Beau Geste (1939)

Director:

William A. Wellman

Writers:

Robert Carson (screen play)
Percival Christopher Wren (based on the novel by)

Release Date:

24 July 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | War

Tagline:

AGAIN...the three Gestes face a thousand dangers of the Sahara for each other...and love!

Plot:

Beau, John, and Digby Geste are three inseparable, adventurous brothers who haven been adopted into the wealthy household of Lady Brandon...

Plot Keywords:

Brother | Foreign Legion | Africa | Desert | Jewel Theft

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Gary Cooper	...	Beau Geste
Ray Milland	...	John Geste
Robert Preston	...	Digby Geste
Brian Donlevy	...	Sergeant Markoff
Susan Hayward	...	Isobel Rivers
J. Carrol Naish	...	Rasinoff
Albert Dekker	...	Schwartz
Broderick Crawford	...	Hank Miller
Charles Barton	...	Buddy McMonigal
James Stephenson	...	Major Henri de Beaujolais
Heather Thatcher	...	Lady Patricia Brandon
James Burke	...	Lieutenant Dufour
G.P. Huntley	...	Augustus Brandon (as George P. Huntley)
Harold Huber	...	Voisin
Donald O'Connor	...	Beau Geste as a Child
Billy Cook	...	John Geste as a Child
Martin Spellman	...	Digby Geste as a Child
Ann Gillis	...	Isobel Rivers as a Child
David Holt	...	Augustus Brandon as a Child
Harvey Stephens	...	Lieutenant Martin
Stanley Andrews	...	Maris
Harry Woods	...	Renoir
Arthur Aylesworth	...	Renault - A Deserter
Henry Brandon	...	Renouf - Another Deserter
Barry Macollum	...	Krenke
Ronald R. Rondell	...	A Bugler (as Ronnie Rondell)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joseph E. Bernard	...	Legionnaire (uncredited)
George Chandler	...	Legionnaire Cordier (uncredited)
Joseph William Cody	...	Legionnaire (uncredited)
Joe Colling	...	Trumpeter O. Leo (uncredited)
Gino Corrado	...	Recruit Wearing Top Hat (uncredited)
Frank Dawson	...	Burdon - Butler (uncredited)
Joe Gray	...	(uncredited)
Duke Green	...	Legionnaire Glock (uncredited)
Thomas E. Jackson	...	Colonel in Recruiting Office (uncredited)
Gladys Jeans	...	Girl in Saida Cafe (uncredited)
Bob Kortman	...	Maharaja's Agent (uncredited)
Larry Lawson	...	Legionnaire (uncredited)
Tony Martelli	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Francis McDonald	...	Arab Scout (uncredited)
Nestor Paiva	...	Corporal Golas (uncredited)
Bob Perry	...	Bald Legionnaire (uncredited)
George Regas	...	Arab Scout (uncredited)
Jerome Storm	...	Sergeant Major (uncredited)
Henry Sylvester	...	Legionnaire (uncredited)
Carl Voss	...	Legionnaire (uncredited)
Joe Whitehead	...	Sergeant (uncredited)
Harry Worth	...	Corporal (uncredited)

Directed by
William A. Wellman

Writing credits
Robert Carson		(screen play)
Percival Christopher Wren		(based on the novel by)

Produced by
William A. Wellman	....	producer
William LeBaron	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Alfred Newman

Cinematography by
Theodor Sparkuhl		(photographed by)
Archie Stout		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Thomas Scott		(edited by)

Art Direction by
Hans Dreier
Robert Odell

Set Decoration by
A.E. Freudeman		(set decorations)

Costume Design by
Edith Head		(costumes)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Talmadge	....	second unit director
Joseph C. Youngerman	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Hugo Grenzbach	....	sound recordist
Walter Oberst	....	sound recordist

Stunts
Otto Metzetti	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Suzanne	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard Talmadge	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Cliff Shirpser	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Music Department
Edward B. Powell	....	orchestral arrangements (as Edward Powell)
Alfred Newman	....	conductor (uncredited)
Troy Sanders	....	music advisor (uncredited)

Other crew
H. Gerard	....	technical advisor: colonel, French Foreign Legion (uncredited)
Slim Talbot	....	stand-in: Gary Cooper (uncredited)
Louis Van der Ecker	....	technical advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures (A William A. Wellman Production)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1939) (USA) (theatrical) (as A Paramount Picture)
• Paramount Pictures (1950) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• MCA/Universal Pictures (1958) (USA) (TV)
• Paramount Pictures (1939) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• CIC Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Emerald (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Epoca (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pay Television (????) (USA) (TV) (An MCA Company)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Arabic

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #5240) | USA:TV-PG | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Busch Gardens - S. Grove Avenue, Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Charles Barton, who has a small part as Buddy McMonigal, was at the time an assistant director at Paramount, having started his career as an actor. He had had a bad experience working as an A.D. to Paramount's top director, Cecil B. DeMille, on Union Pacific (1939) and refused to work with him again when he was assigned to. Paramount "demoted" him to a bit actor on this picture as punishment. Barton soon left Paramount for Columbia where he was made a director, and never worked for Paramount again.

Goofs:

Continuity: It is night when Markoff and the others go into the barracks to stop the mutiny, but it is midmorning when they come out.

Quotes:

Lt. Martin:I just witnessed that little exhibition of yours, Markoff. I don't like it!
Markoff:You have to be strict with scum like that, sir.
Lt. Martin:They're men. They have their rights, guaranteed within the regulations.
Markoff:I'll keep within the regulations, sir.
Lt. Martin:You're a good soldier, Markoff, but I doubt if you're a good sergeant. If you're not, you won't last long in the Legion. Watch your step, or I'll break you!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Horrors of Spider Island (#11.11)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

The Legionnaire's Song

Brotherhood, Leadership and Gratitude

The orphan brothers Beau, John, and Digby Geste have been raised in Brandon Abbas by their dear aunt Lady Patricia Brandon (Heather Thatcher) with the also adopted Isobel Rivers and their cousin Augustus Brandon since they were children. Lady Brandon is near bankruptcy paying the debts of the absent Lord Brandon, and the fortune of the family is limited to the valuable "Blue Water" sapphire. When they are grown-ups, Lord Brandon tells that he will arrive in the property to sell the precious stone. Beau (Gary Cooper), John (Ray Milland), Digby (Robert Preston), Isobel (Susan Hayward) and Augustus (G. P. Huntley) ask to see the "Blue Water". Lady Brandon brings the stone, but the lights go out, the sapphire is stolen and Lady Brandon promises to call the police on the next morning. However, first Beau and then Digby write notes confessing the robbery, and they are followed by John. The brothers join the Foreign Legion and are sent to North Africa, Beau and John under the command of the cruel and sadistic Sergeant Markoff (Brian Donlevy) in Fort Zinderneuf in the Sahara Desert. After an unsuccessful mutiny due to the brutal treatment of Markoff, the fort is attacked by Tuaregs and the men have to join forces to fight for their lives.

"Beau Geste" is a dramatic adventure about brotherhood, leadership and gratitude. I have never watched the original version, but this remake is a great movie. The screenplay is intelligent, with two initial mysteries (what has happened in Fort Zinderneuf?, and why Beau Geste stole the stone?) and reveals the mystery in the fort in the end and the reason why Beau Geste stole the jewel in the very last scene, showing how honorable and gentle he was. Brian Donlevy is amazing and together with Gary Cooper, Ray Milland and Robert Preston, they have unforgettable performances. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Beau Geste"