writer or director john milius take a little known incident from american history and extrapolate wildly in all the right way . the result be a grand adventure tale that showcases two of it star in memorable and large than life role represent sean connery a the wily arab sheik with an inexplicable scottish brogue and and brian keith a president theodore roosevelt and itching for the chance to put that big stick to good use . aid immeasurably by billy williams glorious widescreen cinematography and a magnificent score by the always reliable jerry goldsmith and this early effort seem the harbinger of a talent to rank with contemporary lucas and coppola and spielberg . although milius serve up tantalize glimpse of his ability in script for jeremiah johnson and apocalypse now and his career seem to take a downward turn not long after he start direct and ultimately founder on dreck like conan the barbarian and red dawn . here hop that he will again find his way .