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Beau Geste

  • 19391939
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
6.1K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
574
10,465
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Gary Cooper in Beau Geste (1939)
Three adopted English brothers join the French Foreign Legion in North Africa after one of them steals their adoptive family's famous heirloom sapphire.
Play trailer1:29
1 Video
36 Photos
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Drama

Three adopted English brothers join the French Foreign Legion in North Africa after one of them steals their adoptive family's famous heirloom sapphire.Three adopted English brothers join the French Foreign Legion in North Africa after one of them steals their adoptive family's famous heirloom sapphire.Three adopted English brothers join the French Foreign Legion in North Africa after one of them steals their adoptive family's famous heirloom sapphire.

IMDb RATING
7.6/10
6.1K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
574
10,465
  • Director
    • William A. Wellman
  • Writers
    • Robert Carson(screen play)
    • Percival Christopher Wren(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Gary Cooper
    • Ray Milland
    • Robert Preston
Top credits
  • Director
    • William A. Wellman
  • Writers
    • Robert Carson(screen play)
    • Percival Christopher Wren(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Gary Cooper
    • Ray Milland
    • Robert Preston
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 65User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
    • 69Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:29
    Trailer

    Photos36

    Gary Cooper, G.P. Huntley, Robert Preston, and Heather Thatcher in Beau Geste (1939)
    Beau Geste (1939)
    Gary Cooper in Beau Geste (1939)
    Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, and Robert Preston in Beau Geste (1939)
    Beau Geste (1939)
    Gary Cooper in Beau Geste (1939)
    Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, and Robert Preston in Beau Geste (1939)
    Gary Cooper in Beau Geste (1939)
    Henry Brandon in Beau Geste (1939)
    Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, and Stanley Andrews in Beau Geste (1939)
    Gary Cooper in Beau Geste (1939)
    Gary Cooper and Brian Donlevy in Beau Geste (1939)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gary Cooper
    Gary Cooper
    • Beau Gesteas Beau Geste
    Ray Milland
    Ray Milland
    • John Gesteas John Geste
    Robert Preston
    Robert Preston
    • Digby Gesteas Digby Geste
    Brian Donlevy
    Brian Donlevy
    • Sergeant Markoffas Sergeant Markoff
    Susan Hayward
    Susan Hayward
    • Isobel Riversas Isobel Rivers
    J. Carrol Naish
    J. Carrol Naish
    • Rasinoffas Rasinoff
    Albert Dekker
    Albert Dekker
    • Schwartzas Schwartz
    Broderick Crawford
    Broderick Crawford
    • Hank Milleras Hank Miller
    Charles Barton
    Charles Barton
    • Buddy McMonigalas Buddy McMonigal
    James Stephenson
    James Stephenson
    • Major Henri de Beaujolaisas Major Henri de Beaujolais
    Heather Thatcher
    Heather Thatcher
    • Lady Patricia Brandonas Lady Patricia Brandon
    James Burke
    James Burke
    • Lieutenant Dufouras Lieutenant Dufour
    G.P. Huntley
    • Augustus Brandonas Augustus Brandon
    • (as George P. Huntley)
    Harold Huber
    Harold Huber
    • Voisinas Voisin
    Donald O'Connor
    Donald O'Connor
    • Beau Geste (as a child)as Beau Geste (as a child)
    Billy Cook
    Billy Cook
    • John Geste (as a child)as John Geste (as a child)
    Martin Spellman
    Martin Spellman
    • Digby Geste (as a child)as Digby Geste (as a child)
    Ann Gillis
    Ann Gillis
    • Isobel Rivers (as a child)as Isobel Rivers (as a child)
    • Director
      • William A. Wellman
    • Writers
      • Robert Carson(screen play)
      • Percival Christopher Wren(based on the novel by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Beau, John, and Digby Geste are three inseparable, adventurous brothers who have been adopted into the wealthy household of Lady Brandon. When money in the upper-crust 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 last 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 his sweetheart Isobel. They all join the Foreign Legion and Beau and Digby are split from John and put under the command of the ruthless, sadistic Sergeant Markoff. Things get hairy as the rest of the Legionnaires plot a mutiny against Markoff the midst of an attack by Arab hordes. —Sam Hayes <gshayes@mail.gwi.net>
    • desertion
    • muslim
    • arab
    • arab scout
    • rebellion
    • 52 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • THUNDERING DRAMA! (original ad - all caps)
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Adventure
      • Drama
      • War
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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.
    • Goofs
      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

      [last lines]

      [after she reads the letter Beau had written to explain what happened to the jewel - he has signed the letter with his name - she reads...]

      Lady Patricia Brandon: "Beau Geste"

      Lady Patricia Brandon: [to John] Beau Geste... gallant gesture. We didn't name him wrong, did we?

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits prologue: "The love of a man for a woman wanes and waxes like the moon . . . but the love of brother for brother is steadfast as the stars, and endures like the word of the prophet."

      . . . Arabian Proverb.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977)
    • Soundtracks
      The Legionnaire's Song
      (uncredited)

      Music by Troy Sanders

      Lyrics by Frank Loesser

    User reviews65

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A Rousing adventure when Hollywood knew how...
    This fine film wears exceedingly well more than 60 years after it was made. The story of a jewel with a haunted past, a trio of gallant brothers, a beautiful girl and the French foreign Legion make for for a mighty entertaining diversion. Brian Donleavy's riveting Oscar performance, as brutal Sargent Markoff, alone is worth the price of admission. Excellent acting all around From Gary Cooper's Beau Geste, his two stalwart 'brothers' played by Ray Milland and Robert Preston to that of J. carrol Naish as the 'human hyena' Rassinoff and Albert Dekker plays a menacingly mutinous legionaire. A great story of love and loyalty set in a rousing adventure film. A must see.
    helpful•33
    5
    • d1494
    • Mar 28, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 24, 1939 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Arabic
    • Also known as
      • Legija smrti
    • Filming locations
      • Yuma, Arizona, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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