Beau Geste

Having never read the book or seen any of the earlier versions, I have to admit being pleasantly surprised with this, the third version of the famous tale. It can't really be said to boast an A-list cast, though Telly Savalas arguably dominates most scenes as the sadistic Dagineau. This time the ostensible lead Guy Stockwell, gets to play a much more personable and loyal brother than the one he plays in his earlier War Lord, where his screen brother is the regularly heroic Charlton Heston.

What impressed me was how good the film looks and how convincing a substitute Arizona and a Universal backlot is for the Sahara. Sorry, but after appreciating the vivid technicolours in this film, I don't think anyone could convince me (as many of the other reviewers here try to do so), that the earlier black and white versions (with the 1926 version being silent for goodness sake) are more enjoyable watching. The other thing that I found unexpectedly good were the handling of the battle scenes primarily in the second half of the film. For a 1966 movie, they are quite realistic, suspenseful and intense, with some liberally spilt blood thrown in for good measure.

Your time won't be wasted spending a couple of hours with Beau Geste.

Leslie Nielsen, in one of his few serious actor parts, dies off too quickly in this color extravaganza, leaving Telly to rampage and wreak sadistic treatment on those under his command. Dean Stockwell and Doug McClure, "Americans", try to do their parts well, but, they just didn't strike me as the best choices, at the time, for their roles. The color treatment, uniforms, and action sequences are reminiscent of other blazing gun battle scene loaded movies, but nothing sterling or Oscar-winning here, except, maybe, Savalas, as the contemptible despot. Movie length could also have been better, too much was left out, even for an adapted story from Hollywood. Still, I would like to see this again in widescreen DVD, or even VHS. But, where would I find a good original copy ? It seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth, if it ever existed at all !

Very odd that, as of this date, this very watchable film was never released on tape or DVD, despite other Universal films from the same time period being released directly by Universal or licensed to other companies, particularly Good Times. There's a great supporting cast of mostly actors more familiar from television than from films, so one gets the impression that it's more of a made-for-TV film rather than a theatrical release; however, the action and scope is much larger than the TV movie fare of that time. The film has two nice battle scenes, one occurring at the mid-way point, and the extended climatic siege. It's a little jarring to deal with the constant shifting from the interior filmed fort scenes to the exterior filmed scenes of the Tauregs attacking, but that's my only complaint. The battle itself is well staged and exciting. It's interesting to note that Dougles Heyes, the director, used this same exact story regarding the letter threat against Dagineau in one of the episodes of "Rin-tin-tin" which he directed in the fifties. There, the threat was against Lt. Masters, who a trooper believed caused his brother's death in an Indian battle and wanted Masters to pay. Considering that RTT was a Columbia product and this Beau Geste was Universal, it's surprising some kind of copyright infringement was not noted. All-in-all, this is the kind of film that stands up to repeated viewings if one allows some time to pass in between.

An adventure and thrilling movie about the reckless legend of the foreign legion battling in the Morocco desert. Adventure movie about the Foreign legion in a remote location in North Africa . At the begining contains a memorable opening with an impregnable fort , an outpost named Zinderneuf , garrisoned by corpses and the high adventure tone carries on from there . As an army of the French Foreign Legion crosses the desert to the relief of a far Fort , at a desert oasis. The major approaches the men on the walls and hails them, but they do not respond. He realizes that they are all dead, some shot in the head. He sends his bugler into the fort, but the man does not return. Entering the fort, he finds no life . Earlier and flashback , "Beau" Geste (Guy Stockwell) leaves his country in disgrace , enlists French army and joins the infamous Foreign Legion fighting Berber and Tuareg tribes . Shortly after , at assembly, Sgt. Dagineau (Telly Savalas) addresses several recruits , including Boldini (Mauro) , who is known to the Sergent from a prior enlistment , Krauss (Leo Gordon) , Rostov (Michael Constantine) , Beau , among others . Later on , Beau is reunited with his brother (Doug McClure) in North Africa, both of whom face off desert wars and a despictable sergeant . As they they confront greater danger from their own psychotic commander (Telly Savalas) than from the rebellious Arabs . After that, the regiment of legionnaries under command of a lieiutenant (Leslie Nielsen) and a first sergeant , become involved into an ambush in the sunny desert by the nasty Tuaregs .The World's Immortal Adventure! . Thundering drama ! Again ...the three Gestes face a thousand dangers of the Sahara for each other. Hard lives, quick deaths, undying courage! .Two against the world...brothers and soldiers all!

