It's Not Always Good To Be the King

I have no comment on primary elections in the United States or politics anywhere else. Last night, while all that voting was going on, I mostly sat and watched The Man Who Would Be King, one of my all-time favorites, one of those books and films and whatever else that are perfect in every way, in which you really can't find any flaws. It's a Rudyard Kipling story about two ne'er-do-well British ex-soldiers in the late 19th century who go off into the wilds of Afghanistan (technically Kafiristan) and end up running the place because one, Danny Dravot, is mistaken for the returned spirit of Alexander the Great. The two rascals had intended to loot the place and go home rich, but the presumed god-king is seduced by his power into wishing to stay; he discovers he has something of a flair for delivering rational, reasonable justice. Of course he is living on a knife edge; the imposture can't last, but his idealism blinds him to the situation. His friend, Peachey Carnehan, begs him to leave, but realism will not be heard. In the inevitable end, the two friends end up out of ammunition, surrounded by a tightening circle of silently menacing tribespeople, intent on vengeance. The former king knows the jig is up.

"Peachey," he says, "I'm heartily ashamed for getting you killed instead of going home rich like you deserved to on account of me bein' so bleedin' high and bloody mighty. Can you forgive me?"

"That I can and that I do, Danny," Peachey says. "Free and full and without let or hindrance."

Danny relaxes, and looks around at the advancing crowd. "Everything's all right, then," he says. And you believe that these two really were adventurers who'd known they could die any time, and accepted that, and that they wouldn't trade their memories for longer life (this had come up earlier) and friendship mattered more than death. You believe it because Sean Connery plays Danny and Michael Caine plays Peachey. Good, good film. And maybe the subject of hubris and misplaced, bull-headed idealism is one that politicians should study up on. If any politicians are reading, I'd say this film is a good place to start, and it's lots of fun too.