust.
I cannot profess enough elation at having been given this movie when I was younger. Buy it and know that some things are worth stepping back decades for.
The Man Who would be King
2009-08-23 - This is one of the best movies , I've seen. It was entertaining and easy to watch for Freemasons and non-freemasons alike. I endorse this movie , Sean Connery and Michael Caine do a wonderful job , in thier roles.
Suitable for Children? 
2009-07-15 - First, I would like to say that I have not seen this movie, yet.
Second, I would like to say that I would very much like to see it, but am not sure as to whether or not the film is appropriate for my family to view. The film is rated PG, but is tagged on [...] as containing "female nudity", "bare butt"s, and "male nudity".
I researched this movie on dozens of other sites and read every review on it, but none answered my question, "Does this movie contain nudity?"
So, if someone could answer this question, I would very much appreciate it. I am 17 years old, and still live with my parents. I am also an old movie buff. Generally, however, my family doesn't like films with bad content. So, if any IMDb members could Add a Content advisory for parents, or do the same thing here, I would very much appreciate it.
Looking forward to seeing this film if appropriate for family viewing.
PS, if anyone does bother, don't simply say yes or no. It would be nice if you could give unbiased information of what is in the movie.
Thanks.
Excellent movie - spoiled by uncontrolled subtitles.
2009-06-30 - 'The Man who would be King', is a classic tale - and this movie makes just about the best of it quite easily. The acting, the script, the direction and the all round production OF THE MOVIE, is superlative. The actual movie warrants a full Five Star rating.
HOWEVER, the copy I received split the movie into two halves. This is far from satisfactory - even if there are no other faults, omissions and production problems. My DVD started with bang, but had sub-titles emblazoned under the picture. This was extremely distracting and ruined full enjoyment of the wonderful movie. I tried, many times, to find an 'editing' page (as is so often available) whereby I could delete the sub-titles, but none was available. BUT WAIT - After turning the disc and watching the entire second half, there appeared on screen a 'Title Page' - such as I had sought earlier. It appeared possible to cancel the sub-titles - except that when one returned to the first half, the sub-titles returned to mock me!!
I am truly at a loss to understand how this complete 'Horlicks' could come to exist. Many things come to mind - including the thought that maybe, just maybe, a madman had edited the movie!
I repeat, the story and the movie are truly first class. If one enjoys a good rollicking adventure movie, this is definitely your 'cup of tea'. Caine and Connery are superb - truly superb. However, sadly, you need to steel yourself to suffer endless subtitles throughout this DVD.
Kippling at his best.
2009-04-28 - Classic video and a classic epic. I recorded this 20+ years ago on VHS from the Hallmark Classic Channel.
This is an educational story fit for every age group (especially in today's time).
Huston at his best.
