The Wind and the Lion Reviews

• Rousing desert swashbuckler with a touch of romance!

  
  By A3GQKB1KF0CRPE on 2003-12-14
  Sean Connery was searching for a way to establish himself away from James Bond, and this movie went a long way to do so. You can see why the character attracted Connery, a strong powerful male, a bit of a hold over in a changing world. It's based on a true story (though the kidnapee was an overweight man in the real world), but in Hollywood it is Candice Berger (at her most beautiful) and her son and daughter, who are taken by Connery. He is a rebel with a cause, fighting his brother who is being corrupted by every foreign power imaginable. The country is run by a very young man, thought the real power sits with The Bashaw of Tangier (Vladek Sheybal doing his usual droll performance to perfection). In order to make a statement, Mulay Achmed Mohammed el-Raisuli the Magnificent (Connery) kidnaps Berger and her two kids. Thus starts a battle of will between Connery and Brian Keith (Teddy Roosevelt) - the wind and the lion. You even get John Houston is a great role, providing a riotous touch of humour.

  Candice is no missish miss, but is capable to handling herself and her fear, while the children view it as a great adventure.
  However, the romance between Connery and Berger (though lightly done), really hurts in today's political world. Many won't view the taking of hostages or the killing of Berger's household during her abduction quite in the shame light after the many more recent hostages takings in the Middle East nor the 911 attack. So the topic might now sit so well in this day and time.

  Shame because it is John Milus (directed and wrote) at his best, Connery at his most playful and fun tale, if you can divorce yourself from the realities of kidnapping and murder.
  
  

• Release This on DVD, Please

  
  By A2WV1YJTPQ36VP on 2000-10-31
  My all time favorite movie and the best movie you've never seen is "The Wind and the Lion" (1975). Written and directed by John Milus (who later wrote "Apocalypse Now" and directed "Conan The Barbarian"), it stars Sean Connery, Candice Bergen, Brian Keith, and John Houston. Connery is a Berber chief, Risuli the Magnificent, who kidnaps American Candice Bergen in Morocco in 1906 (or so). Connery wants to force the European powers out of Morocco, which at that time is occupied by the British, French, and Germans, each with different interests. Brain Keith is President Teddy Roosevelt (and he really is) who sends the Marines to Morocco "to get respect." In the end, the Americans and Connery's Berbers make common cause against the Germans.

  For me, Brian Keith as Teddy is worth the price of admission all by himself. This movie is well-written, funny, has great line after great line, super characters, and some rousing battle scenes. Plus, the kids can watch it. You really can't go wrong with "The Wind and the Lion." I only wish they'd release it on DVD...
  
  

• Rousing historical adventure with a dash of romance

  
  By A1ALOEZ4NXHUT on 2004-02-13
  The Wind and the Lion has finally come to DVD, and it's a fine production that thankfully boasts an engaging commentary track from director and scripter John Milius, an underappreciated Hollywood maverick (who is also terrific fun along with Ahnold S. on the "Conan the Barbarian" Collector's Edition commentary).

  Times change and times stay the same ... when I saw this on its initial release, Arabs/Muslims were definitely the Bad Guys (it was the mid-Seventies, the Israelis and their neighbors were coming off another war, there were lines for gasoline, and rampant inflation caused by skyrocketing oil prices was wrecking the world's economy) but the post-Vietnam mood in the US was very much against all manifestations of foreign military intervention. This film was discordantly out of place in the prevailing attitudes. Then things cooled off, the Middle East didn't seem to be as threatening after awhile, and America began to start sending soldiers abroad again (carefully, against enemies who couldn't really fight back). Now, in the last decade, we've come full circle in many ways. Once more the Islamic world is a bogeyman and "robust", even pre-emptive, military intervention is an official doctrine of the Bush II crowd. This film ought to be wildly popular now -- for all the wrong reasons.

  Milius is an unapologetic but conflicted imperialist, as he ruefully but honestly notes in his commentary track. On the one hand, he glories in naked American power (personified in this movie in the figure of the bearish Teddy Roosevelt, played masterfully by Brian Keith), but on the other, he recognizes that it is el Raisuli (Sean Connery) and his Moroccan bandits/jihadists whjo are the true heroes of the story, fighting patriotically to rid their country of foreign invaders. While Milius never resolves this conflict within himself, it does enable him to portray both sides honestly and respectfully, and even see the humor in the opposing attitudes: it is sometimes not clear if the hawkish American diplomats and soldiers, soberly toasting "World War", are meant to be buffoons or are in deadly earnest, the humor is so dry and the acting so sincere. A little of both, in all likelihood, just like Roosevelt, who is whimsically shown in constant physical activity while pursuing a shrewd, if belligerent, approach to foreign affairs.

  Connery's Raisuli (based on a real figure) makes a marvelous freedom fighter. He's proud, passionate, fearless, and incorruptible, which is why he's probably doomed in the end, as the film's coda implies. His feelings toward his captive (Candice Bergen's Eden Pedecaris) grow into an abiding but chaste love (which is reciprocated), a subplot that hearkens to the grand old romantic adventure movies of old but that is never allowed by Milus to distract from the central storyline of action and intrigue. Some people seem to think that "Big Tam's" alleged Scottish accent is intrusive -- I do not hear this myself; to my ears Connery makes a very convincing Muslim, and besides, I have read on good authority that Arabic-speakers are the world's best imitators of the Scottish accent, so the casting makes a curious sort of sense.

  TW&TL is full of movement and sweeping panoramas, with the Spanish locations subbing for Morocco used to good effect. The cinematography is superb, and truly shines in this widescreen release, and it is accompanied by one of Jerry Goldsmith's most stirring and evocative soundtracks. Milius' dialogue is economical and never too anachronistic (always a problem in most period movies); he creates believable larger-than-life characters and leavens the swashbuckling with deft humorous touches. Viewers will come away with many favorite lines that will enter their everyday conversation (e.g., "Real men prefer to fight with swords, so they can see each other's eyes," "You like-y speech-y?", "Why spoil the beauty of the thing with legality", "It goes double for Berbers", "The ease of others is not the concern of the Sultan", and "You've made this fine specimen of a grizzly look like a hairy cow").

