Just perfect...

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

The story had such good potential, but the talents of the leading actors were simply wasted. Future Academy Award winners, Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, Robert Preston, and Susan Hayward, unfortunately, were given scripts that were totally amateurish and wooden.By strange irony, however, Brian Donley is brilliant as the sadistic sergeant Markov. Blessed by a powerful script, Donley gives one of the finest best supporting roles in Hollywood history. Whenever I watch this movie, I often just fast forward to the scenes featuring Sgt. Markov ... so deliciously evil with his cocked eye and imposing demeanor.

How, in the middle of a desert, did they find stone to build the fort? Or to build the oasis walls? Why are they dressed in such heavy uniforms in the desert? The only one I ever saw sweating was a few beads of sweat on Markov while he was setting up the dead soldiers on the battlements. The Tuaregs (the enemy) are portrayed like they used to portray "Indians" in cowboy movies, completely anonymously and as "bad guys". Ignores the fact that the French Legion had no business being in North Africa at the time other than as an imperialist power. Why would Digby stand straight up in full view of the enemy and blow his bugle? Did he have a death wish? Why would Markov have tolerated his little sycophant (played by J. Carroll Naish) since he was a completely untrained soldier and coward? Contradicted everything Markov stood for. It took place in England, but none of the brothers had English accents (though the young Donald O'Connor tried to produce one)? Susan Hayward was totally wasted with only a few lines and just there to look pretty. If she was raised as a sister to the brothers, it makes no sense that one would have been in love with her since childhood.Just too many holes making this movie awfully dated. The only decent acting was done by Brian Donlevy (Markov).

I absolutely loved this, quite literally, "Boy's Own" adventure of three brothers' lifelong devotion and appetite for adventure. I liked so much about it and also found it well constructed with its clever play on "circular time" where the mystery of the apparently lifeless fort at the beginning is cleverly cleared up and the touching "Viking funeral" afforded Beau by his grieving brother and the neat way the secret of the missing diamond was resolved too.In between, there was strong characterisation (although I was disappointed not to see a re-appearance by the boys' childhood pet hate, Gussie, before the end) some good action scenes and fine cinematography in recreating the vastness of the desert and the wretched conditions the Legionnaires had to endure. I may be seeing something that wasn't there but with the death of Digby, I was strongly reminded of the famous and then recent picture by Robert Capa of the death of a soldier in the Spanish Civil War.Best of all though, was the marvellous acting, not just Cooper in one of his archetypal strong silent types, with a hint of gaucheness, naturally, but also Preston and Milland as his gallant, supportive brothers and especially Brian Dunlevy as the sadistic Sergeant Markoff.1939 in hindsight has been considered an "annus mirabilis" for Hollywood productions, with so many wonderful films turned out that year from "Gone With The Wind" on down. "Beau Geste" seems to me to be among the best of the very best and as good an adventure film as you could hope to see.

Gary Cooper, Ray Milland and Robert Preston are brothers who run off and join the foreign legion in order to preserve the honor of the family name in this classic romantic adventure. P.C. Wren's novel about honor, courage and Viking funerals gets its best treatment (there have been three)under the knowledgeable direction of William Wellman the performances of the the leads and an effective supporting cast.After a family scandal involving a stolen gem surfaces the brothers Geste make themselves scarce by entering the French Foreign Legion. Two of the brothers end up at Fort Zinderneuf, a besieged desert outpost run by a martinet sergeant. When the third brother arrives the rumor that one holds the precious gem gets back to Sgt.Markoff who makes plans to extract it from them. Meanwhile inside the walls he sadistically drives his men while marauding Arab Taurogs pose a huge threat outside the walls. The troops mutiny but must quickly turn to defending Zinderneuf when the Taurogs lay siege to Zinderneuf.With two plots driving the story Beau Geste moves along at a steady suspenseful pace after it's rather slow nebulous opening that nevertheless sets the stage for the rousing action and drama ahead. As the title character Gary Cooper might be a tad old to play the youthful idealist but he makes up for it in nobility and courage while remaining stoically conflicted by what Markoff is and represents. Brian Donlevy's Markoff is one of film history's great villains. Both corrupt and courageous he may lust after the gem but it is tenacity and leadership that saves the fort from being overrun. J.Carrol Naish as the craven Rasinoff also registers in a supporting role.The Fort Zinderneuf setting amid the blowing dunes of the desert makes for a dramatic atmosphere that Wellman and his cameraman utilize to full effect. Alfred Newman also adds accent to the dessert's mood and mystery with a score that partners perfectly to the isolation as well as the action and bonding of the brothers.Nearly half a century ago as a child I was mesmerized by this film. While that may no longer be the case, it still stands on its own as an excellent adventure film that can be enjoyed by children of all ages.