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Beau Geste Overview:

Beau Geste (1939) was a Action - Adventure Film directed by William A. Wellman and produced by William A. Wellman.

The film was based on the novel of the same name written by P. C. Wren published in 1924.

SYNOPSIS

An oft-remade adventure tale tells the story of three brothers who "confess" to stealing a rare gem in order to save the female culprit. The brothers in arms battle the elements and their enemies to live long enough to clear the family name. The haunting opening sequence is one of the most famous in film.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Academy Awards 1939 --- Ceremony Number 12 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Supporting ActorBrian DonlevyNominated
Best Art DirectionHans Dreier, Robert OdellNominated
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Beau Geste BlogHub Articles:

Watching 1939: Beau Geste (1939)

on Apr 30, 2020 From Comet Over Hollywood

In 2011, I announced I was trying to see every film released in 1939. This new series chronicles films released in 1939 as I watch them. As we start out this blog feature, this section may become more concrete as I search for a common thread that runs throughout each film of the year. Right now, th... Read full article

Beau Geste (1939): Brotherly Love in The French Legion

By 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 19, 2019 From 4 Star Films

“The love of a man for a woman waxes and wanes 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 No matter what Joseph Von Sternberg thought of such a proclamation, we can concede his Morrocco w... Read full article

THE GREAT VILLAIN BLOGATHON: Brian Donlevy as Sergeant Markoff, Beau Geste (1939)

on May 24, 2019 From Caftan Woman

Karen of Shadows and Satin, Kristina of Speakeasy and Ruth of Silver Screenings are hosting The Great Villain Blogathon for 2019. Look for all the baddies on May 24th to the 26th. P.C. Wren's 1924 adventure novel Beau Geste is a touchstone in the genre, giving us the most honourable and lik... Read full article

Beau Geste ( 1926 )

By The Metzinger Sisters on Oct 28, 2015 From Silver Scenes - A Blog for Classic Film Lovers

In 1926 Percival Christopher Wren's best-selling novel "Beau Geste" was brought to the screen in a thrilling silent adaptation by John Russell and Herbert Brenon. It was a film that inspired director William Wellman and launched numerous remakes ( including Wellman's 1939 version of Beau Geste ). ... Read full article

Beau Geste ( 1926 )

By The Metzinger Sisters on Oct 28, 2015 From Silver Scenes - A Blog for Classic Film Lovers

In 1926 Percival Christopher Wren's best-selling novel "Beau Geste" was brought to the screen in a thrilling silent adaptation by John Russell and Herbert Brenon. It was a film that inspired director William Wellman and launched numerous remakes ( including Wellman's own 1939 version of Beau Geste )... Read full article

See More Beau Geste Articles

Beau Geste Quotes:

[Schwartz is shouting at the legionnaires to mutiny against Markoff]
Michael 'Beau' Geste: Wait a minute. I don't know much about mutinies, but I do know it isn't good form to plan them at the top of your voice.
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.
Markoff: That's very unfortunate... for you.
Markoff: I am Sergeant Markoff. I make soldiers out of scum like you, and I don't do it gently. You're the sloppiest looking lot I've ever seen. It's up to me to prevent you from becoming a disgrace to the Regiment. And I will prevent that if I have to kill half of you with work. But the half that lives will be soldiers. I promise you!
John Geste: Charming fellow, our sergeant.
Michael 'Beau' Geste: A trifle uncouth, but the best soldier we'll ever see.

[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?
See More Quotes from Beau Geste
Beau Geste Facts
One of over 700 Paramount productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since.
Film was honored on one of four 25¢ US commemorative postage stamps issued 23 March 1990 honoring classic films released in 1939. The stamp featured Gary Cooper as Beau Geste. The other films honored were Stagecoach, The Wizard of Oz, and Gone with the Wind.
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.
This remake of the 1926 film (Beau Geste) was shot on the same sets at the same locations in Yuma, AZ, as the original.
Charles Barton, who has a small part as Buddy McMonigal, was at the time an assistant director at Paramount, having started his career as an actor. He had had a bad experience working as an A.D. to Paramount's top director, Cecil B. DeMille, on Union Pacific and refused to work with him again when he was assigned to. Paramount "demoted" him to a bit actor on this picture as punishment. Barton soon left Paramount for Columbia where he was made a director, and never worked for Paramount again.
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