The Wind and the Lion [Hardcover]

John Milius (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Amereon Ltd (June 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0884114546
• ISBN-13: 978-0884114543
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,051,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Lion of depth against the Wind of shallowness, March 12, 2005

By 

OAKSHAMAN "oakshaman" (Algoma, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Wind And The Lion (Paperback)

This film was always one of my favorites from the time that it came out in 1975. I was curious as to how close the novelization was to the original- and if it would include any additional information not included in the film as shot. I found it to be extremely close to the film with a few minor exceptions. By reading the story you pick up plot and set details that you might otherwise miss. I have heard people call this film "flawed"- honestly I do not see where either it, or this book, has any obvious major flaws. They are true classics.

One other thing, coming back to this film after many years can change your perspective. When I first saw it in my younger days, the character of Theodore Roosevelt was my clear favorite. In fact, I resented what I saw as the parodying of him in a few scenes. My favorite details were the accurate depictions of historical ships, weapons, and uniforms. I found the unabashed imperialist theme to be thrilling and inspiring.

Now, watching the same film three decades later, it is the Raisuli and his people that I find to be the more interesting. The American and European characters seem somehow trivial and shallow in comparison. The Imperial "game" seems wasteful and pointless. On the other hand, the Raisuli is a man of depth. When he was young and foolish he thought that he could ignore or oppose the will of God. Then, in the living death of the dungeons of Mogador, he was reborn. Even the guards recognized that the Baraka was with him. He wandered alone into the mountains and became Lord of the Riff, true defender of the faith, by divine providence. This is a king in the truest, traditional sense- a man who is one with his people, his land, his God. He fights to free his land of the corruption of the profane outsiders, and those who would betray all in the name of mere money. He is the Lion that represents the heart of the land, fighting against the tide of the meaningless, relentless western wind. In comparison to this, all other characters are as childish, cardboard cutouts of true men.

This particular edition contains a large section on the making of the film in the back. Milius talks of his vision for it, and the difficulties in getting it made. There are some interesting anecdotes (like the problem in getting the actual U.S. Marine extras and the Spanish army extras to start off in the marching scenes on the same foot.) There are also individual biographies of the actors playing all the major characters, as well as that of the writer-director and producer. The cover art is based on the original poster art for the movie.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Great movie. Disappointing Book., March 23, 2009

By 

rdp (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wind and the Lion (Hardcover)

The movie is definitely a great addition to any film collection, the book not so much. I was hoping to read the story behind the movie, thinking it would be larger with expanded background, greater plot, additional motivation, etc... Not so. The book is basically the screenplay, a printed version of the movie with the same scenes, same characters, and same dialog. So what's the point? Buy or rent the movie, you won't be disappointed. The book is supurfluous. rdp

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book, great movie., May 20, 2004

By 

Stephen B. Hughes (Merrimac, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wind and the Lion (Hardcover)

This is a good novelization of a great movie. There is plenty of good Milius dialogue to appreciate: "Why spoil the beauty of a thing with legality?", "Damn the legations!" and "...if we fail and are killed, I certainly hope the world does go to war."

The representaion of Teddy Roosevelt leaves little doubt that, were he president today, Iraq would have been a grease spot.