  It's all a tremendous spectacle, full of dash and glory, from the last few "innocent" years before the vaunting anthems of the European powers were muted by the mud of trench warfare and imperialism lost its attraction to a war-weary Old World. (Whether America will follow in its footsteps remains an open question.) Milius, a devotee of Kurosawa and a keen student of the military arts, directs some of the finest combat sequences ever to grace the screen. Bergen is surprisingly effective (it's hard to imagine Faye Dunaway in this role, as the commentary suggests nearly happened), the support players render sterling service, and there's even an unexpected touch of poetry at the end. Stand-out cinema entertainment that leaves you thinking, laughing, and applauding at the same time.
  
  

• Romance is alive and it's name is Connery!

  
  By AXI7YVS9X0BC7 on 1999-12-09
  The Wind and the Lion is a fabulous, old-fashion adventure film with something for everybody: dashing leading man (Sean Connery), plucky, pretty (let's not forget smart) leading lady (Candice Bergen), a terrific supporting cast (which includes Brian Keith (as Teddy Roosevelt) and John Huston (yes, the director), gorgeous scenery and action aplenty! I remember seeing this on a date with an ex-marine (he loved the Marines and fight scenes, funny thing) in 1975, when it was first released in theaters and seeing this video brought back all the excitement I felt for it this movie. Connery is so sexy...you can't help but be swept away! Bergen is the perfect foil for Connery; able to hold her own on the screen with him. Their comedic reparte' is so endearing. I still can recite some of the lines by heart! The cinematography is epic, the sound track, monumental (I bought the CD! ) The director obviously had a field day with this (you'd never guess he was a ex-marine! ) If you're looking for a historically accurate movie...pass this by, but if you're looking for a little old-fashion adventure, give this one a try. There is violent content, but no inappropriate language or nudity (the closest to nudity you'll find in this is when Sean has his shirt off.) Go on...give yourself over to a little adventure! Grab your popcorn, your significate other and ride back in time with the Raisuli. Mrs. Pedicaris, I'm glad you're a lot of trouble!
  
  

• Can't Wait For The DVD

  
  By A1INXZMMLJRNV4 on 2000-10-02
  I first saw The Wind and the Lion when it came out in theaters. Always a big fan of sweeping adventure stories, this one became an instant favorite. Though years have passed and movie action has become even more lavish and intense, nothing has ever dimmed this jewel in my eyes. In fact, the years have made the romance more poignant and the irony more telling. Forget history: Pedicaris was a man. Forget stereotypes: the Berber is the hero. This is a romantic adventure of the highest order: remember the little boy who dreams of becoming a Barbary Pirate. As that marvelous score swells up around you, and Sean Connery leans down from the galloping horse, grabbing not the boy, but the gun he is carrying, you can feel the boy's disappointment at not being carried along for the next adventure.

  There are many levels at work in this film. The genius of John Milius is such that the Roosevelt era of "gunboat diplomacy" can be seen as both the crowing of young America as it was forcing its way into World politics, and as a reflection of the debacle of Viet Nam that was the end result of such bullish behavior.

  In its examination of relationships between men and women, the human foibles of men looked upon as leaders, and the brutal reality of the human condition, this movie is right on target. But, in the end, it is a romance, a dream of what could be -- but usually isn't. The good guys survive, but they all show that they have paid a heavy price for having played the game.

  MGM will be doing all movie fans a favor when they bring this out on DVD.
  
  

• Rousing Adventure with a Touch of Romance
  By on 2002-02-22
  Well, I wait patiently for this movie to be released on DVD. In the meantime, I keep the VCR so I can watch this movie for the umpteenth time. In many ways, this screen adaption of actual events seems more appropriate to be viewed in these times. The movie is a VERY loose depiction of actual events: the kidnapping of an American businessman in Morocco. Look beyond that and you will find a story that reflects admirably on the antagonists. Candice Bergen plays the (subtle) potential love interest of the Raizuli, and well, Sean Connery, is Sean Connery, in the best tradition of a Scostman playing an Arab. Anyway, Brian Keith's portrayal of Teddy Roosevelt makes you wish he were still alive so you could vote for him in the next election. This is one of my all time favorites and it makes you feel good to be an American (not wanting to be jingoistic or anything). The movie does depict an era when international politics was not so seemingly complicated as they are now. The portayal of Arab Muslims is fair: good and bad traits, as in all people on this planet. The depiction of the Marines coming ashore, is well, one of the best (unintentional) recruiting tools for the USMC. I understand these scenes use (still?) to be shown at USMC Officer Candidate School. This is a truly enjoyable film.
  
  
• making of "The Wind And The Lion"
  By on 2003-06-24
  I am writing to say how great it is to see that people still appreciate and enjoy this movie. I am not associated in any way with anyone who made the movie and am speaking only for myself.
  I was one of the US Marines in the move and was hired as an extra. At that time I was a real US Marine corporal stationed in Spain.

  On the Dock scene, the Hispanic Sgt. was a real U.S. Marine Capt. and my Executive Officer. He was very valuable to the movie, being able to speak both English and Spanish.

  As I recall this was the first movie that had ever used actual active duty soldiers from US and Spain together in a movie. They used Spanish soldiers throughout the movie as extra's . We (the real US Marines) spent time teaching them to march and learn english marching commands before they went to the set in Seville Spain.

  I do recall being told that the President of the United States went to the opening And was said to have enjoyed it.

  The writers and those who were making the movie had written only a very brief part for any Marine scenes. When we arrived to Seville, where they saw us for the very first time and demonstrated what we could do in the way of realistic action , they wrote in more scenes and the rest is movie history. Looking back now, The Marine Scenes are some of the important scenes and contribute greatly to the movie.

