This is a new and robust rendition of Rudyard Kipling's famous Indian story, adapted previously in Hollywood style by Victor Saville(1950). Along with ¨Captain courageous¨and ¨Jungle book¨ are the Kipling books' most known. In this TV adaptation, Kim(Ravi Sheth, Dean Stockwell similar role) is a young boy living on his owns in the slums of India in 19th century(1894). Kim is 15-years-old and disguising as native, but he's actually Brit origin. He encounters a monk Lama(Peter O'Toole,in role of Paul Lukas), a holy man.The boy wishes to be his disciple and he's looking for a red bull and the Buddhist Lama on search for a river where Budda hurled an arrow turning into a place of redemption. Kim also befriends an Afghan horses dealer named Mahbub Ali(Bryan Brown , Errol Flynn character). But when British military discover his origin he's placed in a English college. Kim goes on as British spy and is trained by English service secret(John Rhys Davies). Then Kim receives orders from a British Colonel(Julian Glover, lookalike role of Robert Douglas) who assigns him a risked mission. The story is set in several locations filmed in India, as Northern frontier, Lahore barracks, Bunar, Umbella barracks, Delhi, Shaharampre, and Indian mountains nearly Himalaya where are developed the final scenes as the fighting against Russian spies in a daring mission.
Stars Peter O'Toole makes an excellent acting as weak and broody monk, also Bryan Brown as astute adventurer/spy but young boy , in the title role, steals the show. Although relies heavily on the relationship between the boy and Lama , the movie is quite entertaining, providing some intense excitement, however is overlong. Cinematography by Michael Reeves is atmospheric but in television style, isn't as glamorous as old version in glimmer Technicolor by William Skall. Atmospheric and modern musical score by Marc Williamson however isn't as spectacular as the classic by Andre Previn. The motion picture is professionally directed by British John Davies, an usual television director. Rating : Acceptable and passable.
