The Man Who Would Be King

John Huston's 1975 The Man Who Would Be King—adapted from the 1888 short story by Rudyard Kipling—serves up a grand tale of British adventurers in India, starring Sean Connery as Daniel Dravot and Michael Caine as Peachy Carnehan. The pair have resigned from the British army and are now soldiers of fortune who plan to travel to a remote part of Afghanistan with the intent of becoming rulers of the tribal region. Journalist Kipling (Christopher Plummer) considers the idea preposterous and tries to discourage them, but the men embark on their adventure nevertheless, and—amazingly—Daniel actually does attain ruling status, while Peachy struggles to keep his friend from being consumed by delusions of grandeur. Huston's adaptation is both intimate and sweeping, a larger-than-life tale set on a magnificent canvas (Morocco's mountains—standing in for Afghanistan—create the breathtaking backdrop), grounded in the strength of friendship and camaraderie, and elevated by a magnificent score from Maurice Jarre. Relying on old-fashioned storytelling—driven by twists of luck and fate that rise up like poetic justice dished out by a wry god—the film's portrayal of the Indian and tribal populations as childish, foolish, and backward may seem offensive to modern viewers, but it does accurately reflect the attitude of many 19th-century Brits in India. Packaged with a 32-page digi-book, this Blu-ray debut also includes a vintage “making-of” featurette. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)