  The parts where you see US Marines was filmed in two locations in Spain, the dock scene was filmed in Seville Spain and the desert scene was filmed in the hills of Almeria Spain, I believe this was the same location Lawrence of Arabia was filmed, many westerns were filmed there also. In total I was on location for about 45 days which is a long time for movie extras.

  There was different groups of US military being called upon at any given time to work as extra's. Such as the palace guards.
  But there was a core group of us U.S. Marines ( about 2 dozen total)who were used. We would film for a couple weeks, go back to work on base and out of no where there would be a request for us to come back to the set and film more scenes.. We would be given authorization from the Marine Corps Stateside to go, and soon after a Commercial Bus would pick us up and we would travel the long distance to the set. sometimes taking many hours to get there on those narrow country roads of Spain.

  We went 3 different times. We were considered by The Corps to be Embassador's so there was no hesitation to let us go.
  As a US Marine , I was honored and thankful for my opportunity to be a part of this great action film. I think it is more enjoyable now then ever and sure to become a classic.

  The Actors, Sean Connery, Brian Keith, Candice Bergen, the director John Milius who I really owe the greatest thanks to for having the vision to include us in the movie, and all the rest were so kind and went out of their way to get us up close when they worked And would spend time with us in the evenings just visiting. It was a once in a lifetime experience.
  I was just a young Marine of 19 years old, now 47 it seems like a lifetime ago. But I do as you enjoy pulling out the movie and watching it with my children and remembering ..thank you all who continue enjoy this movie - keeping it going. God Bless
  
  

• A thrilling desert adventure
  By A1YWUPCT83WY48 on 2004-01-28
  Anyone who loves old-fashioned "swords in the desert" epics will adore this sweeping romance (with a touch of politics added in for good measure). It is the turn of the century, Europe has divided most of the world into its colonies, and American is just beginning to assert its own influence under charismatic president Teddy Roosevelt (played with tremendous energy by Brian Keith). Connery plays a dashing and well-spoken Berber chieftain who kidnaps an American woman (Candice Bergen) to spark rebellion in the Middle East against the French and the Germans. But this brings in the Americans, and good old Teddy sees a great opportunity to tweak the noses of Europe, get relected, and face down an "honorable" foe like Connery's Berber chieftain.

  The desert scenes are all fantastic and filled with romance of the Arabian Nights, the thunder of horses hooves -- all of it scored with Jerry Goldsmith's thrilling music and shown in beautiful widescreen on the DVD. The action scenes are incredibly exciting, especially a scene of Connery taking on a band of kidnappers single-handed. In general, the Middle Eastern characters are treated with respect and fairness. The American scenes with Keith's Roosevelt are intelligent and well written and shed light on America's changing position in the world. (Yes, this is based on a real event, although much has been changed. It doesn't matter: it's a fiction that sheds much light on the actual world situation.)

  Alltogether, this is a sweeping, superb adventure film that MUST be seen on DVD for the full effect. It has action, subtle romance, two great performances, and a bit of thoughtful politics in it to give you something to think about when it's all over.

  Also recommeded from the same period: THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING. Another great Sean Connery period adventure film.
  
  

• One of my favorites
  By A2K9IVPCTJUQHN on 2001-04-29
  I've been a fan of this movie since I saw it in 1975 at the age of seven. A nod to the great old movies of the forties and thirties with Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Errol Flynn. Only with some modern sensibilites added in. It's a great adventure movie. Sean Connery is perfect as the rebellious tribal leader who is also a brave and honorable man. Brian Keith has a field day as Teddy Roosevelt and Candice Bergen is the right mix of feisty heroine and vunerable leading lady Additionally,there is some outstanding support work done by John Huston and others.

  For those who are military history buffs and collectors of old firearms this movie is a visual treat.It's also a real slam bang action/adventure movie, a bit of a romance and even a political commentary piece. While it may be true that it plays fast and loose with historical fact it's a forgivable sin. This movie isn't trying to recreate the actual events, instead it's trying to recreate the mythical aspects of the late Imperial age. A time period which has taken on larger than life aspects. People were no more capable, evil or heroic a century ago than people are today, but somehow we think/remember them being that way. That's why I think this film still appeals to so many, I know that's what it is for me.
  
  

• Great movie combined with great actors, story and actions...
  By A1I9B4PSCDDWOO on 2004-04-05
  This is a movie where most people would have a hard time not liking it. Its has everything anyone wants, unspoken romance, actions and intelligent script. I did have some problem with Sean Connery as the Berber chieftain but he played the role well and if a Berber were taught English by a Scotsman, he would sound just like Connery. Brian Keith played Teddy Roosevelt to a perfection. I think Keith had all the best lines of the movie and many of things he said about our nation sounds more real today then ever before. Candice Bergan was wonderful as well and there was a definite chemisty between Bergan and Connery that make the movie work.

  There might be one stick that get stuck in many people's throats and that is that Sean Connery plays a very honorable man of Islam. When his character stated that Raisuli don't make war on women and children, he sounded bit insulted that a true warrior of Islam might be considered to scooped so low. A true patriot in his own eyes, Connery's portrayal of an Islamic leader run contarary to what many Americans see today, especially after 9-11 and many Islamic terrorist attacks directed at women and children. (I was told that this movie is quite popular in Islamic nations for Connery's portrayal of a true and honorable warrior of Islam.)

  The DVD of this movie proves to be a must-buy for me. Its in anamorphic widescreen and at least for my basic TV, it looked very good. The audio is in 5.1 DD but its not very active as you hope to be. Still the sounds are pretty clear and background material are separated nicely. There are your director's commentary and making of the movie feature included but that is all from the extra feature department.

  Considering that this movie was made in mid-1970s when America's power was ebbing after the Vietnam War and we were in an "anti-pro-active" stage, this story of Berber chieftain kidnapping an American woman and her children which generated a pure imperialistic response from the United States, must have been a rarity to hit the screens at that period.
  
