Newman and Redford? - The Man Who Would Be King (1975) Discussion

[–] EyeNixon 18 years ago

No, the stars of Man Who Would Be King were friends in real life and they're both exceptional actors, real chemistry and talent couldn't be better in any other duo.

"Teh" is simple "teh" best typo ever.

reply

[–] MovieFreak4702 18 years ago

But so were Newman and Redford. They had a very similar bond, that's why I thought of them first. Just look at The Sting or Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to see what I mean.

Look, it's trying to think!

reply

[–] dalby58 18 years ago

You must be joking!

reply

[–] griffic-2 18 years ago

Casting American actors for characters written by Rudyard Kipling just wouldn't have been right. I think Newman recognized this when he recommended Caine and Connery to Huston.

Besides, Peachy and Danny were a couple of real butt-kickers...characters Caine and Connery play quite well.

reply

[–] MovieFreak4702 18 years ago

I definetely see what you're saying there. I love both pairs I was just wondering what might have been, that's all.

Look, it's trying to think!

reply

[–] PunkBuster88 18 years ago

>Casting American actors for characters
>written by Rudyard Kipling just wouldn't
>have been right.

O contraire mon frere! As strange as it sounds the historical figure whom Kipling proportedly based his story on was an American named Josian Harlan 1799 - 1871.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah_Harlan

reply

[–] KingOfCollege 18 years ago

Nevertheless, Caine and Connery were clearly the men for the job. Anyone else, no matter how talented, would have been subpar. These guys just plain MADE the film.

reply

[–] PunkBuster88 18 years ago

>Nevertheless, Caine and Connery were clearly
>the men for the job. Anyone else, no matter
>how talented, would have been subpar.

I wouldn't dream of trying to dispute that point; in fact I agree wholeheartedly.

reply

[–] Towelie_Towel (1700) 3 years ago

It's not like the movie is an untouchable mark in the cinema. I'm pretty sure the movie could have been better, maybe different actors could have made an even better job.

reply

[–] csu16387 17 years ago

As talented as Newman and Redford are, I can't see them in this film at all. Sean Connery and Michael Caine were perfect for the roles.

BTW, I need to see The Man Who Would Be King again soon. It was great fun to watch the first time.

"Dry your eyes baby, it's out of character."

reply

[–] brownblur 17 years ago

Difficult to imagine it with Newman & Redford....

...but its difficult to imagine it with anyone other than Caine & Connery.

No! I’M Spartacus….& so is my Wife…

reply

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] foster11 9 years ago

The only alternate pairing that would have worked at the time

Richard Burton (as Danny) & Peter O'Toole (as Peachy)

I don't think Newman a nd Redford.could have carried this off

You don't have to stand tall, but you do have to stand up!

reply

[–] Sandoz 9 years ago

What about Oliver Reed as Dravot, and Ian McShane as Carnahan?

People believe what they want to believe. One term for this is Faith. Another is Delusion.

reply

[–] whynotwriteme (7120) 6 years ago

I saw Sitting Target with Reed and McShane and I think they would have done a fine job. The movie would have been several shades darker with those two in it though.

reply

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] lubin-freddy 8 years ago

Huston wanted to make the film back in the 50s, and had considered Bogart and Gable in the leads. Not difficult to guess in which roles.

Later Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas were considered. The Burton and O'Toole idea was mentioned above, and might have worked, though I'm not sorry it didn't, as Connery and and Caine are great beyond anything else I can imagine.

"What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence."

reply

[–] Prismark10 7 years ago

I would have to have heard Redford and Newman's British accents.

It's that man again!!

reply

[–] buddyboy28 7 years ago

Worse. In fact, it would it would have plain sucked with those two in it.

reply

[–] roger1 (2277) 8 months ago

"The Man Who Would Be King" WAS actually offered to Paul Newman and Robert Redford...by director John Huston when he was making "The Mackintosh Man"(1973) ...with Paul Newman(with whom Huston had just made "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean" of 1972.)

Huston made the offer to Newman to make to Redford. I don't know if Newman ever talked to Redford, but Newman told Huston..."No...we're two Americans -- this HAS to go to Connery and Caine!"

So Paul Newman cast Connery and Caine in The Man Who Would Be King.

The script did originate in Huston's mind to be for Bogart and Gable. Michael Caine wrote that when Huston offered The Man Who Would Be King to him with Connery , and told him about the original casting idea, Caine said "whose part I am getting -- Bogart or Gable?" Huston said "you're getting Bogart's part." That made Caine very happy. (After all, THAT part is of the smarter, cooler cynic who tries to save his less smart, more guilible partner.)

What's interesting is that Huston kept FAILING to get other teams:

Bogart and Gable
Lancaster and Douglas
O'Toole and Burton
Newman and Redford

...until it reached Connery and Caine after those two had had a few years to become "new stars" -- they didn't exist as stars in the 50s and weren't as big as some of those other guys in the 60s.

All those misfires in the 50s and 60s led to the two perfect guys in the 70s -- never to work together, again. (They are both in A Bridge Too Far, but I don't think they share a scene.)

reply