I Watch Films: The Man Who Would Be King

 

The Man Who Would Be King

In 1885 Newspaperman Rudyard Kipling is approached by an old acquaintance Peachy (Michael Caine) in his office in British India. Asking him what happened to him and his companion Danny Dravot (Sean Connery), he tells the story in flashback.

Three years earlier Kipling met Peachy on the train, where he discovers that Peachy is a rogue, and also a Freemason; Peachy asks him to pass on a message to Dravot. The two of them plan to blackmail a raja. Kipling intervenes, preventing this from occurring.

Later they decide India is too small for them and make a plan, and a contract which they get Kipling to witness. They will disguise themselves, cross the Khyber Pass and take 20 modern rifles into Kafiristan (a remote semi-legendary country high in the mountains). With these and their military knowledge (they are both former sergeants in the British Army) they intend to make themselves kings of the country. Their contract says neither will drink strong liquor or get involved with women until they are kings.

Their journey went moderately well and they have a bit of luck when they arrive in Kafiristan and meet Billy Fish, a former Gurkha soldier stranded there since the Second Anglo-Afghan War who speaks English as well as the local language. They join one chief in defeating his enemies, introducing such ideas as recruiting from the newly conquered and holding a line. In their first battle an arrow hits Dravot, but he is uninjured as it sticks in his bandolier. The Kafirs take this as evidence of his divinity.

Kafiristan is not just squabbling feuding groups; it also has a caste of priests. They come from Sikandergul; named after Alexander The Great (Sikander). Dravot is summoned there; when they are going to re-do the arrow shooting they tear his shirt open to reveal the masonic symbol Kipling gave them. It turns out this is the most secret symbol of their religion.

Dravot having been made king the two disagree. Dravot wants to remain here and rule, marrying Roxanne. Peachy wants to leave with the loot. They agree to split, though Peachy waits until the wedding. Afraid that she will be destroyed by Dravot’s god-power Roxanne scratches Dravot. Seeing the blood, the high priest declares he is just a man. They attempt to escape with Peachy’s loot and their riflemen but are caught. Dravot is cast into a ravine from a rope bridge he had built to make the way to Sikandergul easier.

The film then returns to Kipling’s office where Peachy gives the coda. This is a good historical adventure film. The Kafirs are easily fooled and ruled by superstition, meanwhile Peachy and Dravot are full of themselves, vainglorious. With two excellent actors for the central roles, it’s full of life and action

Watch This: Fun, entertaining period adventure film
Don’t Watch This: The Kafir are universally foolish and superstitious, barely differentiated from one another and this film, like the story it’s based on, does not do a good job of representing a real people