  

• Epic Fun
  By A2AOZQ3WTNVVOK on 2005-12-30
  Director John Milius took an actual event and elevated it to a tale of honor, using the incredible talent of Sean Connery, Brian Keith, and Candice Bergen. Look also for John Huston, Geoffrey Lewis and Steve Kanaly.
  
  Candice Bergen is Eden Pedecaris, visiting a friend in Morocco along with her children William (Simon Harrison) and Jennifer (Polly Gottesmann). Desert chieftain Mulay Achmed Mohammed el-Raisuli the Magnificent, or Raisuli (Connery), takes Eden as a pawn in a political game that includes the Moroccan government, the government of Teddy Roosevelt (Keith), Germans, and other assorted world powers.
  
  The battle is immediately between various foreign powers in Morocco and the Raisuli, but the real focal point in this movie is the interplay between the Raisuli and Roosevelt, and how each, in their own way, is somewhat similar. There are moments of poignancy in this movie as we realize that in some ways both characters also represent a way of life that will soon be gone from the world. Teddy Roosevelt sees the Wild West disappearing, and perhaps some aspect of what it means to be an American. The Raisuli sees his nomadic way of life changing, or perhaps disappearing, as Europeans influence the culture of his country and his people.
  
  The surprising catalyst for the events that unfold in this movie is Eden Pedecaris, who comes to admire the Raisuli, and ultimately tries to rescue him because she sees the honorable person that he is. There is also a chaste, intellectual romance between Eden and the Raisuli.
  
  Sean Connery has a knack for choosing roles in movies that are thought-provoking and challenging. While there are aspects of this movie that may bother some viewers in the post-9/11 era, the movie is also a commentary on the changes that Western society has wrought in the world, changes that are still rippling throughout the world. Brian Keith is perfect as Teddy Roosevelt, and I am surprised that his appearance in this movie is the only time that Keith took on this role.
  
  We are fortunate that this movie has come to DVD at last. If you enjoyed "Lawrence of Arabia," "The Man Who Would Be King," and the Indiana Jones movies, or if you are a fan of Brian Keith, Candice Bergen or Sean Connery, this movie, nominated for five awards in various venues, is required for your collection.
  
  
  
• A great adventure although bad history.
  By A2EWN4ANV3CPG6 on 2002-01-22
  The Wind and the Lion is a film that is greater than the sum of it's all star cast. Brian Keith, Sean Connery, John Huston and Candice Bergen are the principle figures in the film but they are supported by a very capable second team of character actors
  that gives even more depth to the film. The actual events portrayed are only somewhat accurate. This might be viewed as a "what if" type of film.
  
  Sean Connery as Rizuli, the "Lord of the Rif" is outstanding and quite different from his mostly James Bond casting up until that point. While classes as a bandit, he is also the uncle of the Sultan of Morocco - a quite immature young man as portrayed. in the film who has great memories of his times with his "uncle". It was an early, and possibly unintentional example, of the convoluted nature of Mid-East and African politics. Connery portrays a man of great dignity and personal honor who, in a way, although classified as a bandit, is likeable and charming. He grows on you - from the first scene all the way until the voice over narration at the end. He exhibits and exudes majesty.
  
  John Huston as John Hay is another exceptional portrayal. He is shown doing his best to prevent an all out war but I think one can see the grandstanding going on for the sake of the diplomatic corps then in Washington. He makes the typical "Ugly American" mistake of assuming that the Japanese Military Attache' does not speak English and is put in his place quite nicely by the attace' at a luncheon.
  
  Brian Keith is terrific as Theodore Roosevelt and gives not only a fine perfromance of the man, but captures the spirit of America then and now. The analagy to the grizzly bear is quite effective and moving. His problems with the fitting of his rifle are quite amusing as well as his difficulty in getting them resolved. One would think that even in the 1900s the President could get better customer service than was portrayed. His problem with his vision is portrayed in a very interesting way and depends on the young girl playing Alice Roosevelt to make it work. Roosevelt and the family at the rifle range is well done - musical selections played by the Marine band to the accompaniement of rifle fire makes a nice contrast and could be seen as pointing out the contradictions in Roosevelt as a person.
  
  Candice Bergen is fine as Eden Pedicaris, even though historically 100% wrong. The person she portrayed was actually a man who was a naturalized American citizen who was Greek originally. She is a bit of a Murphy Brown charecter even in 1975, but does it well. Yet what makes her role work is the fine performances by the young boy and girl who represent her children. The children give Bergen greater scope to show her charecter. The children even start to undergo something of a "Stockholm Syndrome" as they start to become comfortable with their captors - the boy is given a dagger by one of the guards and looks at Connery as something of a father figure.
  
  The hurly-burly of Moroccan politics is protrayed quite well. The German cavalry and French infantry are shown in great force. The US intervention is one of those moments that makes you want to sit and cheer as the Marines take on first, the Moroccan Army and then later the German cavalry. The meeting between the US diplomats in Morocco and the Navy and Marine representatives is an excellent portrayal of diplomats wanting a military sloution without getting into any fighting.
  
  This is a movie that has just about something for everyone, even for those who viewed or view the United States as less than benevolent power, but, for the vast majority of us, it was an entertaining film that portrays versatility of Connery, Bergen, Houston and Keith in a way not usually seen. I recommend it for everyone but bearing in mind that its actual relation to history is tenuous at best - Theodore Roosevelt, John Hay and Rizuli existed but this portrayal is totally fictional. But still it is worth several viewings.
  
  Five years after writing this review, I think of some of the things that the character of Theodore Roosvelt is saying and wondering if someone had a crystal ball and was looking 30 years into the future. Listen to the words about America and it's audacity and then think of Iraq. American certainly charged into that country with audacity and made a lot of enemies in the process.
  
  
• Great Action and Adventure
  By A2BIAR1V0PWO27 on 2003-02-05
  This movie is based on actually events that occured in Morocco just before the advent of the First Wolrd War. While the historical content is subordinated somewhat for the cinema, this film nonetheless conveys the political confusion that existed in Morocco at that time. An accurate portrayal is made of the corrupt Moroccan leaders who cared little for their own people.
  The Euroepan powers are also accurately shown in their greedy desires to carve up yet another incompetent Middle Eastern Kingdom. The United States gets pulled into the affair as well, and the movie does a fine job showing how Teddy Rosevelt advocated his walk-tall-and-carry-a-big-stick philosophy. The movie conveys well what was involved with old world power politics.

