Amazon.com

The up-and-down career of director John Milius had no finer moment than The Wind and the Lion, a dandy adventure tale. It's based on fact:An American (played by Candice Bergen) and her two children were kidnapped in 1904 Morocco by a Berber tribe, an international incident settled by President Theodore Roosevelt's "big stick" military muscle. The film's sweep and swagger are unabashedly old-fashioned, even as Milius occasionally pokes fun at the grand characters. Some of the peripheral material is sloppy, but as long as Milius keeps his sights locked on the two powerful protagonists, he's dead-on:Brian Keith makes a gutsy Roosevelt, and Sean Connery is in splendid form (with Scots accent in place--got a problem with that?) as the dashing Berber chieftain. Perhaps overshadowed by John Huston's The Man Who Would be King the same year (Huston plays advisor John Hay in this one), Wind makes a marvelous companion piece. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (80)

Great movie combined with great actors, story and actions...
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.

Rousing Adventure with a Touch of Romance
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.

The DVD ruined the best scene
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.

Absolutely Fantastic
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.

FABULOUS FILM THAT STILL HOLDS UP
"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 ... Read more

Description

No matter what rolls in on the tides of time, California surfing buddies Matt, Jack, and Leroy know they'll stick together. And, they know they'll be ready when a rare 20-foot swell hits the coast at last. ... Read more

Reviews (43)

SURF MOVIE OF THE CENTURY!
This movie is regarded as a surf classic and rightly so. Slickly produced, consisting of a series of vignettes over 13 years it gives a non-surfing person a revealing insight into the surf culture. The still-thorny issue of the Vietnam War is dealt with and the transition from the swinging sixties into the seventies is handled very well (a technique John Milius perfected in his 1983 classic Uncommon Valor which incidentally pre-dated the much hyped Rambo First Blood II by nearly two years). The climax of the film is the surf footage at the end depicting the legendary day of a lifetime, Big Wednesday. The only negative is the thought that the two stars, Jan Michael Vincent and Gary Busey threw away their lives after this movie due to drug addiction (Busey almost died from an overdose in 1994). Another negative is that some of the surfing terminology in the book didn't make it to the film. In the book, the car is referred to as "The Makeshift" - it isn't in the film. Still, if you cast these things out of your mind for 100 minutes you will experience something truly special. You won't be disappointed.

Early acting at its best...
This film is phenomenal in that it brings not only William Katt, Gary Busey and Jan Michael Vincent together but also introduces many new faces to 80's film and television such as Robert England (aka Freddie Krueger) and Steve Kanaly (aka Dallas). The film, although originally thought of as a surfing movie is far from that. It is a film totally encompassing the late 60's and early 70's around the vietnam era and the pressures of the strained relationships of three friends. A film worth seeing for anyone who grew up during that time.

Yes
If you're interested in surfing at all, you need this one.

Surfing Movie
This one is not just a documentary about surfing. It is actually a good life/friendship movie... And let's not forget about the waves! I enjoy watching this movie.

Cover misleading - needs better cover
BIG WEDNESDAY is, as many have stated, so much more than just a surfie movie. It explores the friendship of three friends over a 10 year period who just happen to all have a surfing passion. A film overlooked by many, yet has a great story to tell with excellent performances by Katt, Busey and Vicent. The surfing aspect is a small part of the overall storyline.

I think the marketing people should have released this DVD title with a different cover as it is misleading and cheapens the movie to a great degree. It is so much more deserving than that. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

How to compress the history of gangsters
I can't explain it,but like so many other people,I'm fascinated by gangsters.I'll read any book I can get my hands on and I'll watch any movie made about them.One of the first was "Dillinger".It may not be the most accurate film ever made,but at least John Millius tries to make up for it with thrilling action.The plot plays more like the generic "Cop out for revenge" (Purvis hunting down the gangsters responsable for the June 17,1933 shoot-out that left three agents dead) rather than an attempt to tell the life of Dillinger.One of the few perks of the film are some surprisingly accurate portrayals.First there's Warren Oates who has the distinction of being the only actor who played Dillinger,who actually looks like him!Other accurate portrayals inclue Steve Kanaly(from T.V.'s Dallas) as Pretty Boy Floyd and a young Richard Dreyfuss in a psychotic,but accurate version of Babyface Nelson.The most telling part of his character is when he declares "I go in shooting.I kill everyone in sight.I grab the dough.And leave shooting!" That line seems to define the film.Despite it's historical flaws,it's still an entertaining action flick from the "Drive In" era.

Dillinger
As a liberal minded person John Millius is not exactly my most favourite director. However I love this early seventies gangster movie, Warren Oates and Ben Johnnson ar great leads.
The violence and the action is still strong.

This is not history. Who cares?
This is not a completely true story. This is not a documentary. It is just a fun movie to watch based very loosely on a few gangsters around the early to mid 1930's. The lead roles are bank robber John Dillinger and FBI agent Melvin Purvis. While trying to capture or kill Dillinger, Purvis runs across a few other notable gangsters of the day. If you want true history, don't get it from Hollywood, head to your local library. If you want to watch a fun movie, check this one out. I believe that many people write reviews to impress others with their knowledge of history. If I was sitting in a college class, that may be significant. While I am watching a movie, who cares?

