1904. the north african nation of morocco be hang onto a tenuous independence and a the various european power france and germany and britain and russia and spain and and now the united state be vie for influence in the region . the sultan ( marc zuber ) be a weak puppet while his uncle and the bashaw ( vladek sheybal ) and who be be manipulate by the french and german and be the real power behind the throne . enter berber chieftan raisuli ( sean connery ) and the leader of the rif tribe and the last of the barbary pirate and who kidnap an american missionary and eden pedecaris ( candice bergen ) and her two child and take them hostage . back in the u and president theodore roosevelt ( brian keith ) threaten to go to war over the issue represent pedecaris alive or raisuli dead . see the issue a the perfect way to exercise his big stick diplomacy and though secretary of state john hay ( john huston ) be not so confident . however and the raisuli have less sinister plan for the pedecarises and who be more than capable of handle themselves in any event . john milius great historical film and base very loosely off of a true story ( i. e. pedecaris be a middle age man ) and be a wonderful bit of escapism . it have some amazing action scene and a witty and well write script and a fine cast enjoy themselves with the material and and do not overstay it welcome like and say and pirate of the caribbean or the lord of the ring movie . it not really an epic film in the strict sense and but it one of the best pure action movie ever make . while the historical context be shaky and the storyline be interesting and and a some reviewer point out and it be even more pertinent today than it be when make . a president roosevelt say and america be like a grizzly bear fierce and strong and but a little blind and reckless at time . at the time of the film setting and america have just be propel onto the world stage a superpower and follow their resound victory in the spanish american war and roosevelt seize this incident a a way to prove america worth . in real life and it do not quite work out that way and but allegorically it work well . while write from a right wing perspective and milius screenplay be pretty accurate in assess america and it place in the world . he admire roosevelt and his method of big stick diplomacy and and correctly recognize ( in the word of roosevelt ) that while america may be fear and respect and they will never be truly love by the world and no matter what they do . and there be some scene like roosevelt target shooting of european leader and the almost comic surprise attack by marine on the bashaw palace which show america reckless and violent side and while others the climactic showdown with the german show their heroism . the historical or political context of the film be and of course and merely meat on the bone of what be essentially a rouse action or adventure film . there be some brilliantly do action scene and such a raisuli rescue of the pedecaris from double cross tribesman and which feature some of the best swordplay in any film . the opening entrance of the raisuli and the aforementioned march and attack of the u marine be brilliantly do bravura set piece . and the final battle and which combine element of lawrence of arabia and the wild bunch and while a major historical fantasy ( a three way battle between german and american and and the rifs ) and be a superbly stag and adrenaline pumping sequence . the excellent cast give some wonderful performance . everyone seem to be have a fun time with the film and and it show . sean connery be surprisingly convincing a a berber with a scottish accent and but manage to pull off his interesting and well drawn and chivalrous character who come to respect his hostage and abhors modern and uncivil warfare . candice bergen and an actress whom i have never be fond of and give a fine performance a the feisty eden pedecaris and who be every bit as tough a her captor . brian keith be an amazingly convincing tr you really feel he must have be like this and an athletic and blustering and yet practical and intelligent man with an admirable sense of self . the scene of roosevelt boxing and target shoot while discuss foreign policy be some of the great bad as moment in movie history and who can forget line like why spoil the beauty of the thing with legality . john huston provide solid support a the weary and cautious hay and act a a perfect foil to the much more impetuous roosevelt . among the fine supporting cast and the best be geoffrey lewis a samuel gummere and the cynical ambassador caught in the middle of the political intrigue and and steve kanaly and a the gung ho marine captain who cheerfully advocate ( and carry out ) military intervention . a the blunt and simple solution to the whole complex situation . other familiar face such a vladek sheybal and nadim sawalha and roy jenson and larry cross and marc zuber and and darrell fetty also do fine work and no matter how small their role . spaghetti western fan will recognize antoine saint john ( a fistful of dynamite ) a the german general and aldo sambrell a one of raisuli tribesman . the wind and the lion be and all around and a wonderfully do adventure film . it have something for everyone represent wonderful gun and swordplay and a lot of humor and a tough and feisty heroine ( and her two cute child ) and a nice ( if unconsummated ) romance and and an interesting ( if fanciful ) political or historical context . it not a masterpiece and but hey and it wasn not try to be . i give the wind and the lion a stirring nine star and my high recommendation .