Rough Riders

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.

I enjoyed this movie tremendously, but then again I'm a big Theodore Roosevelt fan. The movie does nothing to damage his reputation and is minimal in its application of modern sensibilities. There's lots of action, which closely mimics the historical accounts I've read. Believe it or not, by all reports TR was much as he is portrayed. Good performances abound with Tom Berringer topping the list.

I'll skip trying to tell you what was on these peoples mind when they went to war, however, TR had been de facto Secretary of the Navy and a politician for quite a while so I vote for less naivete than hinted at by another commentator. That said, true believers are reported to have been a far more common breed at the time.

A good rent, but I wish it were available on DVD. Talk to Ted Turner about that.

Damn fine film. Some historical points have been stretched a bit, here and there...Bucky O'Neil was a madman who refused to keep his head down and got shot right through his cigarette ... Fighting Joe Wheeler was a bantam rooster of a man (5'3") but with the heart of a lion who did indeed keep referring to the enemy as "the Yankees"...TR's Rough Rider's attack was up the nearby Kettle Hill (Cero de Olla) where they racked the Spanish position across the narrow gully with deadly fire; when the Spanish [and there were about 1,500 men-- not 500, as some reviewer suggested] broke to fall back to Santiago, TR boldly took off alone toward the San Juan Heights (Los Altos de San Juan)having forgotten to give the order to charge...

OK. Enough of History. Yes, Stephen Crane, author of The Red Badge of Courage, was a "looper," as one reviewer puts it, and yes, WR Hearst was a war-baiter-- anything to sell papers and fan the fires of xenophobia... But, hey! This is a damn fine film that captures much of the spirit of that "Bully little war," that launched TR's career into the White House. Tom Berenger is wonderful as the one and only TR who adored by his men (reportedly, on the march into the interior from the coast, TR walked with his men, refusing to ride, through the humid, hot forest and always saw to it that "his boys" were taken care of first. I too noted sadly, the weariness of Brian Keith prior to his suicide, as President McKinley. This film is definitely worth watching again ... and again.

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.