Le Lion et le Vent

Original title: The Wind and the Lion

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

11K

YOUR RATING

Sean Connery and Candice Bergen in Le Lion et le Vent (1975)

Play trailer3:34

1 Video

79 Photos

Action Epic Adventure Epic Desert Adventure Epic One-Person Army Action Period Drama Political Drama Swashbuckler Action Adventure

A Berber chieftain triggers an international incident, drawing the involvement of Theodore Roosevelt, when he kidnaps an American widow and her children in 1900s Morocco.A Berber chieftain triggers an international incident, drawing the involvement of Theodore Roosevelt, when he kidnaps an American widow and her children in 1900s Morocco.A Berber chieftain triggers an international incident, drawing the involvement of Theodore Roosevelt, when he kidnaps an American widow and her children in 1900s Morocco.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

11K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 6 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 3:34

The Wind and the Lion

Photos79

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The story was based on a historical incident involving the kidnapping of Ion Perdicaris, an American expatriate living in Tangier (changed to a woman for the movie). However, the two children, the American attack on the Bashaw's palace in Tangier, and the climactic battle between the American and German forces, were all inventions of writer and director John Milius.

Goofs
The Raisouli and his followers pray while the muezzin is calling. In fact, the actual praying is done after the muezzin finishes - it's his job to remind the faithful to go pray. This is a common mistake in Hollywood productions, possibly done for dramatic purposes.

Quotes
Raisuli: To Theodore Roosevelt - you are like the Wind and I like the Lion. You form the Tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the Ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours. - Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates.

Crazy credits
Opening credits prologue: Tangier October 15, 1904 1:00 pm

Connections
Featured in The Lion Roars Again (1975)

Soundtracks
For He's A Jolly Good Fellow
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung at Roosevelt's birthday party

User reviews130

Featured review

7/10

An exciting and enjoyable tale that is often just fiction.

In 1904, a Greek-American named Perdicaris was taken hostage along with his step-son. His captor was a Moroccan chieftan named Raisuli and eventually the United States was able to secure the release of the men.

The film "The Wind and the Lion" is HEAVILY fictionalized version of the Perdicaris Affair. I say heavily because in order to 'sex it up', the film features a pretty woman (Candice Bergen) as Perdicaris and instead of a step-son, she's taken hostage with her two young children. What also is heavily fictionalized is the climactic battle at the end of the film.

So is it any good? Well, despite casting a Scottish actor as Raisuli and the writing for Mrs. Perdicaris being terrible, yes, it is very enjoyable. But as I just said, Mrs. Perdicaris was ridiculous. Imagine what you'd do if you were in this situation...would you yell and be a thorn in your captor' side?? No way...it would result in a quick trip to the afterlife! But the action is good and Brian Keiths flamboyant portrayal of Teddy Roosevelt is quite captivating. Well worth seeing....though it left me really wanting to see a film actually based on the Perdicaris kidnapping.