looks at a multi-period building.
The 1939 remake of Beau Geste almost never happened. While the 1926 silent version had been a hit for its time, the 1931 sequel (Beau Ideal) had been a tremendous flop. So there was concern about trying a remake in 1939.
The movie closely follows both the novel and the previous film, while again condensing the action and eliminating some minor characters.
The plot begins with a relief force arriving at Fort Zinderneuf, only to find the attacking Arabs gone, and the fort manned by silent defenders – silent because they are dead, but propped up along the parapets with weapons ready! The commandant of the fort has been slain with a bayonet… but then the body disappears… and then Fort Zinderneuf burns down!
Flashback to fifteen years before. Lady Patricia of Brandon Abbas takes care of her niece, Isobel, the heir, insufferable Gussie, and three orphaned brothers: Michael 'Beau' Geste, his twin Digby Geste, and younger John Geste. After staging a mock naval battle in the pond, followed by a 'Viking funeral', Michael is hiding behind a suit of armor when he accidentally learns a secret.
Flash forward. Lady Patricia has received word that her long-absent husband is returning, and he plans to sell his treasure, the Blue Waters sapphire. The gem is produced for Lady Patricia and her friends to admire… but the lights go out, and the gem is missing when the lights come on again!
Shortly after, Isobel catches John Geste leaving the home. He shows her letters from Beau and Digby, each claiming to have stolen the gem, and says he too must go into exile.
John travels to France and enlists in the Foreign Legion, only to find his brothers already there! The brothers befriend two Americans, Hank and Buddy. A treacherous Russian, Rasinoff, eavesdrops on them and concludes they are jewel thieves with a valuable gem. Rasinoff is caught trying to steal the gem, and is forced to confess to Markoff, a power-mad Russian sergeant, who then schemes to get the gem for himself. Soon, John finds himself stationed at remote Fort Zinderneuf in the Sahara. Will Markoff steal the gem? Will the Arabs attack? Will the cafard drive everyone crazy? Will the men mutiny against cruel Markoff? And what about the missing saphire?
Gary Cooper shines as Beau Geste, the oldest brother who can't even kill a mouse. Robert Preston (The Music Man) is dashing as Digby Geste, and Ray Milland (Dial M For Murder) charmingly plays John Geste. Love interest Isobel is played by Susan Hayward. J. Carrol Naish plays Rasinoff as a weasel. Brian Donlevy is domineering as Markoff. Broderick Crawford is recognizable in a minor role as the American Hank.
This is a classic Hollywood movie, with good camerawork and a grand soundtrack. Minimal use is made of 'blood' to indicate wounds. Most of the Arabs ride horses rather than camels.
One has to wonder at the odd decision to cast Gary Cooper and Robert Preston as young English gentlemen. Cooper was nearly 20 years older than the actors playing his brothers, as well as the character from the novel. Gary Cooper's Beau is quite unlike the martial character from the novel who wants a Viking funeral, but is instead rewritten as a soft-hearted man just trying to do a good deed.
Brian Donlevy makes no attempt to sound Russian, and the French characters have American or British accents. J. Carrol Naish plays Rasinoff as a strange fellow who seems most unlikely to be in the Foreign Legion, but he can do the hyena laugh!
Despite the flaws, this movie is a pleasure to watch. Recommended.