As accurate as an American bombing campaign!
I'm not really a history buff but when it comes to depression era gangsters I would say I know my stuff. This film dissapointed me, In fact I would go so far as to say that whilst sitting and watching this film I felt like I was being abused. (not literally of course but mentally). Maybe its too much to expect films to be historically accurate but this was so far off the mark it's not even funny. Floyd, Dillinger & nelson were only together for one robbery and even that is hotly debated amongst historians. At one point nelson & dillinger are having a fight and baby face ends up cowering on his knees crying like a baby whose just wet himself ???- is this the same baby face who was a mob enforcer for al capone, the same mob enforcer who was let go by capone for being to violent, the same baby face who had guts enough to leave the ample cover provided by his car when face by two special agents with thompson submachine guns, the same baby face who had kept on walking toward these agents even after having 17 bullets in him & who eventually killed both agents -DONT THINK SO! im not gloryfying the real baby face but to me he seems like the kinda guy who stares death in the face and enjoys every minute of it!!
some other reviews have already mentioned major flaws in the movie. Maybe i'm being too harsh, maybe not - either way I feel I have wasted my money. At least theres another dillinger movie being made for 2004 and a seperate pretty boy floyd movie set for 2005!! i just hope they are a little more accurate.

I'll Give You the Scoop on This One
This is a shameless favorite of mine, which, ironically, has all the qualities that usually make me hate a film: 1)it's a shameless knock off of a great movie (Bonnie and Clyde); 2)it features serious miscasting (Ben Johnson as Melvin Purvis); and plays fast and loose with the history that we depression era gangster buffs know chapter and verse of (Homer van Meter was gunned down months after Dilinger; Pretty Boy Floyd was gunned down in Minnesota after days of being chased through the backwoods by the law, though he did have a poignant last meal with a kindly farmer's wife; It was Harry Pierpont's gang, not Dilinger's; Harry Pierpont was not at Little Bohemia; Harry Pierpont was not gunned down as he waws in he film; Harry Pierpont died in the electric chair after being captured in New Mexico along with Dilinger (who later escaped); thus, Harry Pierpont was the only member of the gang to die in jail, and so on and so forth. But Oh, the movie is so much fun. Warren Oates is a treat and it is a wonder his career didn't take off after this film. What a great character actor he was. Remember him in stripes? This is one of those movies you just can't figure. It does so many things wrong, but you still love it. You take it for what it is, you put your brain on cruise control, and you simply enjoy the ride. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

On The Road To SUGARLAND
It was thirty years ago this very month that Steven Spielberg made his official big-screen directing debut (his 1971 film DUEL being an excellent made-for-TV offering) with THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS. Even at this early stage in his career, Spielberg's directoral instincts were extremely sharp, and his concentration on the characters is masterful. It's amazing how people sell Spielberg short in this area simply because so many of his films seem to be all about special effects and gee-whiz heroics.

Loosely based on events that occurred in Texas in the spring of 1969, the film stars Goldie Hawn as an ex-con mother who springs her reluctant husband (William Atherton) from a prison farm so they can get their infant son back from a foster family that has refused to return custody to Hawn. But when they hijack a Texas state trooper (Michael Sachs) and force him to driver them to the town of Sugarland, they attract far more attention than they bargained for: mass media, hundreds of onlookers, and nearly half of the total number of law enforcement officers in Texas. Veteran character actor Ben Johnson is the lead lawman in this relatively slow-speed chase, occasionally punctuated by redneck sniper gunfire, who sympathizes with Hawn's and Atherton's plight but who also must still perform his duties. It all comes to a climax at Sugarland with a jarring result.

Although made for relatively little money (just three million, as opposed to the tens of millions Spielberg would spend on his films in ensuing decades), THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS was still only a modest box office hit. Part of that could be attributed to audiences' expectations of seeing Hawn in a frothy comedy following her turn on TV's "Laugh-In" and instead getting a real live actress with intensity. And part of it could also be attributed to the fact that this film's ending isn't exactly sweetness and light. Still, Hawn's performance here is arguably the best she ever gave on the big screen, and Atherton and Sachs do good turns. Equally reliable is Johnson, remembered for his Oscar-winning turn in Peter Bogdanovich's 1971 classic THE LAST PICTURE SHOW, but also as a familiar presence in the westerns of John Ford and Sam Peckinpah.

Filmed completely on location in Texas, THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS features great cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond, taut editing from Verna Fields, and an excellent Americana score by John Williams (his first for Spielberg). It is a film that can be enjoyed many times over, as is the case for almost everything Spielberg has ever done.

