The Wind and the Lion
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Movie Reviews of The Wind and the Lion
Movie Review: Breathtaking action, wit, wisdom, romance & history.
Summary: 5 Stars
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!Movie Review: great dialogue
Summary: 5 Stars
There is great action and romance in this classic film, but aside from all that was already said in other reviews the script was also excellent. The exchanges between Connery and Bergman are great. But there are other more subtle exchanges that you might miss on the first viewing.
Roosevelt and the Risuli both at different points in the film ask about what kind of rifle the other uses revealing a kind of kinship of spirit between these 2 leaders who never met. There are great exchanges between the American secretary of state and the ambassador from Japan. Also between the US marine colonel and the Bashar in Fez. All the while the movie hints at the coming conflict of World War I that will occur soon after this affair ends.
Sometimes there are things that go unexplained that might be confusing. In the scene where the US Marines attack the Palace the troops defending are actually a French foreign unit on loan to Morocco. It is mentioned once in passing, but if you do not recognize the uniform of the French regiment of Spahi you would assume that the troops were just palace guards. You see them again later in the final battle. So you can conclude that in this fictional scene the Berber are not actually killing their own since the units defending are either French or German.
Movie Review: CLASSIC SWASHBUCKLING ADVENTURE AND COMMENT ON U.S. POLICY
Summary: 5 Stars
This has been one of my favourite movies for many, many years. It has it all: wild adventure, sword fights, charging horses, explosions, heads flying in every direction, more explosions, and some astonishing performances by many of Hollywood's best character actors. And it has Sean Connery -- the only James Bond -- turning in a stellar performance. And it features the wildly underrated Brian Keith turning in a memorable performance as the great President Theodore Roosevelt. I watched this movie again and was struck by its comment on U.S. foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East. In Keith's scene were he compares the U.S. to a grizzly bear -- strong, dominating, respected; but hated, feared, and sometimes blind and wild; however, often lonely -- summed up nicely U.S. foreign policy over the decades. Keith's Roosevelt is gruff, strong, intelligent, and throughly honest in his perceptions of the world and the mad men who run it. He doesn't see Connery's character as an ignorant Arab bandit: he sees him as someone fighting to keep foreigners from controlling his land; he wants his country to remain his country. And he sees the established Arab leadership as corrupted by the influence of the Great European Powers. One wonders what Teddy would think of the Bush Administration and its adventure in Iraq.Movie Review: Post 007 Connery as a Berber guerilla
Summary: 5 Stars
Roughly based on an actual historical incident:
An American ambassador, Perdicaris, was kidnapped by Berber rebels in Morocco. Their leader, the Raisuli, sent a message to President Theodore Roosevelt, demanding a supply of rifles and ammunition in exchange for Perdicaris. Teddy's response? "Perdicaris alive, or Raisuli dead. Some mandatory gunboat diplomacy followed, and it is portrayed quite triumphantly in this film.
Aside from being quite a riveting, swashbuckling tale, one scene in particular stands out. A company of U.S. Marines with supporting Naval machinegun-teams go ashore, to show the Morroccans that America means business!
At the turn of the century, Morrocco was repeatedly occupied by a number of European powers jockeying for strategic position. France and Spain were the most notable presence.
In this film, Sean Connery plays a charismatic Berber guerilla leader, who kidnaps an American woman and her two children for ransom. He soon discovers that his captives are a bit more resourceful than expected. The captive family, in turn find themselves quite charmed with their captor's chivalric hospitality. Thus begins a cross-country adventure as multi-national military forces hunt for the Raisuli and his "guests".
Movie Review: FABULOUS FILM THAT STILL HOLDS UP
Summary: 5 Stars
"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.