Search - The Wind and the Lion on DVD

Can't Wait For The DVD

Robert B. Bradshaw | Little Mountain, SC USA | 10/01/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first saw The Wind and the Lion when it came out in theaters. Always a big fan of sweeping adventure stories, this one became an instant favorite. Though years have passed and movie action has become even more lavish and intense, nothing has ever dimmed this jewel in my eyes. In fact, the years have made the romance more poignant and the irony more telling. Forget history: Pedicaris was a man. Forget stereotypes: the Berber is the hero. This is a romantic adventure of the highest order: remember the little boy who dreams of becoming a Barbary Pirate. As that marvelous score swells up around you, and Sean Connery leans down from the galloping horse, grabbing not the boy, but the gun he is carrying, you can feel the boy's disappointment at not being carried along for the next adventure. There are many levels at work in this film. The genius of John Milius is such that the Roosevelt era of "gunboat diplomacy" can be seen as both the crowing of young America as it was forcing its way into World politics, and as a reflection of the debacle of Viet Nam that was the end result of such bullish behavior.In its examination of relationships between men and women, the human foibles of men looked upon as leaders, and the brutal reality of the human condition, this movie is right on target. But, in the end, it is a romance, a dream of what could be -- but usually isn't. The good guys survive, but they all show that they have paid a heavy price for having played the game.MGM will be doing all movie fans a favor when they bring this out on DVD."

Making of "The Wind And The Lion"

Barbara J. Selletti | 06/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am writing to say how great it is to see that people still appreciate and enjoy this movie. I am not associated in any way with anyone who made the movie and am speaking only for myself.
I was one of the US Marines in the move and was hired as an extra. At that time I was a real US Marine corporal stationed in Spain. On the Dock scene, the Hispanic Sgt. was a real U.S. Marine Capt. and my Executive Officer. He was very valuable to the movie, being able to speak both English and Spanish.As I recall this was the first movie that had ever used actual active duty soldiers from US and Spain together in a movie. They used Spanish soldiers throughout the movie as extra's . We (the real US Marines) spent time teaching them to march and learn english marching commands before they went to the set in Seville Spain.I do recall being told that the President of the United States went to the opening And was said to have enjoyed it. The writers and those who were making the movie had written only a very brief part for any Marine scenes. When we arrived to Seville, where they saw us for the very first time and demonstrated what we could do in the way of realistic action , they wrote in more scenes and the rest is movie history. Looking back now, The Marine Scenes are some of the important scenes and contribute greatly to the movie.The parts where you see US Marines was filmed in two locations in Spain, the dock scene was filmed in Seville Spain and the desert scene was filmed in the hills of Almeria Spain, I believe this was the same location Lawrence of Arabia was filmed, many westerns were filmed there also. In total I was on location for about 45 days which is a long time for movie extras.There was different groups of US military being called upon at any given time to work as extra's. Such as the palace guards.
But there was a core group of us U.S. Marines ( about 2 dozen total)who were used. We would film for a couple weeks, go back to work on base and out of no where there would be a request for us to come back to the set and film more scenes.. We would be given authorization from the Marine Corps Stateside to go, and soon after a Commercial Bus would pick us up and we would travel the long distance to the set. sometimes taking many hours to get there on those narrow country roads of Spain.We went 3 different times. We were considered by The Corps to be Embassador's so there was no hesitation to let us go.
As a US Marine , I was honored and thankful for my opportunity to be a part of this great action film. I think it is more enjoyable now then ever and sure to become a classic.The Actors, Sean Connery, Brian Keith, Candice Bergen, the director John Milius who I really owe the greatest thanks to for having the vision to include us in the movie, and all the rest were so kind and went out of their way to get us up close when they worked And would spend time with us in the evenings just visiting. It was a once in a lifetime experience.
I was just a young Marine of 19 years old, now 47 it seems like a lifetime ago. But I do as you enjoy pulling out the movie and watching it with my children and remembering ..thank you all who continue enjoy this movie - keeping it going. God Bless"