John Milius the director never matched Milius the writer - he lacked with the camera the vision he had with the pen, the sense of grandeur and flamboyance - but he surrounded himself with a good team on this one and the result is one of his best films.
It kind of sends up old fashioned adventure tales in a way reminiscent of George MacDonald Fraser's historical fiction and screenplays of the 1970s - a loving embrace of the form but also a satirical twist, playing up the less pleasing aspects. (Like Fraser Milius' work was full of this satirical edge in the 70s but it ebbed with time and both men wound up taking themselves way too seriously as they got older.)
The Teddy Roosevelt era even now is not often depicted by filmmakers - I'm not sure why, I think they are uncomfortable with Roosevelt's naked imperialism and jingoism. Not Milius, who loves not just Roosevelt but also the soldiers (all the diplomats and soldiers are as gung ho as anyone) and the Raisuli.
This means the film has tremendous freshness. It's helped immeasurably by the locations (Spain), photography, costumes and Jerry Goldsmith score. Sean Connery is also entirely apt as the Raisuli - sure he's Scottish, but he's got the perfect combination of charisma, skill, sensitivity, toughness and ability to speak Milius' dialogue.
I understand the need for a third act but I didn't quite buy Steve Kanaly's American officer doing such an about face. The female lead is a pretty crap character compared to the two male leads - she's pretty and spirited and that's it (Bergen doesn't bring much else to the part apart from that). I didn't but her about face either (the film doesn't go the full romance, more respect). They toy with the kids going all High Wind in Jamaica but don't go there. The story is a bit wonky - there's an escape and recapture sequence which seems put in there mostly for Connery to gallop along a beach with a sword.
There's plenty of great sequences (everything involving Brian Keith as Roosevelt) - the tone is just right. I enjoyed this a lot.
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