The Wind and the Lion

Starring: Sean Connery, Candice Bergen, John Huston, Geoffrey Lewis, Brian Keith
Directed by: John Milius
Rating: PG
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
1975

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: An American woman (Candice Bergen) and her two children are kidnapped in Morocco in 1904. She befriends her captor, a nomadic chieftain (Sean Connery), as President Theodore Roosevelt (Brian Keith) works to bring them home.

Review:

Tim: This is a good movie that has enough pieces in place to deserve a viewing. However, there are enough flaws to really pull this movie down. Still, despite its shortcomings, the movie is quite enjoyable, and is worth tracking down.

The film does a great job of balancing action, drama, suspense, and just the right amount of comedic relief. The film tries to be epic, but it has a much smaller, more intimate feel to it. It is modeled after films like Lawrence of Arabia, but it can't quite aspire to those lofty heights.

Candice Bergen is quite good in the role, although she can tend to be annoying at times. I felt that Sean Connery gave a good performance, but he was slightly miscast, not even attempting to cover up his accent. He's just not entirely believable in the role. Still, Connery has enough charm and experience that you can't help but liking him anyway. Brian Keith is excellent as Teddy Roosevelt. The film's best and most lasting legacy involves the mutual respect between Keith and Connery's characters. This makes the movie unique.

The film has some great scenes, as it changes its pace as it moves along. The big climactic battle at the end is surprisingly entertaining. Connery is excellent in these scenes. The film's conclusion is likewise great, giving the film a very enjoyable conclusion and ending on a high note.

The Wind and the Lion may be a bit flawed, but it is still a good movie. It is an overlooked 70s film, and I definitely recommend it.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Man Who Would Be King, A Bridge Too Far, The Name of the Rose