The Man Who Would Be King (Widescreen Edition) | 
| Director: John Huston
Actors: Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Christopher Plummer, Saeed Jaffrey, Doghmi Larbi
Studio: Warner Home Video
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $7.60
You Save: $7.38 (49%)
New (4) Used (4) from $6.33
Rating:  130 reviews
Sales Rank: 25585
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Hifi Sound, Letterboxed, Special Edition, Widescreen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 129 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 6304457367
UPC: 012569091238
EAN: 9786304457368
ASIN: 6304457367
Theatrical Release Date: December 17, 1975
Release Date: May 8, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: brand new , inventory bx2
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com essential video
A grandly entertaining, old-fashioned adventure based on the Rudyard Kipling short story, The Man Who Would Be King is the kind of rousing epic about which people said, even in 1975, "Wow! They don't make 'em like that anymore!" When director John Huston (The Maltese Falcon, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The African Queen) first started trying to make the film, with Gable and Bogart, the project was derailed by the latter's death. It was a few decades before Huston was able to finally realize his dream movie--and with an unimprovable cast. Sean Connery and Michael Caine are, respectively, Daniel Dravot and Peachy Carnahan, a pair of lovably roguish British soldiers who set out to make their fortunes by conning the priests of remote Kafiristan into making them kings. It's a rollicking tale, an epic satire of imperialism, and the good-natured repartee shared by Caine and Connery is pure gold. In today's screen adventures, humor is usually imposed on the material by a writer or director trying to make some kind of cleverly self-aware comment ("Hey, we know it's a movie!"), but that sort of jokiness can create so much ironic distance that it pushes the audience right out of the picture. Huston lets the humor emerge naturally from the characters, for whom we wind up caring more deeply than we ever expected. The digital video disc includes a wonderful documentary on the making of the film. --Jim Emerson
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| Customer Reviews: Read 125 more reviews...
 Personal Favorite--Needs Remastering July 16, 2008
Randal Gist (Kansas City, MO USA)
"The Man Who Would Be King" is on the short list of my favorite films. John Huston's love & dedication to this project really shines through (he had to wait 25-30 years to make it & then almost died making it)in his script & direction. Caine & Connery ARE Peachy & Danny (I'm sorry--I can't see Bogart & Gable) in what I see as career high performances. Some eight years ago this was one of the very first DVDs I ever purchased. After viewing it numerous times since then, I have just watched it for the first times on a 42" widescreen lcd tv. I have to say that I was surprised at how good the image was for such an old release--the DVD was released in 1997--however there is room for considerable improvement in the package. First & foremost get rid of the flipper disc, the film is 129 minutes long & can easily be fit on a dual layer dvd with room to spare for a commentary (by a critic/historian & perhaps Mr. Caine--I doubt if Mr. Connery would make himself available.) Next, reinstate the short bit at the climax showing Danny tumbling end over end with Peach narrating his fall from the bridge--it was there when I first saw the film in 1975, but is missing from television & DVD prints for some reason. Documentary material on Kipling, the short story, John Huston & the making of the film & its importance would be most welcome. As it is, there are practically no extras on the extentant disc. Please Warner Bros.--won't you at least consider it. When you look at all the double & triple dips of junk out there, give this film a little respect. Wontcha, huh?
Regal Chemistry...A Peachy Movie June 18, 2008
Elliot Malach (Galveston, Tx)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is my all time favorite movie. Mix in two great actors, add British imperialism with a dash of human greed and you end up with a recipe for an outstanding, humorous adventure story with a tragic ending.
It doesn't get any better than this. If you have to buy one DVD, this is it.
Buddy film extraordinaire June 14, 2008
E. P. Christianson (Cincinnati)
Connery & Caine combined for what is quite possibly the greatest "buddy film" of all time. 33 years later & it has lost none of its appeal!
 Classic Rudyard Kipling protrayed by a classic cast April 27, 2008
Gordon Woodroof (Orangeburg, S.C.)
Sean Connery, Michael Caine, and Christopher Plummer directed by John Huston. . . It doesn't get much better than this! The movie is an old fashioned adventure tale centering around two ex-British army pals trying to make (or steal) their fortune in India. Sean Connery's character is mistaken for a returning god by a tribe in the remote mountains of Kafiristan. Unfortunatley, the character starts to believe that he just might be destined to rule. Trivia buffs should pay close attention to the native girl who is the object of Sean Connery's affection. She is Shakira Caine, a former beauty queen and Michael Caine's real life wife at the time this movie was made.
 Poor Sound Quality March 16, 2008
Connie M. Ash
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The only negative thing that I have to say about this item was the extremely poor sound quality. The TV volume was at its max and we could just hear the movie. I wish that I had complained a lot earlier and had sent it back for a replacement. It really is a great movie.
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