Movie : The Man Who Would Be King

Two career English soldiers, Daniel and Peachy are kicking around India in the late 1800’s making a buck any way they can mostly illegal. They strike on a plan to head to a small country on the fringes of India where they will help a local ruler defeat his enemies and then reap the rewards for their work. They make the arduous journey and make it to their destination where no white man has been since Alexander The Great. The follow their plan and meet their goal. Daniel and Peachy have different ideas now that they’ve attained their mission. Daniel likes being the king and their plan hits a problem.

CB loves an adventure movie. He got his fill in this one. Two Rouge characters, fantastic scenery, and a story that took his imagination. John Huston (a CB a fave director) puts it all together in this old school throwback film. Good writing, perfect locations and casting the perfect two actors  amidst the local color. You really get taken away in this. Sean Connery and Michael Caine team up as the two likable scoundrels. You buy their relationship and friendship. It’s like this country is their personal playground and they treat it like that. The dialogue between the two is good and very funny.

This is an old fashioned adventure adapted from a Rudyard Kipling ( Christopher Plummer puts in a nice job as Kipling) story. It’s light but the actors are committed and play it for real which helps sell it. Connery and Caine are wonderful. I always like it when actors play below their IQ. They both do it here.

Get swept up in this fun adventure film. Beautifully shot and brought to life by Huston, his crew and some very fine performances. They prove that any one can be king or queen.