Three adopted English brothers join the French Foreign Legion in North Africa, after one of them steals their adoptive family's famous heirloom sapphire.
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Title: Beau Geste (1939)
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Nominated for
2
Oscars.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Gary Cooper | ... | ||
| Ray Milland | ... | ||
| Robert Preston | ... | ||
| Brian Donlevy | ... | ||
| Susan Hayward | ... | ||
| J. Carrol Naish | ... | ||
| Albert Dekker | ... | ||
| Broderick Crawford | ... | ||
 |
Charles Barton | ... | |
| James Stephenson | ... |
Major Henri de Beaujolais
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|
|
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Heather Thatcher | ... | |
|
|
James Burke | ... |
Lieutenant Dufour
|
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G.P. Huntley | ... |
Augustus Brandon
(as George P. Huntley)
|
|
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Harold Huber | ... |
Voisin
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| Donald O'Connor | ... | ||
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
Beau, John, and Digby Geste are three inseparable, adventurous brothers who haven been adopted into the wealthy household of Lady Brandon. When money in the uppercrust household grows tight, Lady Brandon is forced to sell her most treasured jewel the mighty "Blue Water" sapphire. The household gets it out for one final look, the lights go out and it vanishes stolen by one of the brothers, no doubt. That night, Beau, Digby, and John each "confess" and slip out, John leaving behind Isabel, whom he loves. They all join the Foreign Legion, and Beau and Digby are split from John and put under the command of the ruthless and sadistic Sergeant Markoff. Things begin to get hairy as the rest of the Legionaires plot a mutiny against Markoff, in the midst of an attack by Arab hordes. Written by Sam Hayes <gshayes@mail.gwi.net>
Taglines:
THUNDERING DRAMA! (original ad - all caps) See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
24 July 1939 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Beau Geste See more »Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
Edit
Michael 'Beau' Geste: You young pup, we're both so disgusted with you we're speechless.
John Geste: I'm no worse than either of you.
Digby Geste: There's something in what he says.
Michael 'Beau' Geste: I insist I'm worse than he is. He didn't steal the Blue Water.
John Geste: Neither did you.
Digby Geste: No. As a matter of fact, I've got it.
Michael 'Beau' Geste: I'll be frank with you, gentlemen. I've got it. I intend to sell it for 30,000 pounds sometime in the future, and live a life of ease in Paris surrounded by whiskey, ladies, and laughter.
Digby Geste: Well that's funny....
[...]
See more »
(uncredited)
Music by Troy Sanders
Lyrics by Frank Loesser
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
At the film's world premiere, the first reel of the 1926 silent version of "Beau Geste" was shown just before the entire 1939 sound version, in an effort to demonstrate how far films had advanced in thirteen years. This almost backfired because the 1939 film apparently followed the 1926 one extremely closely, and some of the first-night critics were annoyed rather than pleased at this, feeling that the 1939 version should have been more imaginative. However, this did not keep the 1939 version from becoming a smash hit and a film classic. See more »Goofs
After Markoff puts the first corpse back on the wall to give the illusion that there are many legionnaires on the wall, it is clear that the "corpse" is still breathing. See more »Quotes
John Geste: Well, isn't anybody going to say a word?Michael 'Beau' Geste: You young pup, we're both so disgusted with you we're speechless.
John Geste: I'm no worse than either of you.
Digby Geste: There's something in what he says.
Michael 'Beau' Geste: I insist I'm worse than he is. He didn't steal the Blue Water.
John Geste: Neither did you.
Digby Geste: No. As a matter of fact, I've got it.
Michael 'Beau' Geste: I'll be frank with you, gentlemen. I've got it. I intend to sell it for 30,000 pounds sometime in the future, and live a life of ease in Paris surrounded by whiskey, ladies, and laughter.
Digby Geste: Well that's funny....
[...]
See more »
Soundtracks
The Legionnaire's Song(uncredited)
Music by Troy Sanders
Lyrics by Frank Loesser
See more »
I know this, along with Sherlock Holmes, is one of the most filmed stories ever, but the 1939 version must stand out as the best. The mood and atmosphere of the desert is captured brilliantly, the photography is excellent as is the cast. Gary Cooper fits the role of Beau exactly as one would have imagined him, while the brothers played by Ray Milland and Robert Preston are spot on. Of course Brian Donlevy was at his best in this film as the vicious Sergeant, and it is one of the few times when I have thought he acted well. Susan Hayward's role was minor, but of course she was a virtual unknown at that time. It was good to see Donald O'Connor as a young Beau, as well as stalwarts like Albert Dekker and J. Carrol Naish. The opening scene is quite remarkable even by todays standards.