IMDb > Beau Geste (1939)
Beau Geste
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Beau Geste (1939) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   2,005 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 12% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Contact:
View company contact information for Beau Geste on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
15 September 1939 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
AGAIN...the three Gestes face a thousand dangers of the Sahara for each other...and love! more
Plot:
Beau, John, and Digby Geste are three inseparable, adventurous brothers who haven been adopted into the wealthy household of Lady Brandon... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. more
NewsDesk:
(8 articles)
User Comments:
Viewers Are Welcomed To Fort Zinderneuf more (28 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Gary Cooper ... Michael 'Beau' Geste

Ray Milland ... John Geste
Robert Preston ... Digby Geste

Brian Donlevy ... Sgt. Markoff

Susan Hayward ... Isobel Rivers
J. Carrol Naish ... Rasinoff
Albert Dekker ... Legionnaire Schwartz

Broderick Crawford ... Hank Miller
Charles Barton ... Buddy McMonigal
James Stephenson ... Maj. Henri de Beaujolais
Heather Thatcher ... Lady Patricia Brandon
James Burke ... Lt. Dufour
G.P. Huntley ... Augustus Brandon (as George P. Huntley)
Harold Huber ... Legionnaire Voisin

Donald O'Connor ... Beau at age 12
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
112 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)
Certification:

Fun Stuff

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. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: 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. more
Quotes:
Markoff: The jewel you stole. I want it.
Michael 'Beau' Geste: I have no jewel.
Markoff: I know you have.
Michael 'Beau' Geste: I haven't.
Markoff: Are you sure?
Michael 'Beau' Geste: Quite sure.
Markoff: I advise you to change your mind. Otherwise, when this is over, I may have to shoot you to make sure.
Michael 'Beau' Geste: I understand, Sergeant.
Markoff: You mean you'd rather not hand it over now and save your life?
Michael 'Beau' Geste: No, Sergeant.
[...]
more
Movie Connections:

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
6 out of 7 people found the following comment useful.
Viewers Are Welcomed To Fort Zinderneuf, 6 September 2000
10/10
Author: Ron Oliver (revilorest@juno.com) from Forest Ranch, CA

A magnificent blue sapphire is stolen from the English estate of Brandon Abbas. BEAU GESTE and his two younger brothers are all suspected of the crime. To save their family from dishonor, they each make their way to join the French Foreign Legion. In the emptiness of North Africa, supported only by their love for each other, they will encounter pure evil...

Not only a wonderful adventure story, BEAU GESTE is also a morality tale on the true meaning of courage, the loyalty of brother for brother, and the responsibilities of virtue when confronted by absolute evil. Examined this way, the film can be enjoyed by the thoughtful viewer on many levels.

In the title role, Gary Cooper is excellent, exuding quiet strength & righteousness. Robert Preston & Ray Milland, as his younger brothers, give top-notch support. Here is a band of brothers to be reckoned with.

But it is the villains who really steal the show. Brian Donlevy is unforgettable as Sergeant Markoff, a sadist from the lowest depths of hell. To watch him drive the defense of his outpost, using the living & the dead, is to see a man driven mad by the evil chewing away at his very soul.

J. Carrol Naish is equally memorable as Rasinoff the rat. A little man used to lies & thievery, he becomes the natural toady for Markoff. When his fear finally drives him insane atop the watch tower, and he begins to cackle like a beast, it is a horrible sound to hear.

Broderick Crawford appears as a cowboy turned legionnaire. Albert Dekker is formidable as a mutinous soldier. Adolescent Donald O'Connor plays young Beau.

Director William Wellman gave the film fine atmospherics. Who can forget, in the very first sequence, the quiet ride up to eerie Fort Zinderneuf, manned by its unblinking sentries? The flashback scenes are rather tedious, but when the plot returns to the desert, there's adventure enough for the most jaded viewer.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (28 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Beau Geste (1939)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Markoff was the real hero hvypetals
Tom Saywer Connection leroykevin
Mouse was wired Avalon123
DVD? dcheney
why take the gem? jwright911
Other recommendations?? scmcclain
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Beau Geste Beau Geste Capitaine Conan Under Two Flags Beau Ideal
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Action section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.