Entertaining , rousing Legion/Arab adventure set in Morocco where our starring Guy Stockwell is mistreated , wounded and along the way fighting Tuaregs and a ruthless sergeant . Being freely based on Christopher Wren novel screen-written by director Douglas Heyes himself . It contains up-roaring adventures , thrills , noisy action, battles and an exciting competition . This retelling leaves out one of the brothers , usually 3 , in the story of Beau Geste and how his attempt to save the family honor , equally the theft jewel issue is abandoned . Even their names aren't adequate " "Beau Geste" is a nickname given to Beau Graves -Guy Stockwell- by his commanding officer -Leslie Nielsen- , and Beau's brother -Doug McClure- is named John . The highlight climax at the fort littered with dead man from the classic movies 1926 , 1939 to today gave rise to a thousand comedy skilts . Universal International Picture intended making a lavish production, it had schemed to use a star-studded British cast , but it was eventually considered to be too an expensive, large-scale production so instead was shot on a medium budget on the studio backlot at Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, and in the Yuma desert , Arizona, USA . Guy Stockwell gives an acceptable acting in his ordinary style as the brave legionnaire . He is suitable strong in his usual gentle and taciturn as Beau , eldest of two brothers who join the Legion. Stockwell starred some adventure movie as The war lord , Sword of Zorro and The king's pirate along with Doug McClure ; as well as other genres as Western : Gatlin gun , Plainsman and warlike : Tobruk . But is really Telly Savalas who leaves one of his most memorable screen portrayals , providing the most lasting impression as the sadistic and violent first sergeant .This is an inferior version , though being professionally directed by Douglas Heyes . Douglas was a craftsman who directed a lot of episodes of notorious TV series , such as : Rin-Tin-Tin: Hero of the West , Highwayman ,City of Angels , McCloud , Cimarron , Cheyenne, Alias Smith and Jones, The Virginian , Baretta , Switch , Outlaws , Maverick , The Bold Ones: The Lawyers , The Americans , Laramie , 77 Sunset Strip , Conflict , Colt 45 , Markhan , The naked city , among others . And occassionally directing a few films such as : Powder Keg , Kitten with a whip ,The Lonely Profession and this Beau Geste .

There are several versions about this novel written by PC Wren dealing with heroism in the Foreign Legion and it was a much-copied epic : The first rendition 1926 by Herbert Brenon with Ronald Colman , Neal Hamilton , Ralph Forbes , Alice Joyce , Noah Beery . The finest of various screen versions , considered to be a true classic Hollywood adventure in which Geste takes the blame for a jewel theft was made in 1939 by William A Wellman with Gary Cooper , Ray Milland , Robert Preston , Donald O'Connor, Susan Hayward and Brian Donlevy as a scarred sergeant . And the others were made as The Last remake of Beau Gest (1977) , hilarious retelling by Marty Feldman , Michael York , Ann-Margret , Peter Ustinov , James Earl Jones ,Trevor Howard ....

This third film version of Beau Geste has its place in film history though it can't be compared to the star versions with Ronald Colman in 1927 and Gary Cooper in 1939. No big box office names are in this film just journeyman players who know their trade.

The third brother was dropped as well as the entire story line about just why the brothers are in the French Foreign Legion. Guy Stockwell goes first and winds up in a post where the ultra-sadistic Sergeant Major Telly Savalas holds sway. Later on Stockwell's brother Doug McClure joins him and they are unsuccessful in hiding the fact they are brothers.

We never do know exactly why the brothers or at least Stockwell is in the Legion as McClure is ostensibly along for the ride. There are some cryptic hints in some of the conversation. The last stand with troop at Fort Zinderneuf follows along the paths laid out by the more classic versions of Beau Geste.

One interesting part is that of David Mauro playing Boldini the snitch among the men to Savalas. There are some definite homoerotic overtones in his performance and watch Mauro's scenes with Savalas. Remember there are no women to be had anywhere near where these guys are stationed. So a guy like Boldini might be popular in some quarters even if he's an informer.

Of course there was a satirical remake in the next decade of Beau Geste with Michael York, Marty Feldman, and Peter Ustinov. It could probably use another version, it certainly is overdue. I'm surprised Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt never took up the story.