THE LAST REMAKE OF BEAU GESTE

US, 1977, 85 minutes, Colour.
Ann- Margret, Marty Feldman, Michael York, Peter Ustinov, Trevor Howard, Terry Thomas, Henry Gibson, Roy Kinnear, Sinead Cusack, James Earl Jones, Spike Milligan, Irene Handl, Hugh Griffith.
Directed by Marty Feldman.

Beau Geste was a Boys' Own classic and Ronald Colman and Gary Cooper (ingeniously worked into this remake) led rousing Hollywood classic adventure films. With Marty Feldman as Digby and Michael York as his identical (!) twin, this comedy owes much to Pythonesque TV, Mel Brooks' and Gene Wilder's similar parodies and traditions of British humour (plus some skits on The Desert Song). Feldman, eyes askew, and York, teeth asparkle, carry it well with Peter Ustinov’s Teutonic
martinet (with wardrobe of artificial scars and legs) adding laughs. Much is funny, much is silly, bits are crude. Henry Gibson is very good, also the starry British cast. A matter of comic taste.

1. Audience expectations from the title? From Beau Geste as a novel, its popularity in the 20th century? The tradition of film versions with Ronald Colman, Gary Cooper? The aura of Beau Geste and popular conceptions of the Foreign Legion? Indications from the title of parody, Marty Feldman as director, writer and actor? The traditions of British comedy and the cast? How well were expectations fulfilled?

2. How enjoyable was the basic idea of the parody of Beau Geste? Did the execution fit in with the basic idea? The skill, wit, flavour? Or not? The point of making such a parody? Why should film-makers in the 70s mock the romantic and more serious styles of earlier films?

3. The contribution of the stars and their varying styles? The tradition of British television, British comedy? How important were the various parodies of film cliches e.g. the passing of time with the calendar, the insertion of television advertisement , the circles and fadeouts and dissolves for the passing of time etc.? Why do audiences enjoy such parodies of old cinema styles? The paralleling of the film with the original film versions and the novel? How much was derived in plot and characters and atmosphere from the original? The influence of the Desert Song and the American agent disguised the humour of the Negro variation, the very clipped and proper accent of the Negro American agent? How much was derived from British comedy e.g. Terry Thomas, Trevor Howard etc.?

4. How much did the film rely on sight gaze e.g. the initial credits and the opening sequences? The visual presentation of the Foreign Legion e.g. the commander and his scars, the horse with the tin leg? How much wit was there in the film? How much verbal wit? The incorporating of Gary Cooper sequences within the film? The amount of crudity and its acceptability?

5. The contribution of Marty Feldman, his presence throughout the film, his presence during the credits, his narrative? The role of Digby Geste and the humour of the mock hero in comparison with Beau? His being heroic at the end? The continued parallel of the twins? Marty Feldman's appearance, particular style of comedy and its contribution?

6. Flash-back technique and the British satire: the pompous Sir Hector and the birth of his child and his disdain for his wife? His very British attitudes - his appearance, sceptre and crown? His involvement in the war from Sudan? The satire on the British empire?

7. The nod in the direction of Oliver Twist and the savage orphanage? The proprietor and her easy cell? The humour of Sir Hector on the lift from window to door etc.? The British children bashing each other, their squalor and dirt? Beau and his halo? Digby and his ugliness? The choice of Sir Hector and its humour?

8. The twins growing up with all the privilege of English class? The humour about their being identical twins? The sparkle on Beau's teeth? The bonds between the two? Their training with Beau in command and Digby the subject? Codes of honour? Heroism? The pleas for Beau's Viking funeral etc.? The romantic presence of their sister?

9. The importance of Flavia and her take-over? Ann Margret's glamorous and sensual style? Her influence on Sir Hector, on the boys, on their sister? Her redecoration of the house? The jewel and its disappearance (the farce of the disappearing objects and clothes?) Their father alive and dying? The retainer and his continued presence?

10. The disappearance of the jewel and Digby's assumption of guilt? The humour of the court sequence conducted like an auction? The sentence and its enormity? The experience of prison and so many in solitary? The silent film style for his escape skit? What did these contribute to the humour?

11. In the meantime the sequence of Flavia and the Governor, Terry Thomas' style? Their following Digby to the desert-and the Foreign Legion?

12. How humorously was the Foreign Legion presented? The bawdy song during the credits, their falling into the hole at the end of the credits? The atmosphere and work of the Foreign Legion? The various types, the inspection with the Chinese singing Irish songs, the blind man etc.? Beau's standing out within this group? The dining room sequence, their singing, their participation in the war - heroism and cowardice? (and the break for the TV commercial?).

13. The satire with the French General in Henry Gibson's style? The little man, his assistant? His betraying his own troops? His involvement with Flavia?

14. The stern Teutonic commander and Peter Ustinov's humour? His legs, his scars? His assistant and his being pushed around? The satire in the villain commander of the Legion? Calculating, his participation in the battles? His greed for a diamond?

15. The encounter with Flavia and Beau? The subtle suggestion of illicit love affair and the romantic hero and heroine? The happy ending with them on the beach on the Riviera?

16. The Arab leader and his leading the troops in battle? The irony of his identity, his very clipped accent and his betrayal?

17. The battle sequences and their parody of adventure films? The humour of the TV commercial and the selling of second-hand camels? The reporting of the battle? The fights, the fort, the sieges? The dead men manning the fort?

18. How irreverent was the insertion of Gary Cooper material from the earlier film? Marty Feldman and Gary Cooper conversing? Cooper as the guest star?

19. The finale with the medals being awarded and the satire on bravery and military honour?

20. The happy ending with the two pairs and the two twins being interlocked? An appropriate happy ending for this kind of parody satire?