“It’s a tall tale, a legend, of steadfastness, courage, camaraderie, gallantry and greed, though not necessarily in that order.”
Following on from Kumiko the Treasure Hunter , our next pick in the lockdown chain is both another film about treasure hunters and a tribute to Sean Connery who died earlier in the month.
Sean Connery and Michael Caine star as Peachy Carnehan and Danny Dravot: a pair of ex-army officers, who set off from late 19th-century British India in search of fortune and glory in faraway Kafiristan - where one of them is (mis)taken for a god. Adapted from Rudyard Kipling’s 1888 short story of the same name by John Huston, The Man Who Would Be King is a rip-roarin’ adventure yarn, classic buddy movie and a witty satire on imperialism.
Watch Wayne’s introduction below to hear how Connery and Caine came to be cast as the two leading men after twenty years’ worth of possible candidates came and went.
We’d love to hear what you think of the film once you’ve seen it. Leave a comment here, send us an email, Tweet us @tpfilmclub or post on our Facebook page. We’ll then gather up some reactions and share them in our weekly email as well as here.
Where can you watch The Man Who Would Be King?
The film is available to stream for free on All4 (and via Smart TV). You can also rent it from Amazon, Google Play, Microsoft and YouTube.
Related links
‘The Man Who Would Be King’ Rudyard Kipling’s 1888 short story upon which the film is based.
Making of Documentary - 15 minute 1975 promo doc.
What Films About The British Empire Reveal - Interesting article by The New European’s James Oliver about the British Empire in cinema.
