Rough Riders - Das furchtlose Regiment

This three-hour, made-for-cable TV in America story of Cuban battles in the Spanish-American War was good enough to sit through once but not edited well enough to see it again.

I say "edited" because, after the short stage-coach robbery scene in the first minute or two, nothing much happens for almost an hour. Then, for the rest of the film - 90 to 120 minutes - it's almost non-stop action. After awhile, with only a few very short lulls, you get tired of it. All the shooting and cannons, etc., become too repetitive and get boring.

Also, for those who assume, as I did, that this film is a biography of sorts of Theodore Roosvelt, before he became President of the United States, might be a bit disappointed. You do see him, and he's a major figure in this long story, but there is no real central character in here. The film gives a fair amount of screen time to a handful of people, not just Teddy. There is no real star in this story.

Tom Berenger must have done a pretty good job because I wouldn't have known it was him had I not read about this before seeing it. Whether it was his pronounced choppers, or odd way of speaking, it didn't sound or look like the actor. However, it was good to get some glimpse of what our former President was like as you don't often see "Teddy" portrayed on film.

This also gave us a good insight on the Spanish-American war, another historic event not often seen on film. I wonder how many people even know that "San Juan Hill," which helped make Roosevelt famous, is located in Cuba?

For a TV-film, the action scenes were well-done and it appeared no expenses were spared in making this movie. A little more action in the first hour, and a little less in the next two, would have made this film more interesting.

This is an excellent film, with superb sound editing, great cast, acting, cinematography, and script. Non-Americans should realize that the battle of San Juan Hill is a significant part of American history that instills patriotic pride as well as admiration for one of America's most colourful and popular presidents. However, Americans should find it interesting to know the Spanish perspective. Approximately 500 Spanish soldiers fought valiantly against nearly 7000 American troops: this is the 'Alamo' for the Spanish people. Similar to USA Vietnam veterans, the Spanish returned home with the knowledge that they had done their best to uphold their country's honor in an impossible situation. Knowing some of the history behind such battles brings more depth to such war films.

Love him or hate him, you have to admit that John Milius has returned in force to make this wonderfully epic movie. He only made two other films (barely) worthy of note: the underrated Flight Of The Intruder and the equally under-rated Farewell To The King. Though directed for television, Rough Riders has all the qualities of a great war epic from the sixties.

What helps Milius is his love of the subject matter. With The Wind And The Lion, Rough Riders feels as though Milius has a deep and abiding love for Theodore Roosevelt. Every frame of this movie gives you the feeling that Milius is working from the heart. His passion and respect for his subject matter illicited the greatest performance of Tom Berenger's career.

If you liked this, do see The Wind And The Lion.

I didn't realize John Milius had this fine film in him (after all, he gave us RED DAWN). I stand corrected. I liked the film so much, I had other members of my family watch it, and they loved it, too. How pleasantly surprised I was by Tom Berenger's superb performance as Teddy Roosevelt. Watch for Berenger as he stands at the back gate of the caboose of a train he's commandeered to transport his troops. He has no dialogue, but get a load of the look at his face and his bearing. He just stands there, beaming, so gloriously alive with the spirit of the man and his times. Look for standout work by Gary Busey (I really wanted him to say "Mr. Roosevelt! Look at the firepower!") as the feverish Southern general Joe Wheeler, Illeana Douglas (a fresh surprise as Alice Roosevelt), Brad Johnson (who has easily the most beautiful smile in Hollywood) as the outlaw-turned-hero Henry Nash, Nick Chinlund (a fave "X Files" creep) in a great scene as Frederick Remington, and Chris Noth as the privileged Craig Wadsworth. All are tremendous. Sam Elliott turns in both subtle and commanding work as Captain Bucky O'Neil, a man as heartbreaking when he bids his wife goodbye as he is terrifying and awesome when he breaks his troops in to the concept of killing. My quibbles with the production are few: silly, Attenborough-style casting of George Hamilton as a too-handsome William Randolph Hearst, cheesy use of the "St. Crispin's Day" speech from Shakespeare's KING HENRY V, very little information on what the war was actually about from both sides (the opening credits block the vintage headlines that supposedly bring us up to speed). Still, the battle sequences are masterfully staged (watch the horses run by Remington while he paints--gorgeous shot!), the training sequences are fascinating, and Berenger's expression once the Battle for San Juan Heights is over is simply heartwrenching.

This film chronicles the 1st US Volunteer Cavalry ("Rough Riders") from their inception in the mind of Teddy Roosevelt through the capture of the San Juan Heights, the moment at which Roosevelt said "We will always live in its shadow." Although it takes some liberties with the facts, they're simply to strengthen the story as constrained by the medium: better than two months and a thousand men are pushed into three+ hours and some fifteen characters, enough to catch the flavor of the time. And what a time: when rich young men from Park Avenue sincerely believed it was their duty to take part in their country's wars, and a politician who started one went to fight in it, when artists calmly painted oils of battle, and correspondents walked toward the sound of the guns... Fiercely accurate in the feel of the battle, especially the waiting under fire, and in the making of men into killers, "Rough Riders" is beautifully filmed and scored. But mostly, it's well acted. Berengar *is* Theodore Roosevelt, and Sam Elliott gives another good performance, as does William Katt as Edward Marshall (with a lot of Richard Harding Davis's actions). Gary Busey's Fighting Joe Wheeler is a scene-stealer, much like "the old gamecock" undoubtedly was, and the little roles are well handled as well, especially Nick Chinlund's Frederic Remington. But the real focus of the movie is on Brad Johnson's Henry Nash, the Arizona outlaw, and Chris Noth's Craig Wadsworth, the Park Avenue polo player... Noth in particular gives a understatedly lovely, nuanced performance as the rich young man coming face to face with Life -- the very thing his family had tried so hard to keep him from ever having to experience. His transformation mirrors the transformation this particular war created in our country; as Roosevelt says in the film, "It will never be the same again." I heartily recommend this movie.