Overview
Three brothers embark on a perilous journey of honor and survival in the Foreign Legion.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- stirring
- heroic
- tense
- classic movie night
- adventure film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as stirring classic adventure cinema with strong performances and spectacle, though some found it overshadowed by the earlier 1926 adaptation.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The disappearance of the Blue Water sapphire triggers the brothers' confessions and enlistment in the Foreign Legion.
Beau, John, and Digby repeatedly risk their futures and safety for one another.
Foreign Legion drills, fort defenses, and attacks unfold against the expansive North African desert.
Sergeant Markoff uses humiliation, violence, and coercion to dominate the Legionnaires.
Films like Beau Geste, and why
The Lives of a Bengal Lancer
shared desert military adventure, brotherhood, and charismatic command conflict
The Legionnaire
shared Foreign Legion setting, colonial adventure atmosphere, and heroic military drama
Gunga Din
shared classic adventure spectacle, loyalty under pressure, and harsh desert setting
The Four Feathers
shared military camaraderie, authoritarian cruelty, and moral courage in a desert campaign
Movie Details
- Director
- William A. Wellman
- Release Date
- 1939-07-24
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (113)
Cast
- Gary Cooper
- Ray Milland
- Robert Preston
- Brian Donlevy
- Susan Hayward
- J. Carrol Naish
- Albert Dekker
- Broderick Crawford
- Charles Barton
- James Stephenson
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Beau Geste about?
- Three adopted brothers enter the Foreign Legion after a priceless sapphire disappears, confronting desert warfare and a sadistic sergeant while proving the limits of loyalty and courage.
- What is Beau Geste like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Beau Geste as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Beau Geste violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Beau Geste as moderate.
- What did critics think of Beau Geste?
- Critics broadly regard the film as stirring classic adventure cinema with strong performances and spectacle, though some found it overshadowed by the earlier 1926 adaptation.
- Which films are like Beau Geste?
- Films with a similar feel include The Lives of a Bengal Lancer, The Legionnaire, Gunga Din, and The Four Feathers.
- How long is Beau Geste?
- Beau Geste runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch Beau Geste?
- In United States, Beau Geste is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
