History Film / TheManWhoWouldBeKing

** It is an actual historical region in Afghanistan. It was called such by its Muslim neighbors because, like in the story, its inhabitants were not Muslims and it was largely inaccessible because of geography. It remained mysterious to outsiders for centuries until Afghans conquered the region and forcibly converted its people to Islam while renaming it Nuristan only in 1896, 8 years after the original story was published.

** It is an actual historical region in Afghanistan. It was called such by its Muslim neighbors because, like in the story, its inhabitants were not Muslims.

* DirectLineToTheAuthor: Kipling, the author, heard the story from Danny.

* [[spoiler GoOutWithASmile]]: Danny.

* Brownface: Peachy and Danny use this in-universe to cross the border, posing as fakirs.

* CelibateHero: Subverted - Daniel and Peachy are doubtlessly as sly with women as they are with men's money and trust, but both make a pact not to dabble in matters of the opposite sex until their quest to become kings is achieved. Despite their unscrupulous nature, they stick to this surprisingly well. [[spoiler:Until Danny lets godhood get to his head and he demands a wife...]]

* EvilColonialist: Peachy Carnehan and Daniel Dravot, who plan to use their British military training and a supply of smuggled arms to take over the tribes of Kafiristan (now a part of Afghanistan).
* FaceDeathWithDignity.

* SoleSurvivor: Billy Fish of a mapping expedition years before Danny and Peachy set out.
* TemptingFate: Danny.

* VillainProtagonist: Danny and Peachy qualify as this in ways - though grudgingly likeable characters you can't help but root for during most of the film, they're also bigoted, remorseless con men seeking to plunder a small nation by taking advantage of their primitive culture and deeply held religious beliefs.

* WhiteMansBurden: One of the main themes.
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* CelibateHero: Subverted - Daniel and Peachy are doubtlessly as sly with women as they are with men's money and trust, but both make a pact not to dabble in matters of the opposite sex until their quest to become kings is achieved. Despite their unscrupulous nature, they stick to this surprisingly well.

-->'''Daniel Dravot:''' Peachy, I'm heartily ashamed for getting you killed instead of going home rich like you deserved, on account of me being so bleeding high and bloody mighty. Can you forgive me?
-->'''Peachy Taliaferro Carnehan:''' That I can and that I do, Danny. Free and full and without let or hindrance.

* SeveredHeadSports: People in Kaffiristan are shown playing soccer with the head in a bag of a chieftain who was deposed. [[spoiler: Part of the reason the narrator takes his friend's severed head with him, is so that he avoids his dishonor.]]

A 1975 film directed by JohnHuston and starring SeanConnery, MichaelCaine and Christopher Plummer about the glorious and awful sides of European Imperialism. This film follows Daniel Dravot (Connery) and Peachy Carnehan (Caine), two former non-commissioned officers of the British Raj on a journey into the wilds beyond the Khyber Pass and into the lands of Kafiristan on a mission to become kings, or die trying.

-->'''Daniel Dravot:''' "Peachy, I'm heartily ashamed for getting you killed instead of going home rich like you deserved, on account of me being so bleeding high and bloody mighty. Can you forgive me?"
-->'''Peachy Taliaferro Carnehan:''' "That I can and that I do, Danny. Free and full and without let or hindrance."
-->'''Daniel:''' "Everything's all right then."

--> '''Billy Fish:''' After refusing his chance to escape in a horse: ''Gurkha is foot soldier, not cavalry.''

* ItHasBeenAnHonor: Peachy and Danny stuck in the Hindu Kush, where they think they will freeze to death.

--->"Gurkha foot soldier, not cavalry. Rifleman Majendra Bahadur Gurung wishing you many good lucks." *Draws {{kukri|sAreKool}} and charges the mob* "[[ScreamingWarrior Ayo Gurkhali!]]"

* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Peachy and Daniel dub their Gurkha sidekick "Billy Fish" because he reminds him of an Army friend.

Based on a short story by Creator/RudyardKipling (played by Plummer here), the movie is very faithful and differs from the story only slightly in the epilogue.

A 1975 film directed by JohnHuston and starring SeanConnery, MichaelCaine and Christopher Plummer about the glorious and awful sides of European Imperialism. This film follows Daniel Dravot(Connery) and Peachy Carnehan(Caine), two former non-commissioned officers of the British Raj on a journey into the wilds beyond the Khyber Pass and into the lands of Kafiristan on a mission to become kings, or die trying.

Based on a short story by Creator/RudyardKipling(played by Plummer here), the movie is very faithful and differs from the story only slightly in the epilogue.

* FinalSpeech: At the end of the film, as they face death, the protagonists join together in singing a rousing Protestant hymn, "The Son of God Goes Forth To War", which is sung to the tune of "Minstrel Boy"

* ItHasBeenAnHonour: Peachy and Danny stuck in the Hindu Kush, where they think they will freeze to death.

--->"Gurkha foot soldier, not cavalry. Rifleman Majendra Bahadur Gurung wishing you many good lucks." *Draws [[KukrisAreKool kukri]] and charges the mob* "[[ScreamingWarrior Ayo Gurkhali!]]"

* RealLifeRelative: Roxanne is played by Shakira Caine, Michael's wife.

* UnreliableNarrator: [[AvertedTrope Averted]] at the end, when Peachy proves the tale was true [[spoiler:by taking Danny's head out of a bag with the crown still on it]].

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: This was originally going to be made in the 1950s, starring HumphreyBogart as Peachy and Creator/ClarkGable as Danny.
** Huston initially approached PaulNewman and RobertRedford to play the leads. Redford said the parts should be played by British actors, and suggested Connery and Caine instead.

* AlexanderTheGreat: Known as "Sikander" to the Kafirs, and held in legend as a god since he passed through the and helped advance the region millenia earlier. He promised he would send a son through one day, and the high priests have been waiting ever since.

* KickTheDog: Peachy throws an friendly, eager-to-please Indian out of a moving train at the start of the film, establishing him as a VillainProtagonist.

->'''Billy Fish:''' He wants to know if you are gods.
->'''Peachy Carnehan:''' Not gods - Englishmen. The next best thing.

* CelibateHero: Subverted.

* KickTheDog: Not performed by a villain, but by one of the protagonists, who throws an eager-to-please Indian out of a moving train at the start of the film.

A 1975 film directed by JohnHuston and starring SeanConnery and MichaelCaine about the glorious and awful sides of European Imperialism. This film follows former non-commissioned officers of the British Raj on a journey into the wilds beyond the Khyber Pass and into the lands of Kafiristan on a mission to become kings or die trying.

Based on a short story by Creator/RudyardKipling, the movie is very faithful and differs from the story only in the ending.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: This was originally going to be made in the 1950s, starring HumphreyBogart as Peachy and ClarkGable as Danny.

* MisterDanger: Peachy and Daniel in spades.