Beau Geste (1939)

100% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
81% of users liked it
(617 ratings)

This second of three movie versions of P.C. Wren's adventure novel Beau Geste is a virtual scene-for-scene remake of the 1927 silent version. We open on the now-famous scenes of a remote, burning desert fort, manned by the dead Foreign Legionnaires, then flash back to the early lives of the Geste… More This second of three movie versions of P.C. Wren's adventure novel Beau Geste is a virtual scene-for-scene remake of the 1927 silent version. We open on the now-famous scenes of a remote, burning desert fort, manned by the dead Foreign Legionnaires, then flash back to the early lives of the Geste brothers. As children, the Gestes swear eternal loyalty to one another and to their family. One of the boys, young Beau (played as a youth by Donald O'Connor), witnesses his beloved aunt (Heather Thatcher) apparently stealing a valuable family jewel in order to finance the Geste home; Beau chooses to remain silent rather than disgrace his aunt. Years later, the grown Beau (Gary Cooper) again protects his aunt by confessing to the theft and running off to join the Foreign Legion. He is joined in uniform by faithful brothers John (Ray Milland) and Digby (Robert Preston), who in turn are pursued by a slimy thief (J. Carroll Naish). The crook is in cahoots with sadistic Legion Sgt. Markov (Brian Donlevy, in one of the most hateful portrayals ever captured on celluloid), who is later put in charge of Fort Zinderneuf, where Beau and John are stationed. When the Arabs attack, Markov proves himself a valiant soldier; it is he who hits upon the idea of convincing the Arabs that the fort is still fully manned by propping up the corpses of the casualties at the guard posts. Beau is seriously wounded, and while the greedy Markov searches for the jewel supposedly hidden on Beau's person, he is held at bay by loyal John. The suddenly enervated Beau kills Markov, then dies himself--but not before entrusting two notes to John, one of which requests that John give Beau the "Viking funeral" he'd always wanted (this is why the fort is in flames at the beginning of the film). After the battle, Digby Geste, a bugler with the relief troops, comes upon Beau's dead body, and appropriates the notes. As it turns out, John Geste is the only one who survives to return to England. He gives his aunt Beau's letter, which explains why Beau had confessed and run off--"a 'beau geste', indeed" comments his tearful aunt. No one missed nominal leading lady Susan Hayward in this essentially all-male entertainment. For years available only in muddily processed or truncated versions, Beau Geste was restored to its pristine glory by the American Film Institute in the late 1980s. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 54 min.
Directed By: William A. Wellman
Written By: Robert Carson, Percival Christopher Wren
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: Sep 15, 1939 Wide
On DVD: May 31, 2005
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Well directed by William Wellman, this second version of the popular novel is a fun adventure, perhpas a notch below the silent starrting Ronald Colman.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Dashing fantasy schoolboy romantic adventure tale on brotherhood.
Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com
This is the great romantic adventure of hard men, loyal comrades and the fraternal love and sacrifice of brother who risk everything to protect each other...
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
A great adventure film from the golden age of movies; Cooper is in top form, ably assisted by Milland and Preston. Brian Donlevy steals the show as the sadistic sargeant.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
First rate adventure film
Tim Dirks, Tim Dirks' The Greatest Films
Beau Geste (1939) is director/producer William Wellman's superb, high adventure tale set in the desert - a classic melodramatic, rousing film of the late 30s

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

A pretty good story, but the movie is kind of boring too. I've never really cared for military stories, but this one has more to it. It's a pretty good movie.
Mister C

The year 1939 was a pennicle point in cinema. 1939 brought out a lot of great films and the action-adventure spectacle "Beau Geste" is one of them. In the best-known version of novelist Percival Christopher Wren perennial, Gary Cooper, Ray Milliand, and Robert Preston play… More
The year 1939 was a pennicle point in cinema. 1939 brought out a lot of great films and the action-adventure spectacle "Beau Geste" is one of them. In the best-known version of novelist Percival Christopher Wren perennial, Gary Cooper, Ray Milliand, and Robert Preston play Beau,John,and Digby Geste,three inseparable adventurous brothers in search of adventure which one of them steals their benefactress's family jewel,it's off to the French Foreign Legion for all. A fairly deadly early flashback introduces the brothers as children-though it's the only time you'll ever see Donald O'Connor playing a younger version of Cooper. The movie really kicks into gear when the brothers enlist into the brutal stages of unjustly war. Directed by the great William A. Wellman,the supporting cast features future Oscar winners Broderick Crawford and Susan Hayward. Oscar nominee Brian Donlevy is excellent and so damn good as Sgt. Markloff that some think he should have taken the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor award for his riveting performance. Worth seeing.
Stella D

one of those films i can't resist like gunga din and lives of a bengal lancer. yes i know colonialism is bad. also i had this added to flixster 2 years ago :D
Randy T

This one is hard to find on DVD but well worth the effort to search it out. Gary Cooper is absolutely fantastic but it's the ensemble of Albert Dekker, Brian Donlevey, Broderick Crawford and Ray Milland that makes the whole thing work. Oh, and don't forget to check out a… More
This one is hard to find on DVD but well worth the effort to search it out. Gary Cooper is absolutely fantastic but it's the ensemble of Albert Dekker, Brian Donlevey, Broderick Crawford and Ray Milland that makes the whole thing work. Oh, and don't forget to check out a very young and very beautiful Susan Hayward in a supporting role.
Ken S

The jewel heist is almost an afterthought to this movie...it's not really a movie where you ask "why" this is happening...but "what" is...and how well that's executed.
Anthony V

Excellent Foreign Legion adventure with a great twist at the end (copied many times since).

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Gary Cooper as Michael "Beau" Geste

            Ray Milland as John Geste

            Robert Preston as Digby Geste

            Brian Donlevy as Sgt. Markoff

            Susan Hayward as Isobel Rivers

            J. Carrol Naish as Rasinoff

            Albert Dekker as Schwartz

            Broderick Crawford as Hank Miller

            Charles Barton as Buddy McMonigal

            James Stephenson as Maj. Henri de Beaujolais

            Heather Thatcher as Patricia Brandon

            James Burke as Lieutenant Dufour

            Arthur Ayleswofth as Renault

            Harry Woods as Renoir

            Harold Huber as Voisin

            Stanley Andrews as Maris

            Donald O'Connor as Beau at Age Twelve

            Billy Cook as John at Age Ten

            Martin Spellman as Digby at Age Twelve

            David Holt as Augustus at Age Twelve

            Ann Gillis as Isolvel at Age Ten

            Harvey Stephens as Lieutenant Martin

            Henry Brandon as Renouf

            Barry Macollum as Krenke

            Ronnie Rondell as Bugler

            Joe Bernard as Legionnaire

            George Chandler as Cordier

            Frank Dawson as Burdon the Butler

            G.P. Huntley as Augustus Brandon

            Duke Green as Glock

            Francis McDonald as Arab Scout

            Nestor Paiva as Corporal Golas

            Bob Perry as Legionnaire (uncredited)

            George Regas as Arab Scout

            Henry Sylvester
            
            Joe Whitehead as Sergeant

            Harry Worth as Corporal

            Jerome Storm as Sergeant Major

            Thomas E. Jackson as Colonel in Recruiting Office

            J.W. Cody as Legionnaires

            Larry Lawson as Legionnaire

            Carl Voss
            
            J. Carroll Naish
            
See full cast