Rough Riders (1997 film)

Rough Riders (1997 film) is a TNT (American TV network) television film directed by John Milius and starring Tom Berenger as Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States. The film is based on the true story of the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, also known as the Rough Riders, and their experiences during the Spanish-American War. The movie features an ensemble cast, including Sam Elliott, Gary Busey, Brad Johnson (actor), and Illeana Douglas, and explores the events leading up to the Battle of San Juan Hill and the Battle of Las Guasimas. The film was produced by Hallmark Entertainment and Larry Levinson Productions, and premiered on TNT (American TV network) on July 20, 1997, with Robert Duvall and George Hamilton (actor) making appearances.

Plot

The film follows the story of Theodore Roosevelt and his experiences with the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, also known as the Rough Riders, during the Spanish-American War. The movie begins with Roosevelt's decision to form the Rough Riders, a volunteer cavalry regiment, and his recruitment of men from the American West, including Arizona Territory, New Mexico Territory, and Oklahoma Territory. The film features appearances by William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, and Nelson A. Miles, a United States Army general, and explores the events leading up to the Battle of San Juan Hill and the Battle of Las Guasimas. The movie also depicts the Rough Riders' interactions with other units, including the 1st U.S. Volunteer Infantry and the 10th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, and their experiences with William Shafter, the commander of the V Corps (United States). The film's plot is set against the backdrop of the Spanish-American War, which was sparked by the Sinking of the USS Maine and the Teller Amendment, and features references to the Treaty of Paris (1898), which ended the war.

Production

The film was directed by John Milius, who is known for his work on Conan the Barbarian (1982 film), Red Dawn (1984 film), and Farewell to the King (1989 film). The movie was produced by Larry Levinson and Robert Halmi, Sr., and features a screenplay by John Milius and Hugh Wilson (director). The film's cinematography was handled by Donald M. Morgan, who has worked on The Getaway (1994 film), Starship Troopers (1997 film), and The X-Files (film), and the music was composed by Peter Bernstein (composer), who has scored music for The X-Files (film), 21 Jump Street (film), and The A-Team (film). The film was shot on location in South Africa and Mexico, and features a mix of American West and Spanish-American War settings, including the Badlands and the Sierra Maestra mountains. The production team consulted with historians from the United States Army Center of Military History and the Library of Congress to ensure the accuracy of the film's depiction of the Rough Riders and the Spanish-American War.

Cast

The film features an ensemble cast, including Tom Berenger as Theodore Roosevelt, Sam Elliott as Bucky O'Neill, Gary Busey as General Joseph Wheeler, and Brad Johnson (actor) as Henry Nash. The movie also features appearances by Illeana Douglas as Edith Roosevelt, Brian Keith as President William McKinley, and George Hamilton (actor) as William Randolph Hearst. The cast includes a number of actors who have appeared in Western (genre) films, including R. Lee Ermey, who has appeared in Full Metal Jacket (film), and Dale Dye, who has appeared in Platoon (film). The film's cast also includes a number of actors who have appeared in War films, including Mark Moses (actor), who has appeared in Platoon (film), and William Lucking, who has appeared in The Wild Bunch (film).

Release

The film premiered on TNT (American TV network) on July 20, 1997, and was watched by an estimated 16 million viewers, making it one of the highest-rated television movies of the year. The movie was released on VHS and DVD in 1998, and has since been released on Blu-ray Disc. The film has been broadcast on a number of television networks, including TNT (American TV network), History (American TV channel), and AMC (TV channel), and has been streamed on Amazon Prime Video and Hulu. The film's release was accompanied by a number of promotional events, including a screening at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C., which was attended by Tom Berenger and Sam Elliott.

Reception

The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with many praising the performances of the cast, particularly Tom Berenger and Sam Elliott. The movie holds a rating of 73% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 11 reviews, with an average rating of 6.4/10. The film was also praised for its historical accuracy, with many historians noting that it was one of the most accurate depictions of the Rough Riders and the Spanish-American War on film. The movie won several awards, including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries or a Movie, and was nominated for several others, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film. The film's success can be attributed to the work of the production team, including John Milius, Larry Levinson, and Robert Halmi, Sr., as well as the cast, including Tom Berenger, Sam Elliott, and Gary Busey.