I missed this film a few times when it kept showing on the Sony Movies channel, but I knew I couldn't miss it again when it was broadcast two months after the sad death of its leading actor, written and directed by John Milius (Conan the Barbarian). Basically, set in 1904, the powers of Germany, France, and the British Empire are in conflict in Morocco, each trying to establish influence in the country. Mulai Ahmed el Raisuli (Sir Sean Connery) is the leader of a band of Berber insurrectionists opposed to the young Sultan Abdelaziz (Marc Zuber) and his uncle, the Bashaw of Tangier (From Russia with Love's Vladek Sheybal), whom Raisuli considers corrupt and obligated to the Europeans. He kidnaps Eden Pedecaris (Candice Bergen) and her children, William (Simon Harrison) and Jennifer (Polly Gottesman), in a raid on their home, during which Eden's British friend Sir Joshua Smith (Billy Williams) is killed. Raisuli then issues an outrageous ransom demand, deliberately attempting to provoke an international incident to embarrass the Sultan and ignite a civil war. In the United States, President Theodore Roosevelt (Brian Keith) is seeking re-election. He decides to use the kidnapping as both political propaganda (coining the phrase "Pedecaris alive or Raisuli dead!") and, despite the protests of his cautious Secretary of State, John Hay (John Huston), as an effort to demonstrate America's military strength as a new great power. The American Consul to Tangier, Samuel Gummeré (Geoffrey Lewis), is unable to negotiate a peaceful return of the hostages. In response, Roosevelt sends the South Atlantic Squadron, under the command of Admiral French Ensor Chadwick (Roy Jenson), to Tangier, to either retrieve Pedecaris or to force the Sultan to agree to Raisuli's demands. Roosevelt finds himself gaining more and more respect for Raisuli, thinking him an honourable man who just happens to be his enemy. The Pedecarises are kept as hostages in the Rif, far from any potential rescuers. The children come to admire Raisuli, but Eden appals him and takes them with her to try and escape. During this failed attempt, a gang of desert brigands take the family, but Raisuli tracks them down and kills the kidnappers. He reveals that he does not have any intention of harming the Pedecarises and is merely bluffing. Eden and Raisuli develop a friendly relationship, as Raisuli tells his story that he was once taken captive by his brother, the Bashaw, and kept in a dungeon for several years. Gummeré, Chadwick, and his aide, Marine Captain Jerome (Dallas's Steve Kanaly), tire of the Sultan's treachery and the meddling of the European powers. They decide to engage in "military intervention" to force a negotiation by seizing the actual seat of power, the Bashaw's palace in Tangier. Jerome's company of Marines and a detachment of sailors surprise the European legations, marching the streets of Tangier. They overwhelm the Bashaw's palace guard, taking the Bashaw hostage and forcing him to negotiate. Under coercion, the Bashaw finally agrees to agree to the Raisuli's demands. But during a hostage exchange, Raisuli is betrayed and captured by German and Moroccan troops under the command of Von Roerkel (Antoine Saint-John), while Jerome and a small contingent of Marines are present to secure the Pedecarises. While Raisuli's friend, the Sherif of Wazan (Nadim Sawalha), organises the Berber tribe for an attack on the Europeans and Moroccans, Eden attacks Jerome. She convinces him and his men to rescue Raisuli to uphold the word of President Roosevelt that he will be unharmed if the Pedecaris family are returned safely. A three-way battle results, in which the Berbers and Americans team up to defeat the Germans and their Moroccan allies, rescuing Raisuli in the process. In the United States, Roosevelt is cheered for this great victory, and the Pedecarises arrive safely back in Tangier. Roosevelt receives a letter from Raisuli, comparing the two men. Raisuli compares himself to a lion, because he must remain in my place, while he compares Roosevelt to the wind, saying he will never know his place. Also starring Darrell Fetty as Dreighton, Deborah Baxter as Alice Roosevelt, Jack Cooley as Quentin Roosevelt, and Chris Aller as Kermit Roosevelt. Connery gives a charismatic performance as the Arab chief, Bergen (in a role intended for Katharine Hepburn) is good as the hostage who begins to sympathise with her captor's cause, and Keith is spot on with his look and performance as the bear-hunting, gung-ho president. I will be honest and say that all the political stuff went a little over my head, what got my attention was the performances, a good script, the exciting horseback fight and chase sequences, the funny moments, the wonderful sandy desert locations, and the great music score, a sweeping and enjoyable period adventure. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Sound, and Best Music, Original Dramatic Score for Jerry Goldsmith, and it was nominated the BAFTA for Film Music. Good!
Review of The Wind and the Lion
