BEAU GESTE
US, 1939, 120 minutes, Black and white.
Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, Robert Preston, Brian Donlevy, Susan Hayward, J. Carroll Naish, Albert Dekker. Broderick Crawford, Donald O'Connor.
Directed by William Wellman.
Beau Geste was one of the most popularly read adventures of the early 20th century. The story of British honour by P.C.Wren and the life in the Foreign Legion has appealed over the decades. First filmed with Ronald Colman as a silent film in 1926, the classic version is this one produced and directed by adventure director William Wellman. Gary Cooper was a strong hero, though lacked the light touch for Beau. Ray Milland and Robert Preston early in their careers, were his enthusiastic brothers. Susan Hayward is in an early role as Isabel. Brian Donlevy was quite effective as the sadistic Markoff.
Rousingly filmed with a straight-out emphasis on adventure and honour, the film seems somewhat dated for more sophisticated tastes. However it embodies the ideals of action adventure of the time e.g. George Stevens' Gunga Din. Remade in the '60s with Guy Stockwell and Telly Savalas, it altered many details of the original plot. It was the target for satire by Marty Feldman in the 1977 The Last Remake Of Beau Geste. This film was a mixture of the clever and the silly but did highlight many of the aspects of the original and even included some of the footage with Gary Cooper.
1. How enjoyable an adventure? The classic status of this '30s adventure film? Its being remade and being the target of satire in the '70s?
2. The straightforward attitude towards adventure in the '30s? The clear presentation of ideals. honour, the Foreign Legion, family, romance, death, loyalty? The impact of these values and such a straightforward presentation now?
3. The quality of the black and white photography, the score, the re-creation of England and the Foreign Legion atmosphere? The stars and their particular style of heroism?
4. The introductory mystery? The fort, the dead legionnaires, the survivor and the disappearance of him and the bugler? The structure transition to 15 years earlier with the emphasis on the boys and their heroic games? The 15 years passing and the disappearance of the jewel? The transition to the Legion and life there? The final explanation and the understanding of the mystery? Audience interest, involvement?
5. The importance of the sequences with the children? The introduction to the three brothers and their orphan status, the contrast with Gussie and with. Isabel? Aunt Pat and her looking after them and the sequence with the visit of the Major from the Foreign Legion? The noble games, the battleships, the bullet and Beau's expecting it? The Viking funeral? The other games e.g. King Arthur and Beaus being in the armour and the irony of all that was to follow? How well did the childhood games indicate what was to follow in the lives of these three brothers?
6. The fifteen years transition and the showing of the boys still playing games, the threat to the mouse etc.? Gussle and his cigars? Isabel and her love for John? The dramatic stealing of the jewel, the turning out of the lights? The various notes as the boys went away to the Legion? John's farewell to Isabel?
7. The mystique of the Foreign Legion in the early 20th century, the place where everybody went to avoid detection, to hide themselves? The role of the Legion in Africa? The superior attitude of the French? The job to be done, the morale, the sense of honour? How well was this portrayed in the scene of John's arrival, the comments of Markoff.. the training sequences?
8. The focus on the three brothers and their camaraderie in the Legion, training, the outing together, the discussions about the jewel, Markoff and his vindictiveness, the fights, the thieves, the discipline?
9. How well did Brian Donlevy portray the sadistic Markoff? Credibly? His ambitions, his discipline, harshness? His enjoyment of the Captain's and his taking over? The mutiny and his control of it? His greed for the jewel?
10. The right timing of the Tuareg attack? The battle and Markoff's excellent soldiery, the putting up of the dead men against the ramparts? The men he sent to the tower, the trumpeter? The confrontation and his death? The pathos of Beau's death, his saving John? Markoff's death?
11. The repetition of the mystery, the Major and his getting the letter, the disappearance of John and Digby, their diversionary tactics and Digby's death as the bugler?
12. The emphasis on nobility, loyalty, valour and gestures? How was this repeated with John's return home, Isabel's receiving him, Aunt Pat and her final words (theatrical but highlighting the tone of the film)?
13. The contemporary fairy tale, good and evil, right and wrong, virtues, nobility, valour, heroism?
