Beau Geste

Dir: William A. Wellman

1939

*****

If you are a fan of adventure, swash and buckle, then look no further. Although made in 1939, I’ve always felt there was something remarkably timeless about William A. Wellman’s Beau Geste. Based on the 1924 novel by P.C. Wren and adapted by Robert Carson, the film follows three brothers as they join the French Foreign Legion. Indeed, the only thing that dates the film is the desire to sign up for such a thing but the idea of adventure is something that almost everyone can relate to. The performances are wonderful and the adventure is thrilling. In this respect it as good as the other great films of the era. For me though, what makes it greater is the ongoing mystery at the heart of the story and the structure of it’s time-frame. People praise Quentin Tarantino for the use of nonlinear timelines within his films but Beau Geste did it best twenty-four years before he was even born (and fifty-three years before Reservoir Dogs). The film begins as a group of French Foreign Legionnaires approach an isolated fort in the desert. The suspense is instant and intense). The French flag is flying, but a closer inspection reveals only dead men propped up behind the parapets with guns in their hands to give the illusion they’re ready in case of attack. However a single shot is fired from inside, and the bugler volunteers to scale the wall to investigate. After waiting a while, the commander then follows. He finds two bodies that are not staged like the rest and a note on one confessing to the theft of a valuable sapphire called the "Blue Water". After the officer rejoins his men outside, the fort goes up in flames and the bugler is nowhere to be found. Fifteen years earlier, Lady Brandon (Heather Thatcher), wife of absent spendthrift Sir Hector Brandon, takes care of the three adopted Geste brothers, "Beau" (Gary Cooper), Digby (Robert Preston) and John (Ray Milland); her ward Isobel Rivers (Susan Hayward); and heir Augustus Brandon. Years pass, and the children become young adults. They learn that Sir Hector intends to sell the "Blue Water", leaving nothing of value for Lady Brandon. At Beau's request, the gem is brought out for one last look when suddenly the lights go out and it is stolen. All present proclaim their innocence, but first Beau and then Digby depart without warning, each leaving a confession that he committed the robbery. John reluctantly parts from his beloved Isobel and goes after his brothers. John discovers that they have joined the French Foreign Legion, so he enlists as well. They are trained by the sadistic Sergeant Markoff (Brian Donlevy). Legionnaire Rasinoff (J. Carrol Naish) overhears joking remarks by the Geste brothers, leading him and Markoff to believe that Beau has the gem. Markoff separates the brothers. Beau and John are assigned to a detachment sent to man isolated Fort Zinderneuf. When Lieutenant Martin dies from a fever, Markoff assumes command. Fearing the sergeant's now-unchecked brutality, Schwartz (Albert Dekker) incites the other men to mutiny the next morning; only Beau, John, and Maris (Stanley Andrews) refuse to take part. However, Markoff is tipped off by Voisin (Harold Huber) and disarms the would-be mutineers while they are sleeping. The next morning, Markoff orders Beau and John to execute the ringleaders, but they refuse. Before Markoff can react, the fort is attacked by Arabs, forcing him to rearm his men. The initial assault is beaten off, but each new attack takes its toll. Markoff props up the corpses at their posts to deceive the enemy. The final assault is repulsed, but Beau is shot, leaving Markoff and John the only men left standing. Markoff sends John to get bread and wine. He then searches Beau and finds a small pouch and two letters. When John sees what Markoff has done, he draws his bayonet, giving Markoff the excuse to shoot the only witness to his theft. However, Beau is not yet dead and manages to spoil Markoff's aim, allowing John to stab him. John and Beau hear a bugle announcing the arrival of reinforcements, Digby among them. Beau dies in his brother's arms after telling him to take one of the letters to Lady Brandon and leave the other, a confession of the robbery, in Markoff's hand. John escapes unseen. Digby, the bugler seen in the opening scene, volunteers to find out why there is no response from the fort. He discovers Beau's body and, remembering his childhood wish, gives him a Viking funeral. He places Beau on a cot, with a "dog" (Markoff) at his feet, and sets fire to the barracks. Then he too deserts. He finds John outside the fort. Later, they encounter two American Legionnaire friends (Broderick Crawford and Charles Barton) and begin the long journey home. Desperate for water, they find an oasis, but it is occupied by Arabs. Digby tricks them into fleeing by sounding a bugle to signal a charge by non-existent Legionnaires, but is killed by a parting shot. John returns home. Lady Brandon reads aloud Beau's letter, which reveals that he stole the gem because he knew it was a fake. Lady Brandon had sold the real one years before, and Beau wanted to protect her. As a child, he was hiding in a suit of armor and witnessed the transaction as seen in an earlier scene. The big mystery is finally answered and John settled down with Isobel. Gary Cooper is perfect in the lead role, even though he was a little too old for his character. Robert Preston was great also as Digby Geste but I thought Ray Milland was miles ahead in his acting abilities. However, it is Brian Donlevy who steals the show as the infamous Sergeant Markoff. The scene where the few remaining solders left in the fort are forced by Markoff to laugh at their enemy has to be one of the greatest moments in cinema history. It has everything anyone could want from a movie-going experience. It doesn’t feel right watching it on a television screen, no matter how big it is. Everything about the film is epic, from the big visuals to the dramatic score. It might just be the perfect film.