The Man Who Would Be King, 1975
This film is based on Rudyard Kipling's short story. As you know, Kipling wrote many stories about India as the backdrop after being born and spending an excellent impressionable time there. At first impression, 'Jungle Book' written by him comes to mind.
This 1975 film is set in British India at a time it was roamed by wealth looting mavericks, and the locals were ignorant enough to usher in their conquerors as Gods!
This film is based on Rudyard Kipling's short story. As you know, Kipling wrote many stories about India as the backdrop after being born and spending an excellent impressionable time there. At first impression, 'Jungle Book' written by him comes to mind.
This 1975 film is set in British India at a time it was roamed by wealth looting mavericks, and the locals were ignorant enough to usher in their conquerors as Gods!
A newspaper editor of Northern Star, a Lahore based English daily (Kipling himself, Christopher Plummer ) is pick-pocketed by an ex-NCO of the British Army (Peachy Carnehan acted by Michael Caine) in a railway station. Upon seeing that pocket watch that he stole had a Free Masons' emblem, he took it upon himself to return his loot to the owner. Kipling befriends Carnahan who introduces him to another ex-British soldier, Danny Dravot (Sean Connery). One day, they present themselves at Kipling's office with their grand plan to go a far away district called Kafirstan placed through the Hindu Kush treacherous mountains for fame and fortune.
After masquerading as a magician and a madman in convoy, they manage to wriggle through into the wilderness with their smuggled collection of rifles. Scaling peaks, glaciers and wrath of nature they finally reach Kafiristan. Rescuing a village woman from bandits with their rifles, they were accepted by their community. Dravot and Carnehan managed to train the man to be soldiers, and they started defeating their neighbours. Our two heroes attain demigod status.
A high priest from a neighbouring district challenges him to have his power tested. As he was about to stab Dravot with his dagger, he saw the pendant with the Free Mason eye. This pendant was given by Kipling as a departing gift.
The priest then unveiled a stone with similar eye marking. It was apparently left by Alexander (The Great) many years previously during his conquest of India. He had married a local girl Roxanne but had to go in a hurry. Dravot was hailed as Sikkander II as the heir to Alexander's status of their King.
Life became good for both our heroes. Their interpreter was a Gurkha ex-British soldier named Billy Fish.
Things become complicated when Dravot falls in love with a local girl, Ruksana (Caine's wife, Shakira, a British Guyanaian and 2nd runners-up in 1967 Ms World beauty pageant).
At the wedding ceremony, Ruksana bit Dravot's face drawing blood! She was fearful that marrying a God who would burn her into flames.
After masquerading as a magician and a madman in convoy, they manage to wriggle through into the wilderness with their smuggled collection of rifles. Scaling peaks, glaciers and wrath of nature they finally reach Kafiristan. Rescuing a village woman from bandits with their rifles, they were accepted by their community. Dravot and Carnehan managed to train the man to be soldiers, and they started defeating their neighbours. Our two heroes attain demigod status.
A high priest from a neighbouring district challenges him to have his power tested. As he was about to stab Dravot with his dagger, he saw the pendant with the Free Mason eye. This pendant was given by Kipling as a departing gift.
The priest then unveiled a stone with similar eye marking. It was apparently left by Alexander (The Great) many years previously during his conquest of India. He had married a local girl Roxanne but had to go in a hurry. Dravot was hailed as Sikkander II as the heir to Alexander's status of their King.
Life became good for both our heroes. Their interpreter was a Gurkha ex-British soldier named Billy Fish.
Things become complicated when Dravot falls in love with a local girl, Ruksana (Caine's wife, Shakira, a British Guyanaian and 2nd runners-up in 1967 Ms World beauty pageant).At the wedding ceremony, Ruksana bit Dravot's face drawing blood! She was fearful that marrying a God who would burn her into flames.
Seeing blood on Dravot's face the locals were up in arms as they discovered that he was not God after all. They dropped Dravot into a deep ravine and Carnahan is crucified. Carnahan, having survived a day of the crucifixion is released. He comes back to tell his story to Kipling.
This story in a way is a satire of sorts. It ridicules the Britishers' gung-ho approach of cheating the local blind by their hospitality and the locals for their naivety in their thinking.
An entertaining flick...
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