Michael Caine has often stated the film that inspired him to become an actor was “Casablanca.” He explained further (via Far Out):

“I’m probably one of the few people here who saw this film when it came out. I was a young man who wanted to be a young actor, and Humphrey Bogart was, and still is my favourite actor of all time. I’d seen many Bogart movies, and even at the time, I thought this is one of the greatest movies I’ve ever seen. And to this day, it still is.”

It makes sense: You can often see a hint of Bogart in some of Caine’s toughest performances, a trace of warmth and humanity beneath a hard-bitten, cynical exterior. After Caine hit the big time after almost two decades of grafting, he got the chance to emulate his hero when John Huston offered him a part in “The Man Who Would Be King.” Huston, who had collaborated with Bogie on several classic movies including “The Maltese Falcon” and “The African Queen,” told Caine his role was originally intended for Bogart back in the ’50s, but the silver screen legend passed away before he could get the project off the ground. Caine said:

“I was going [to] play a part that Bogart was going to play and I was going to be directed by John Huston!” Caine said before accepting a script from Huston (replying, “It’s okay, I’ll do it, don’t worry”).

Caine did Bogart proud; paired with his lifelong friend Sean Connery, “The Man Who Would Be King” was a rollicking Boys’ Own adventure with a surprising amount of humor that ranks alongside both actors’ best films.