100 BEST WAR MOVIES #89. Beau Geste (1939)

 

This is the 1939 version of the oft-made action/adventure film. Obviously it is considered to be best version. It is based on the novel by Percival Christopher Wren. It was one of the first movies to link war and adventure. But in an entertaining twist, the book and film add a dash of mystery. It explores the themes of loyalty, duty, and honor. The movie was a big hit and helped launch the subgenre of the French Foreign Legion film. It is unique in that it features four actors that would subsequently win Oscars as Best Actors or Actresses (Cooper, Milland, Crawford, and Hayward). Interestingly, considering that line-up, the acting honors in “Beau Geste” go to Brian Donlevy as the sadistic Markoff.  He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

                 A preface tells us this will be a manly movie by quoting an Arab proverb: “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…” The opening scene is famous. A French Foreign Legion unit comes to Fort Zindernauf in the Algerian desert to find the ramparts manned by corpses. The bugler scales the wall, but then disappears. The Major enters the fort to find everyone dead and one clutching a note confessing to the theft of a precious jewel. Gunshots cause the unit to retire to a nearby oasis before the mystery can be solved.

                 We flash back fifteen years earlier. The Geste brothers are being raised in the upper class after being orphaned. Their benefactor is a Lady Brandon.  "Beau", Digby and John are fond of playing war and they are joined by her ward Isobel Rivers.  Also living in her mansion, besides the servants, is her heir Augustus Brandon.  Gussie is a stick in the mud who is constantly looking down his nose at the brothers.  He tattles on them and they torment him.

                  John (Ray Milland) is in love with Lady Brandon’s niece Isabel (Susan Hayward).  Beau and Digby are enjoying the lives of gentlemen bachelors.  Gussie is still a prig.  Word arrives that Lord Brandon (Lady Brandon’s spendthrift husband) is coming home to get the famed “Blue Water” sapphire to sell it. Beau asks Aunt Patricia for one last look at it and as they gather around, the lights suddenly go out and so does the sapphire. None of the boys will take responsibility, but the next morn, Beau is gone leaving a note confessing to it. Digby follows him into the French Foreign Legion. John lingers a bit, but the bonds of brotherhood overcome the bonds of love and he says farewell to Isabel to find them.

            The brothers are reunited in Algeria as part of the typically motley collection of men fleeing from their pasts.  Their unit is commanded by a dying officer who will soon cede command to his villainous Sgt. Madoff (Donlevy).  Madoff’s harsh rule has the unit discussing mutiny, but the crafty sergeant gets the jump on them.  Before he can exact his idea of justice, the fort is attacked by Arab warriors.  It’s an Alamo situation.  Eventually, we cycle back to the opening scene to find the answers to how all those corpses held the fort and who took the “Blue Water”.

ACTING:                      A

ACTION:                      C   3/5

ACCURACY:               N/A

PLOT:                           A

REALISM:                    N/A

CINEMATOGRAPY:  nothing special

SCORE:                        A

 

BEST SCENE:  defense of the fort

BEST QUOTE:  Beau:  “ 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.”

ACCURACY: The book and movie are not based on any historical events or people. Surprise! I did discover that the Tuareg were not noted for using rifles. That is one of the reasons the French overcame them – superior firepower. The French Foreign Legion is accurately depicted in its cosmopolitan nature. The FFL was created in 1831 to enlist foreign nationals. The intent was to remove troublemakers from French society. Anyone enlisting was taken no questions asked. The mission of the FFL was to protect and expand the French colonial empire, but the army saw action in most wars that France got involved in. It was stationed in Algeria and is most famous for its pacification campaigns there.

CRITIQUE: “Beau Geste” is old school entertainment. Check your intellect at the door, it will get in the way of your enjoyment of the film. Don’t think too much about the details after viewing, it might wipe the smile off your face and replace it with a look of perplexion. For instance, did all the legionnaires die with their eyes open or did Markoff pry them open before putting them on the ramparts? Who turned off the light so he could steal the jewel or did he just take advantage of a sudden power failure?

     The movie is very well acted. You would expect that from this cast. It especially works because the trio of Cooper, Preston, and Milland are adept at comedy. Their chemistry is apparent. It looks like the actors had fun making the movie. Donlevy is unintentionally funny in his over-the-top malevolence. His is a command performance. Get it?

     The key to making the movie a classic is the mystery that is integral to the plot. This makes it a rare war movie that doubles as a whodunit. The mystery is well done and the resolution will surprise most viewers. The structure of flash-backs and flash-forwards greatly enhances the mystery. The foreshadowing does not give away the mystery, but meshes nicely with the conclusion. The movie also has its suspenseful moments and fits well in the “who will survive?” subgenre.

      Fort Zindernauf is one of the most famous forts in cinematic history. It became the standard for desert forts. The film was nominated for Art Direction. The fort is a realistic setting for a French Foreign Legion movie. No frills. The scenes in the Brandon mansion give a taste of upper class British trappings. The dialogue is not as trite as in most 1930s movies.  There are a surprising number of humorous lines, some provided by two Americans who befriend the brothers.  And what rollicking music by Alfred Newman.  It is perfect for the film.  It sets the mood from start to finish.  From the ominous strains as the deserted fort is approached to the playful music that accompanies the boys’ antics. There is romantic to matchmake John and Isabel.  And the rousing sounds associated with a desperate defense.  Music that tends to overshadow the fact that the Arabs were defending their land from colonialism.

CONCLUSION:  As those who follow my blog probably know, I do not fawn over the “classics”. Just because it’s old does not make it good and in fact, an old black and white movie had better be damn good to make up for the lack of technology and the unrealistic effects (e.g., no bullet holes, no blood). This is one movie that transcends those disadvantages. Plot and acting can do that. But mainly, the movie deserves to be in the 100 Best because it is so much fun.