  Sean Connery does his usual best portraying a likeable Beduoin leader. I must say in lieu of 9/11 its a little hard to find much sympathy for him and his followers. The movie shows him and and his Berbers riding across the desert much as the early warriors of Islam did in the 7th Century. Its compelling stuff, but again, in light of recent events its a little less romantic than it use to be.

  The kiddnapping of the American woman and her family provides a convenient vehicle for Sean Connery and Candice Bergan to engage in their verbal dual as aging Islam encounters modern Western Womanhood! Its all quite innocent fun, and good adventure.

  The movie becomes a bit contrived by demonizing the Germans in the end, and the whole scene to rescue Sean Connery seems a bit over done. The best scene is probably the US Marines storming the Bashaw's Palace. If only it could be that easy today! Teddy Rosevelt gets positive imagery in his homey presidential style. It's interesting to note that he would be less gung-ho when his son was killed some years later in the First Wolrd War.

  Overall a fine period film, with good acting, sets, and high adventure. The image of Islam seems a lot less romantic now than it did 30 years ago, but the movie still works on many levels.
  
  

• It works on two levels
  By A399A90PYENG4S on 2004-03-04
  The struggle of Americans to come to grips with their power and position (they do not wish to be the world's cop but they find it hard to stand aside, they want to be liked but they want to do the right thing which will leave them hated) is the underlying theme of this very well done, swashbuckled movie. And yet you can put all that aside and watch it as an adventure where even the identified "bad guys" (ultimately, the Germans) show gallantry. On that level it is ideal for 12-year old boys, as the last scene between Raisuli and the small boy demonstrate. If you wish to take it deeper, then, like most movies, it will be a Rorschach into which you will project all your political ideology.

  For myself, the scene with the Marine captain and the corrupt ruler struck a chord that is echoing across the world: (paraphrase from memory) "Captain, you are mad and your President Roosevelt is insane." "Yes, sir!"
  
  

• The DVD ruined the best scene
  By AGKJF15QQNVX6 on 2004-07-13
  First the good stuff. This is a pretty enjoyable movie. Connery's casting as the barbary pirate / lord of the Riff starts out as rather unbelievable, but it grows on you. Brian Keith is perfect as Theodore Roosevelt. Keith and the script do a great job of showcasing this man's beliefs, pretenses, and genuine nobility. My only complaint about the performances; It would've been nice if Candice Bergin had picked one accent and gone with it. The romance is a little forced, but hey, it's a movie.

  "LOOSELY" based on a historical incident, it remains relevant even in today's world. The contrast between a slumbering but decisive America that is willing to negotiate to a point, but go it alone if it must to protect it's citizens, versus a self-absorbed charismatic leader who uses religion to justify his own desires for power and place. Sound familiar?

  Based on the above, I'd give the movie itself a weak 4 star rating, but the DVD fumbles.

  The pinheads in charge of subtitling this better than average film managed to screw up one of the finest depictions of 1900's era small unit actions in the history of cinema. This piece of film is (or was until recently) used in the training of US Marine Corps officers. They obviously used historical and technical experts to get the movie right, why couldn't they have talked to even an ROTC cadet to make sure that the command verbage in the subtitles was correct? Very shoddy, and unfortunately it is becoming typical of the level of quality in the DVD market. A minor point for most, but a notable and easily avoidable flaw.
  
  

• OLD FASHIONED SPECTACLE AND HEROICS
  By A3VAXXMIYHZ3LY on 2006-05-03
  One of my favorite films, John Milius' THE WIND AND THE LION, has made it to DVD in fine form. For years, the only way you could see this movie in all its widescreen splendor was to catch it on Turner Classic Movies or dig up the now out of print Laserdisc edition, but now we all can enjoy it as it was presented in 1975. I was fortunate enough to see it in 70mm on the big screen in its initial release, which was, unfortunately buried by JAWS. It was MGM's big summer picture. Bad timing sealed its fate. This happens much too often, but since the inception of videotape, Laserdisc, and now DVD, films that were overlooked upon initial release have new life.
  
  And THE WIND AND THE LION has been rediscovered by all who love a good swashbuckler. The late Jerry Goldsmith's magnificent score (which now, in 2007, has been reissued in a limited edition by the folks at Intrada in a wonderful 2 CD set which includes, for the first time, the ENTIRE score as well as the original Arista album lineup and all the source music for the film! Outstanding!) introduces us to the scope of this film, purposely invoking the spectre of LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (Milius mentions in his commentary that this was intentional--after all, if you are going to be inspired, be inspired by the best). Sean Connery, one of the very few actors who could pull off the characterization of the Raisuli with charm, wit and power, squares off with Candice Bergen, who was a last minute replacement for Faye Dunaway. Ms. Bergen handles the role of the strong, independent Mrs. Pedecaris with aplomb, and is one heck of a horsewoman as well. Some have noted that Connery doesn't bother with an Arab accent; he does add some nice out of kilter touches to his speech which would indicate, as Milius points out, that perhaps the Raisuli was taught English by a Scotsman. It could happen. . .who cares? It's fun. Brian Keith makes a dandy President Teddy Roosevelt, John Huston brings his singular presence to Secretary of State John Hay, Vladek Sheybal is appropriately oily as the scheming Bashaw of Tangier, Geoffrey Lewis is a gruff Gummere, Steve Kanaly (pre-Dallas) is the proud warrior Captain Jerome, USMC, and special mention has to be made of Dr. Akio Mitamura as a visiting Japanese General who gets to deliver one of the film's funniest lines to John Huston.
  
