|
|
|
The Man Who Would Be King: Imprint Limited Edition #421
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray ALL - Australia - Via Vision Review written by and copyright: Noor Razzak (31st August 2025). |
|
The Film
 John Huston’s "The Man Who Would Be King" is a sweeping tale of ambition, imperialism, and hubris, staged with the kind of old-fashioned grandeur rarely attempted by the mid-1970's. Adapted from Rudyard Kipling’s novella, the film follows two former British soldiers, Daniel Dravot (Sean Connery) and Peachy Carnehan (Michael Caine), as they attempt to carve out their own kingdom in the remote mountains of Kafiristan. What unfolds is both a rousing adventure and a cautionary parable about the corrupting lure of power. Huston had dreamed of making this film for decades, originally envisioning it in the 1950's with Clark Gable and Humphrey Bogart as the leads, but Borgart's death in 1957 out an end to the production. Later, Huston attempted to restart with various leading stars but eventually getting nowhere and production stalled multiple times until Connery and Caine, long-time friends off screen, finally brought Huston’s vision to life. Huston directs with an assured hand, letting the film breathe at an epic pace while never losing sight of the story’s darker undercurrents. Beneath the exotic spectacle lies a probing critique of colonial arrogance, as Dravot and Carnehan embody the reckless entitlement of men who believe they can impose rule on a culture they scarcely understand. Connery delivers one of his finest performances, balancing charm and bravado with a tragic blindness to his own limitations. His Dravot is magnetic and commanding, but increasingly deluded—a man convinced of his own divine right to rule. Caine, by contrast, grounds the story with wit and weary pragmatism, his Peachy becoming the reluctant moral compass of the pair. Their chemistry carries the film, deepened by the fact that the actors’ off-screen friendship translates into a palpable sense of loyalty and betrayal on screen. Christopher Plummer’s small but notable turn as Kipling himself frames the story with a literary elegance, underscoring the tension between legend and truth. Shot primarily in Morocco, the film benefits from sweeping location cinematography by Oscar winner Oswald Morris immerses the viewer in vast landscapes, echoing both the grandeur and the isolation of the men’s quest. Maurice Jarre’s score and the sheer scale of the production give it the feel of an old Hollywood epic—appropriate, given Huston’s attachment to the project for nearly 20 years. Yet despite its pageantry, the film never loses sight of the darker themes at its core. Huston refuses to indulge in imperialist fantasy, instead showing how arrogance, exploitation, and self-deception dismantle even the closest of bonds. While some of Huston’s colonial depictions feel dated and undeniably tied to the attitudes of the period, the film remains striking for its refusal to romanticize conquest. Instead, it shows how greed and delusion dismantle not only empires but friendships. The grandeur of the production—the massive sets, the crowd scenes, and the robust score ultimately serves to emphasize the futility of the protagonists’ dream. By the tragic final act, spectacle gives way to inevitability, leaving the audience with a sense of awe and melancholy. Upon release, the film was met with critical acclaim. Many hailed it as Huston’s late-career masterpiece, a return to the epic scale and moral complexity that had defined his early successes like "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (1948). Critics praised Connery and Caine’s performances, with some arguing that Connery’s tragic downfall as Dravot ranked among his finest screen work. The film earned four Academy Award nominations (including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Art Direction), cementing its reputation as both a critical and commercial triumph in an era when classical adventure cinema was fading. Today, the film endures not just as a gripping tale of exploration and hubris but also as a commentary on the fragility of empire and the dangers of mistaking conquest for destiny. Huston delivers both the grandeur of myth and the sobering sting of reality, making The Man Who Would Be King a timeless work of cinema—an elegy for the dream of empire and a testament to the ruin it inevitably brings.
Video
Presented in the film's original theatrical ratio of 2.39:1 widescreen this HD 1080p 24/fps image was created from a new 4K master. The result is quite splendid, the film is beautiful and shows off the rich photography. Detail and sharpness are excellent, colors are rich and bold, skin tones look natural, black levels are deep, the film retains its light grain structure. Overall I'm quite impressed with this release and only a 4K UHD presentation would surpass this otherwise solid transfer.
Audio
A single audio track is included in English LPCM 2.0 Mono, the audio is perfectly fine for this release, dialogue is clean and clear and the score is well balanced. While not as rich and immersive as a 5.1 presentation, purists will be pleased that the film is released with its mono audio. Subtitles are included in English only.
Extras
Imprint has released this film with a handful of supplements. Below is a closer look. "Call It Magic: The Making Of ‘The Man Who Would Be King’" featurette (12:00), this production feature takes a look at the location shoot in Morocco at the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. For a short clip it covers quite a bit of information and takes a behind-the-scenes look at the the filming process and features interviews with the key players. "The Gentle Giant: interview with actor Danny Huston" (8:05), this interview with John Huston's son Danny talks about his father's career and his film legacy. "High Atlas Adventure: interview with continuity supervisor Angela Allen" (43:04) this lengthy interview features the script supervisor on the film comments on Houston's vision, his keen ability as a storyteller, and focuses on three of his films that are the most outstanding, among other things including her career history, what her job entails, and on her collaborations. Rounding out the extras is the film's original theatrical trailer (1:06)
Packaging
Packaged in a limited edition slip-case. Limited to 1500 copies world-wide.
Overall
The Man Who Would Be King stands as both an exhilarating adventure film and a sharp meditation on the perils of ambition unchecked by humility. It is Huston at his most mythic, Connery and Caine at their most compelling, and a reminder that empires built on vanity are destined to collapse under their own weight.
|
|||||
|