The Wind and the Lion (1975)

It is 1904 when a band of Berbers ride into Tangier, Morocco, and kidnap Eden Pedicaris (Candice Bergen) and her two children.  The leader of the kidnappers is Raisuli (Sean Connery), the brother of the Bashaw and the uncle of the Sultan.  News of the kidnapping reaches President Roosevelt (Brian Keith) and he demands "Pedicaris alive or Raisuli dead!"  While Eden and her children are 'guests' of Raisuli, the American ambassador attempts diplomacy with the Bashaw, who claims powerlessness.  Next, he bribes the Sultan with a pair of lions.  The Sultan likewise claims powerlessness.  It is clear that the European powers are courting the Sultan, making American efforts to recover Pedicaris difficult.  Roosevelt calls for gunboat diplomacy and soon several American warships and two companies of Marines arrive in Tangier.

The portrayal of Theodore Roosevelt is outstanding.  Though each scene advances the story, it also details the character of Roosevelt.  The change in setting is glorious: archery range, campaign whistle stop, Yellowstone hunting camp, boxing, shooting range, and the White House.  Keith is outstanding in the role and I have always wished he had another opportunity to play TR.  Of course, Milius must have felt the same as he cast Keith in his next TR movie, Rough Riders, but as President William McKinley.

Sean Connery is an unusual choice for a Berber.  According to IMDb, efforts to teach him an Arab accent were abandoned after 3 days.  Oddly enough, he was cast as an Arab in The Next Man the following year.  Nonetheless, he is quite entertaining in the role and has good chemistry with Candice Bergen.

As for historical accuracy, it drifts further and further from the truth as the movie progresses.  Pedicaris - which should be Perdicaris - was an American expat in his mid-60s.  His stepson, who was in his 40s, was kidnapped with him.  Kidnapped in mid-May, they were released by the end of June.  By contrast, the movie takes place in October 1904 to allow the kidnapping to be a campaign issue for Teddy's re-election campaign.  Though American warships arrived at Tangier, the Marines did not capture the Bashaw's palace.  This was a case of speaking softly and carrying a big stick.  Likewise, the Marines did not have a battle with Germans outside Rabat.  However, it does an excellent job in depicting Roosevelt.  As for Raisuli, the movie implies that he lost everything from the incident, but in fact he won many concessions, including a governorship and the release of many of his imprisoned followers.

Very entertaining and recommended.