  And that is the angle of the film: it's a rousing Boys' Life adventure with crisp dialogue and majestic sweep, seen mostly from the viewpoint of William, the young son of the Candice Bergen character. It's a Kiplingesque tale of swords and rifles, of armies clashing, of exciting derring-do, brigands and heroes, of exotic locales and fascinating people, of a time long gone and seen through rose-colored glasses.
  
  Gorgeous cinematography by Billy Williams (who makes a cameo appearance as Mrs. Pedecaris' white-suited houseguest who tries to fend off the invaders), exciting stunt work and well choreographed sword fighting all help make THE WIND AND THE LION a joy. There isn't much in the way of extras: a ten-minute short produced in 1975 to promote the film, the original trailer (both of which are lacking the voiceover narration track, which I clearly remember from seeing them upon initial release), and the aforementioned commentary track from Mr. Milius, which is informative and interesting (although his screenplay is inspired by an actual incident, the character of Pedecaris was changed to a woman, and the children added, to give the story an even more romantic core). Warners did do a fine job on the transfer of sound and vision on the main feature; see this one on a big-screen TV if you can.
  
  I realize that the present world situation may put some off this movie, as its central character is Muslim, but please don't let that stop you from seeing THE WIND AND THE LION. Great care was taken in presenting the essential core of beliefs, the mode of dress, the dignity and code of honor, the place of God above all. This is a film about these people, in this time (1904), in these circumstances. Honorable men are hard to come by in this world, and it's nice to think that once upon a time THE WIND AND THE LION could clash, fight hard, end their battle, and salute one another as worthy opponents.
  
  Bravo, Mr. Milius.
  
  
• Brian Keith should have won Best Supporting actor Oscar.
  By on 1999-07-11
  One of my top three favorite movies, along with FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and BALLAD OF A SOLDIER. I saw it at the movies on a quiet Sunday afternoon when it first came out. I remember leaving the theater thinking I had just seen the perfect movie. Romantic in the true sense of the word. The characters were giants, heroes. The plot was riviting. There were more memorable quotes than any movie since Casablanca (#4 on my favorites list.) Brian Keith should have been nominated for and received and Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. From all I have read about Teddy Roosevelt, this was the perfect rendition.

  This is the ultimate sit back, relax, forget your troubles, forget the rest of the world, just enjoy, movie.

  Mike Porter
  
  

• Mulay Achmed Mohammed el-Raisuli the Magnificent
  By A3P3LLTJWRQ5GV on 2003-05-21
  This adventure centers on the grandeur of the time around the turn of the century prior to World War I and the great personalities who shared it. Sean Connery is a fantastic "Lord of the Rift and Sultan to the Berbers" despite his thick Scottish accented rendition. Candice Bergen is the American woman in an impossible predicament trying to protect herself and her children from harm while being ransomed in a far away land. Brian Keith portrays the larger than life Teddy Roosevelt who backs down to no earthly menace. Their strength of will, content of character and faithfulness to honor make this film a feel good story filled with people we wish we could be. This includes the U.S. Marines who give no quarter, take no excuses and betray all odds showing why they are the few.

  With it's big stars, great story line and touch of romance, I will never understand why this film is not given the recognition it deserves. When it comes out on DVD, I will have a copy for myself and one for everyone I know who has a DVD player.
  
  

• Flawed but Often Nice to Look At
  By A3LXKO2S6G2DBI on 2004-09-04
  A crisply photographed showboat, "The Wind and the Lion" is at times off-kilter dramatically, especially when it awkwardly mixes a fascination with brutality with a flirtation with camp. The opening sequence is a perfect example: as the berbers slash and rampage through Tangier's streets and houses, writer/director John Milius injects the too-stoic last stand of an Englishman and an odd slapstick scene involving a horse and the local chieftan (Sean Connery, who sometimes is impressive and sometimes just doesn't seem to be trying that hard). It doesn't help that co-star Candice Bergen demonstrates a more limited range here than she did years earlier in "The Sand Pebbles" or would years later in "Murphy Brown"; there are few sparks between her and the former James Bond. Milius has much better success with the scenes involving Brian Keith as Teddy Roosevelt--the star of "Family Affair" is simply a delight as the feisty but thoughtful U.S. President. The best thing about "The Wind and the Lion" as a whole is the careful attention to detail, such as the hairstyles and uniforms, and Jerry Goldsmith's score is suitably lush, even if strains sound like his "Klingon theme" from Star Trek. And though he relies on too many close-ups of horse's legs or small numbers of people standing in for crowds during action, Milius musters some impressive battle scenes and military paraphrenalia, re-creating an often overlooked period of history with a sense of both romance and authenticity.
  
  
• Rejoice! DVD Release Jan 6, 2004
  By AUFHD5HG72S2Q on 2003-08-10
  That's right. Our long suffering will soon be over. Wind and the Lion is one of five winners of the MGM DVD Decison 2003 contest. The DVD will be released in Conjunction with Turner Classic Movies on Jan 6, 2004 and will include audio commentary by John Milius.

  I first saw the film on a small black and white TV in the late 70's. Saw it on big screen a few years later at a revival festival. Have gone through three VHS copies. I teach a class in Film and Literature at the college level and W&L has always been number one on my list. This film is big spectacle adventure at its best. They truly don't make them like they used to. Now if they'll only reissue the soundtrack. My grandfather, father, and I were all career military officers.
  This movie forever puts the P back in patriotism.
  
  

• I Simply Adore This Film!
  By on 2002-03-30
  Other reviewers cite many of its positive aspects, i.e., epic adventure, subtle (but electric!) romance, turn-of-the-century politics, yet overlook a particular observation which hit me between the eyes upon my first viewing many years ago regarding the relationship which evolves between the Berber chief, Raizuli (Sean Connery), and his hostage, Mrs. Pedicaris (Candice Bergen). Although the specifics are very different, their emotional and intellectual relationship is much akin to that of Anna and the King in "The King & I", and it's classic: the elegant but scrappy, feisty lady....and the man she first perceives as a barbarian but who is, in his own way, noble, a man who is willing to risk his own life for his god, his country and for what he loves. Other aspects of the film are marvelous as well (Brian Keith's Teddy Roosevelt is wonderful!), but it it the relationship between the Raizuli and Mrs. Pedicaris which sells the story! Connery and Bergen are sheer perfection, and one can only imagine that they WILL meet again and long before they are both like "golden clouds on the wind"! My only regret: this film is not Closed-Captioned. I hope that will be addressed if/when it's released in DVD, so that my husband, who is profoundly hard of hearing, can enjoy it as I do.
  