I Liked This Movie!
I remember first seeing The Sugarland Express in a movie theater on Long Island New York with my family when I was around 8 1/2 years old, and really liking this movie and I thought Goldie Hawn ( Foul Play) and William Atherton (Ghostbusters, and Bio-Dome) were really good and I was totally impressed with all of the action and adventure with those thrilling police car chases and there was one police chase that was so thrilling and amazing it had me on the edge of my seat I'm sure this movie is probably a little dated in the year 2003 but It would be interesting to watch it again especially to see those amazing chases! If I remember correctly I think I remember hearing on TV that parts of this movie were based on a true story and I think this was the first movie that Steven Spielberg ever directed.

Might be worth a look.
Steven Spielberg;s first movie was done on a moderate budget but it shows his then growing ability as a film maker to cast and work with the best actors for the roles. Produced by Richard D. Zanuck and David Brown, First movie where the music was scored by John Williams, great camera work by Vilmos Zsigmond, and edited by Verna Fields.

Spielberg movie with a great story and excellent acting
This movie had a compelling story and excellent acting with the added bonus of Steven Spielberg as the director. The story centers around a young woman named Lou Jean (Goldie Hawn), who has lost custody of her baby son because of her criminal record. She decides the only way to get him back is to convince her husband Clovis (William Atherton) to escape from the Pre-release Center where he is serving the final four months of his prison term. Clovis reluctantly agrees after Lou Jean threatens to divorce him if he doesn't go along with her plan. Unfortunately after Clovis escapes, the two only have bad luck. The older couple they hitch a ride with get stopped by Highway Patrol Officer Slide (Michael Sacks). Lou Jean and Clovis then steal the older couple's car, wreck the car and kidnap Officer Slide and force him to drive them to Sugarland, where their son is living. The remainder of the movie chronicles what happens to the three on their trip. How the media transforms the couple into a cause celebre and how the police have to not only deal with the fugitives but with the media and the public, who have rallied behind the pair. As Lou Jean, Goldie Hawn gives a heartfelt and sympathetic performance to the role of a women who refuses to see the futility of her actions and is blinded by her desire to get her son back at any cost. William Atherton does a good job with a difficult role. He conveys the fact that Clovis did what Lou Jean wanted becasue of his love for her and his fear of losing her. Michael Sacks gave diminsion to a character which in lesser hands might have come across as your basic by-the-book-cop. (It's a mystery to me why he disappeared from acting.) Spielberg's direction gives you a real feel for the expansive Texas countryside which contrasts with the fact that for most of the movie these characters are confined in cars. Spielberg uses evrything at his disposal to highlight and backdrop his story - the sunsets, the open highway and local color are all used to optimum effect. Overall - A MUST SEE

No sharks, no raptors, just plain folks.
Spielberg will never make a darker film than his debut, "The Sugarland Express". In order to execute her "foolproof" plan to kidnap her baby back from the state, "unfit mother" Goldie Hawn busts hubby William Atherton out of the county prison farm and impulsively hijacks a young deputy (along with his police vehicle) to be thier reluctant "chaffeur".The desperate couple are soon leading an army of law enforcement and TV cameras on a long, slow, doomed-from-the-start pursuit. Speilberg borrows some of the "existential car chase" elements from "Vanishing Point", as well as the media circus scenario of Billy Wilder's cynical "Big Carnival" to tell his inevitably tragic tale. Hawn and Atherton offer ultimately heartbreaking, naturalistic performances as the noirish protaganists. Michael Sacks (who made an impressive starring debut in the cult-classic "Slaughterhouse Five", then mysteriously dropped off the radar after "Sugarland")also shines as the hostage officer. Ironically, this is precisely the type of character-driven, "edgy" film that Spielberg is so desperately trying to convince us he is capable of making these days--perhaps he, like most of the viewing public, has forgotten all about this movie! Worth "re-discovering". ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Realistic portrait of war
Well-made Vietnam war movie with "Dallas" star Steve Kanaly as a an unconventional but honest major betrayed by his superiors and his firebase left with a unexperienced leader. Written by Outdoors magazine writer Dan Gagliasso and critically acclaimed director Carl Franklin. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

1940's outdoorsmen become war heroes and more
An excellent documentary of the WWII Tenth Mountain Division, the only US troops ever trained for mountain battles. Sort of an outdoorsy version of Brokaw's book The Greatest Generation. The division proved an irresistable opportunity to the best skiers, climbers and outdoorsmen of the day who wanted to both pursue their avocations as well as serve their country. The film provides an entertaining look into the training methods and battles of the division. But the most interesting part of the story of the tenth division is the significance of the post-war contributions of its members in fields such as sports business and environmentalism. The surviving members, all well into their seventies and eighties, still hold an annual reunion to climb, hike, ski and reminisce about their fallen comrades. In one incredibly moving segment, the film documents one recent reunion where the members held a joint climb with members of a similar club of Italian veterans on the mountain that was the sight of their greatest battle.

Anyone should find this video entertaining, but outdoor enthusiasts should find it particularly enjoyable. These men are admirable to me for their skill and dedication in the outdoors in an era before such activites became fashionable; add in their sense of duty and honor as well as their eloquence and I find them to be true heroes. I thank the producers of this film for introducing them to me ... Read more