unquestioned masterpiece

Rating: 9/10 (6 January 2000)

Four things combine to ensure this movie's greatness - the literary craftsmanship of Rudyard Kipling, the directorial stature of John Huston, and the incandescent chemistry of acting greats Sean Connery and Michael Caine. The broad, sweeping vistas of south central Asia, magically photographed, add to the allure. This is a morality tale of human greed and ambition run amock, but Kipling's light touch keeps it at the level of a black comedy, not a tragedy. Huston did not change the dramatic viewpoint, and he includes ample touches of comedy. Though the movie is a grand lark, a gripping adventure, and a rollicking good yarn, at the end we feel both emotionally drained and wiser than we were. Largely overlooked, this movie aspires to level of some of David Lean's masterpieces, and, if not quite entirely making it, comes damn near close enough. A must-see.