The Man Who Would Be King

Film adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's short story of the same name. Two British army officers, Daniel Dravot (Sean Connery) and Peachy Carnahan (Michael Caine) have been serving in India at the height of the Raj. They decide to resign their commissions from the army to travel off to Kafiristan and set themselves up as kings of the tribal Afghan lands. After a few years, a bedraggled and half-mad Peachy comes back to India, relating to journalist Rudyard Kipling (Christopher Plummer) a fantastic story of becoming kings with Dravot. He and Dravot were successful in becoming god-kings of Kafiristan. However, their hopes were dashed when Dravot tried to take a native Kafiri woman (Shakira Caine) as his wife. The woman fought against Dravot and hurt him. Inspired by the sight, the villagers realized that Dravot and Carnahan were mortal men and not gods after all. They kill Dravot and crucify Carnahan. But when Carnahan does not die, the villagers believe it to be a miracle and release him. Peachy returns with the still-crowned head of his friend in tow and shows it to Rudyard as proof that they accomplished their goal.