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.

Rough Riders (1997)

It is 1920 and Henry Nash (Brad Johnson) limps into his attic to examine some of his old Spanish War memorabilia.  As he looks at a picture of the Rough Riders in Cuba, he declares how he misses them.  The story now switches to 1898 and the declaration of war between the United States and Spain.  Theodore Roosevelt (Tom Berenger) meets with Col. Leonard Wood (Dale Dye) to discuss a volunteer regiment.  Meanwhile, Henry Nash robs a stagecoach in Arizona.  He and his accomplice flee from a posse.  In an effort to escape, they join the volunteers for the war at a train station; they hope the train will leave before the posse arrives.  Nope.  Sheriff Bucky O'Neill (Sam Elliot) arrives.  It turns out they are not a posse, but a bunch of volunteers.  Nonetheless, O'Neill stares knowingly at Nash.

In San Antonio, the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry begins training.  Among the recruits are western cowboys, lawmen, Native Americans, Ivy League collegians, etc.  It is an eclectic collection of men.  Of particular note, almost every named member is based on a real person.  Having just read Roosevelt's account, it was entertaining to see so many of those he named appear in the movie.  Though Nash wants to leave, he is convinced to stay.  This does not please O'Neill, who views him - correctly - as an unreliable soldier.  After a montage of training in terrain that is clearly not San Antonio, the regiment sets out for Florida.  In Florida, the Rough Riders finagle their way onto a transport to Cuba.

In Cuba, the Rough Riders suffer their first casualties at Las Guasimas.  They then advance to the San Juan Heights where the famous charge takes place.  It is just prior to the charge that O'Neill accepts Nash as a worthwhile soldier.  After the battle, Roosevelt requests Stephen Crane (author of the Red Badge of Courage and in Cuba as a correspondent) to take a picture of them.

There follows the return of some of the survivors to their homes and families.  And then, the story returns to the 'present' where Nash stands at the gravesites of some of his fellow Rough Riders and tells them the news of the day and that he has done well.

Berenger is generally very good as Theodore Roosevelt.  There is a clutziness about him, but that is surprisingly accurate.  Though a proponent of the strenuous life and the most famous outdoorsman president, he could seem a bit goofy.  He does not have the look or manner of the classic tough guy hero.  John Milius, who had already made a movie about Roosevelt (The Wind and the Lion, 1975), clearly knows TR.  At times, Roosevelt speaks French and German, demonstrates a knowledge of ornithology, declares his love a books (he was a voracious reader), could be abrupt in manner, and a man of action.  His dashing off to charge the next hill nearly alone is true to history.  He was once described as 'pure act.'

The Henry Nash of the miniseries is not the Henry Nash of history.  Rather than a stagecoach robber, the real Nash was a schoolteacher.  He and O'Neill were friends and political allies in Arizona.  After returning from Cuba, Nash traveled to the Philippines, where he died in 1902.  Considering how good much of the history was for the rest of the show, one wonders why a fictionalized Nash was inserted.  The fictionalized Nash provides an arc for the bad soldier who eventually sees the light.  Meh.  It should have been a truly fictional character, not using the name of a known Rough Rider.

Sam Elliot, who is the third major character of the miniseries, is terrific.  The Western hard-as-nails sheriff fits him perfectly.  Bucky O'Neill died just as shown and had claimed that there wasn't a Spanish bullet that could kill him.

Gary Busey was too young and too tall to play General Joe Wheeler.  Wheeler had been a Confederate General during the Civil War, was only 5'4" and had a full beard.  Busey is 6' and sported only a mustache.

 (bearded man is Wheeler, Roosevelt on the right, and Leonard Wood between them).

Though he didn't look like Fighting Joe, he was quite entertaining in the role.  His mixing up Yankees and Spaniards throughout the battle was good humor.

Brian Keith, who plays President McKinley, had portrayed Roosevelt in The Wind and the Lion.  This was his last movie role, and the movie is dedicated to him.

Overall, a very entertaining miniseries.  Recommended, especially in concert with Roosevelt's account of the Rough Riders.