The Wind and the Lion

Loosely based on a true historical incident, The Wind and the Lion (1975)—set in Morocco, circa 1904—stars Sean Connery as Berber chieftain Mulai Ahmed er Raisuli, with Candice Bergen as American widow Eden Pedecaris, who is kidnapped along with her two young children for ransom. American President Theodore Roosevelt (Brian Keith) sends U.S. troops into Morocco to rescue the family, a threatening action that could ignite war in Europe. Screenwriter-director John Milius delivers plenty of action featuring swords, military weapons, and men in robes charging across the desert on horseback; but the film is just as much about the battle between the charming but fierce Raisuli and the strong-willed Eden (antagonists who develop respect and affection for one another during the ordeal), as well as the long-distance game of international chess between Raisuli and Roosevelt. Milius's romantic take on revolution and the honor of war is out of step with the more complicated sensibilities of American movies of the 1970s, but he creates such grand characters and colorful collisions of cultures and countries that it all works. Earning two Oscar nominations—including Best Music for Jerry Goldsmith's dramatic score—The Wind and the Lion debuts on Blu-ray in a gorgeous-looking edition with extras including audio commentary and a behind-the-scenes featurette. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)