Beau Geste (1939) | |
| Director(s) | William A. Wellman |
| Producer(s) | William A. Wellman |
| Top Genres | Action, Adventure, Drama, Film Adaptation, War |
| Top Topics | Book-Based, Brothers, Foreign Legion, Jewels |
Featured Cast:
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)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Supporting Actor | Brian Donlevy | Nominated |
| Best Art Direction | Hans Dreier, Robert Odell | Nominated |
BlogHub Articles:
BEAU GESTE (1926) On Blu-ray From Artcraft Pictures
By Dan Day, Jr. on Dec 13, 2025 From The Hitless Wonder Movie BlogThe most famous version of BEAU GESTE is the 1939 film starring Gary Cooper and directed by William Wellman. What most people don't know is that movie is a very close remake of a 1926 silent feature. I didn't really know anything about the original BEAU GESTE until I purchased this Blu-ray from Artc... Read full article
Watching 1939: Beau Geste (1939)
on Apr 30, 2020 From Comet Over HollywoodIn 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, tha... 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 WomanKaren 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 LoversIn 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
See all Beau Geste articles
Quotes from
Michael 'Beau' Geste: A trifle uncouth, but the best soldier we'll ever see.
Markoff: (to a dead soldier he props on the wall The rest of the bullets you stop won't hurt as much as that first one.
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!
read more quotes from Beau Geste...
Facts about
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.
Gary Cooper was not in the original Beau Geste, but he did appear both in this remake of it and in the sequel to it, Beau Sabreur. William A. Wellman declined the job of directing the latter film but did direct this one.
read more facts about Beau Geste...
