THE STORY...

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34128, 14 April 1976, Page 15

THE STORY...

Rudyard Kipling (Christopher Plummer), a young lournalist working in L ahore. India, is immediately interested when he meets by chance two tough shrewd former British Army sergeants, Danial Dravot (Sean Connery) and Peach Camehan (Michael Caine), especaially when he finds they are brotherMasons. They tell him of their plan to set off for wild and primitive Kafiristan, via Afghanistan, to seek their fortunes. Kipling gives them his dubious blessings. After many adventures, Dravot and Camehan arrive in the Kafiristan village of Er-Heb, meet exGurkha soldier Bill Fish (Saeed Jaffery), who becomes their loyal friend, and Er-Herb s headman, Ootah < Dogmi Larbi), whom they help beat the rival town of Bashkai in battle. Because of Dravot’s courage. battle prowess and apparent invincibility, the men of both armies hail him as both king and a god and he and Carnehan lead an ever-growing army into more victories. Dravot is eventually summoned to the Holy City of Sikandergul where, after initial doubts, he is confirmed as king and god of all Kafiristan and holds absolute power. But power can corrupt even the best man and Dravot comes to believe that he is, indeed, a god directly descended from Alexander the Great. When he decides to take a beautiful local girl, Roxanne (Shakira Caine), as wife and Queen, the people are doubtful and their doubts are confirmed when the terrified girl bites him during the wedding ceremony

and draws blood, proving that Dravot is not an immortal god but an ordinary man. The people pursue Dravot, Carnehan and Billy Fish from the city and Dravot and Billy Fish are killed. Carnehan eventually drags himself, broken in mind and body, to tell his terrible story to Kipling, leaves him Dravot’s battered golden crown as proof his story is true.