  
• Absolutely Fantastic
  By A1KNHHBDBXJ19Q on 2004-07-07
  I saw this movie at the theater, many years ago, and was taken by the fantastic story of Theodore Roosevelt vs the Sheik. The main stars of this movie perform splendidly and the rest are just as entertaining. As someone who studied Teddy in school and later in life, I must add that I thought Brian Keith's portrayal was far and away the best likeness of Teddy that has ever been done in a movie. Sean Connery plays the Sheik masterfully and nobly and in this current time it is nice to see a balance approach to the "barbaric" Islam tribes. Connery plays the Sheik as honorable and worthy of respect. Definitely a must see movie.
  
  
• Last of the Barbary pirates
  By AK61LQI92GTCH on 2005-02-05
  Review of the dvd:
  Grand adventure told on an epic scale. Sean Connery plays Berber chieftain Mulay Achmed Mohammed el-Raisuli the Magnificent, who in 1904 Morocco kidnaps plucky Eden Pedecaris (Candice Bergen) and two young children. The dashing and indomitable Raisuli makes substantial ransom demands as he roams the desert with Pedecaris and her gallant brood.
  Connery is simply outstanding in the lead role. It's impossible to imagine this movie without him - his character is brutal, demanding, philosophical, funny. Brian Keith, brilliant as President Theodore Roosevelt, is just about as indispensable to THE WIND AND THE LION. To writer and director John Milius's credit both characters, easily caricatured, are complex, complete, and sympathetic individuals.
  The only weak link is the Candice Bergen character. She simply doesn't generate enough warmth, never had and never would, to sustain a romantic subplot. On the commentary track Milius tells us Faye Dunaway was the first actress hired to play Eden Pedcaris, but she fell ill and the role went to Bergen. I'm not sure Dunaway would have been much of an improvement as far as communicating warmth goes. Still, the sexual tension he wrote into the characters isn't much there.
  If you're a fan of grand adventure, THE WIND AND THE LION is highly recommended.
  
  
  
  
• Connery Magnificent in Milius Masterpiece!
  By A31I3HXMD5H1EL on 2000-10-09
  'The Wind and the Lion' is, simply put, one of the greatest adventure films ever made, a classic that helped break the 'James Bond' stereotype for Sean Connery, solidified Brian Keith's reputation as one of America's finest character actors, and gave action-oriented director John Milius his most 'audience-friendly' success. It is a sweeping epic in the tradition of 'Lawrence of Arabia', without the earlier film's subtexts of meglomania and sexual ambiguity. Here, the personalities are clearly defined; they start off on opposing sides, but through the nobility of their characters, their unspoken codes of honor, and a sense of old-fashioned chivalry in a modern world of betrayal and greed, by the film's climax, they become allies against a greater evil.

  An earlier reviewer attempted to link Theodore Roosevelt's world view in the film to the eventual debacle in Vietnam. That is unfair to both the film, and to Milius, who, if anything, admires and respects the 'big stick' idealism and machismo of our only true 'cowboy' President. (This respect led the director to film the excellent 'The Rough Riders', twenty-four years later, for TNT). Rest assured, potential buyer, 'The Wind and the Lion' is NOT a boring political treatise!

  The setting is Morocco in 1904, where an American woman (Candice Bergen, in perhaps her best screen performance), and her two children are kidnapped by Arab Sean Connery and his band, who are seeking restitution for a long political imprisonment by his family. In Washington, dynamic young President Teddy Roosevelt (brilliantly portrayed by Brian Keith) uses the incident to send in American marines, both to rescue the family, and influence the country's politics (much to the chagrin of Secretary of State John Huston!) Secretly, Roosevelt admires the Arab's courage and honor, and wishes the two could face off in a duel to resolve matters!

  As her captivity continues, Bergen learns that the real villain is not Connery, who is truly the 'Chosen' leader, but those who imprisoned him. The Americans discover this, too, as they see alliances being forged between the usurpers and greedy European powers, particularly Germany. Ultimately, this leads to a rip-roaring battle between the two forces, full of unforgettable images (Connery on horseback, at full gallop, snatching up a rifle offered by Bergen's son, is one of the great moments in film history!), and the film reaches a VERY satisfying conclusion!

  There are many wonderful aspects to this film, but Jerry Goldsmith's rousing score must be singled out; it is one of the finest of his long career, ranking with his soundtracks for 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture', and 'Patton'.

  'The Wind and the Lion' is the kind of epic adventure "they don't make anymore". Happily, John Milius has proven that cliche wrong! This film is ABSOLUTELY essential in any Connery or action film collection! I HIGHLY recommend it!
  
  

• Sean Connery kidnaps Murphy Brown. Can you imagine?
  By A2DSXA1E02C86D on 2000-12-20
  In 1904, a Greek-American businessman named George Pedicaris was kidnapped by a Moroccan tribal chieftain named El-Rasaouli. This became one element in a wider international spat over Morocco involving the U.S., Britain, France, Russia and Germany. It also provided President Theodore Roosevelt the opportunity for one of his most famous one-liners: "Pedicaris alive, or El-Rasaouli dead!"

  In 1975, Hollywood scriptwriters turned this historical footnote into THE WIND AND THE LION, wherein Sean Connery, at his roguish best, is cast as the desert kidnapper, and, in a gender flip-flop of reality, Candice Bergen plays (Mrs.) Pedicaris. (After all, Connery couldn't be seen snatching a man. Puleeze!!) Bergen, the perfect foil to Connery's machismo, gives the audience a preview of her Murphy Brown persona long before TV's MURPHY BROWN. Abducted along with the silver screen version of Pedicaris are her two children, a boy and a girl, who provide a perspective of their own on the subsequent adventure best illustrated by the severed tongue incident.

  This film is first-rate, swashbuckling adventure, and one of my all-time favorite movies. Besides the enormously appealing performances of Connery and Bergen, between whom there is great chemistry, Brian Keith brilliantly portrays President Theodore Roosevelt at his Bully!-best. John Huston does a stand-up job as the American Secretary of State, the dour and pragmatic John Hay, himself a foil to Teddy's over-the-top and let's-take-that-hill ebullience. Representing America in Morocco are an admiral, a diplomat and a Marine officer, who, with flag-waving patriotic fervor, collectively adopt a plan of action that implements Teddy's philosophy of the Big Stick with a jingoistic exuberance that would satisfy even Rush.

  Needless to say, Connery's El-Rasaouli is not any one of the films several villains. Bad guys there are, however. At the conclusion, the contrast between them and the square-jawed, clean-cut nobility of the U.S. Marines will make an American irrationally proud to live under the Stars and Stripes, even while realizing that the era of kick-butt American foreign policy is long gone, and perhaps was never so simplistic.
  
  

• Breathtaking action, wit, wisdom, romance & history.
  By A2LYWZMU5WYGTF on 2003-12-06
  Breathtaking action, wit, wisdom, romance & history unfold in this sweeping epic which is one of the very finest films ever made. This picture is so entertaining that it often takes your breath away, but it will also teach you many lessons. As our nation struggles with the threat of terrorism and conflict in the Middle East, the importance of those lessons has never been more relevant. You'll be struck by the music, the cinematography, the clever scipting, and the artful comparison of these seemingly barbarous Berber tribesman and the "frontier culture" of the budding American nation. Sean Connery is absolutely masterful and Candace Bergen is at the peak of her beauty and charm. Brian Kieth gives the finest performance of his career as he brings the larger-than-life persona of Teddy Roosevelt to the screen. As if that were not enough, the celebrated director, John Huston, gives us a wonderful and rare acting performance in his cameo role as John Hay, the U.S. Secretary of State. Based upon the true story behind the U.S. Marine Corp's invasion on "the shores of Tripoli", this historical epic is filled with larger than life drama, adventure and romance. It won several Academy Awards, but it really should have won Best Picture, and swept all the best acting awards. This is an exquisite picture...to be treasured, savored and enjoyed!
  
  
• I am SOOOOO depressed. (Spoilers)
  By A1WVVQJLXWR1IX on 2004-01-05
  I have to give a John Milius film 5 stars. The skin on the tip of my finger started decaying and the bone turned to powder as my body reacted to try to prevent this from happening.
  
  Alas, it is justified. To make matters far worse, not only did he direct it - he wrote the screenplay. I can credit one of Connery's best performances, his terrific chemistry with Candice Bergen, Brian Keith's Teddy Roosevelt, the metaphor of the title, the locations, but in the end it is the direction. All alone, the scene of Connery riding towards William Pedecaris (Simon Harrison) and scooping up his rifle is glorious. There is so much wonder and beauty in here that it is easy to suspend common sense at the very silly idea of Mrs. Pedecaris letting her children go into battle to rescue The Raisuli.
  
  This from the man who perpetrated a appalling waste of celluloid with Red Dawn. I guess there is some good in all of us.
  
  
• FABULOUS FILM THAT STILL HOLDS UP
  By A3ODVVP9XO42L on 2004-06-07
  "The Wind and the Lion" was a beautiful John Milius film and story, with a pulse-pounding sound track. Brian Keith plays Teddy Roosevelt, who orders U.S. troops to Morocco to protect U.S. interests, as well he should have. Candice Bergen is an American socialite, kidnapped by a roguish Arab sand pirate, played by Sean Connery. The film is much more story, character rivalry and romance than history, but it does not hand us any of the usual garbage portraying the U.S. as racist exploiters. Instead, America under Roosevelt is portrayed as a modern power, unafraid to flex its muscles, but not willing to go overboard.
  Milius writes and directs to this day. He has a tremendous love of history, a conservative trait. The reason for this is simple. History is the accurate description of great things done by conservatives. No wonder we love history. He is not the household name that Speilberg, Coppola or Lucas are. He says he is comfortable with the decisions he made, which were to be up-front about his politics regardless of whether it cost him. He freely admits that his conservatism indeed did prevent him from the kind of greatness that he was capable of.

  STEVEN TRAVERS
  AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
  STWRITES@AOL.COM
  
  

• Tremendous On All Levels
  By A1RWGAI4RWRPVE on 2006-01-30
  Hard to say something that hasn't already been said--but this has been one of my favorite movies since it first came out. Great if you're a guy; great if you're a lady; and particularly great if you're a 12 year old boy.
  
  I have had the sound track for many years. I had it playing on the car stereo the day my son and I went up to Bremerton WA to see the battleship Missouri that was then anchored there. The main theme was playing as we got our first look at that magnificent, historic battlewagon looming up. The combination literally sent chills up my spine.
  
  This one sound track is all the reason one needs to own a really good stereo system; twist the volume knob way up--and feel the POWER.
  
  
• The greatest rip-snorting adventure of all time!
  By A2I4RMAJI0KTEK on 1999-10-10
  Brian Keith and John Milius perfectly captured the personality of Theodore Roosevelt; the dramatic conflict between Keith's Roosevelt and Sean Connery's desert bandit is marvellously realized (especially when you consider that the two characters never meet facte to face); the battle sequences are terrific; the script is (to quote TR) "a bit blind and reckless at times" with historical facts, but who cares? "I'll see you again, Mrs. Pedicaris, when we are both like golden clouds on the wind!"
  
  

• The Man Who Would Be King
• Khartoum
• Zulu
• Zulu Dawn
• El Cid (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition) (The Miriam Collection)