jovana-13676 What I like about this film is its uneven pacing in terms of character introduction, as well as the genre. It opens with a fortress full of dead soldiers (what a sight!), continues with idyllic childhood scenes that look like out of The Chronicles of Narnia, then there's a hint of screwball and we're back to the fortress. I must admit for the first 45 minutes I was trying to decide which one is more handsome: Gary Cooper or Ray Milland, but then I gave up and perhaps coincidentally the drama became more compelling. It's a film about heroism without superheroes and a good reminder that heroes do exist on this planet and they happen to be soldiers who kill other soldiers, not otherworldly creatures. So I'll stick with Classic Hollywood since I want to see films for grown-ups.

tputter 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.

MartinHafer It is an amazing testament to the power of the 1939 offerings from Hollywood that a film as superb as "Beau Geste" could not be considered one of the very top offerings of the year! But, with films like "Gone With the Wind", "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" you can perhaps understand why. It was a very, very tough year to get noticed and if I named all the great films of this year, I'd have quite a few more to add! This tale begins in a wealthy home where three brothers are inseparable and lovers of adventure. However, when they are older, a crisis strikes when it appears that one of them has stolen an incredibly valuable jewel that belongs to the family. In reaction to this, each of the three runs off to join the Foreign Legion--hoping that they can take blame for the theft and allow the others to preserve their honor. However, it turns out all three have joined separately and just happen to be stationed in the same place (yes, I know this is practically impossible). They don't realize, however, that the Legion is not all it's cracked up to be--thanks to a sadistic Sergeant who takes pleasure in making his troops miserable and on the verge of mutiny. In the end, you learn the secret--one which one of the brothers kept from everyone until after his death.This movie has it all--a great cast (with Gary Cooper, Ray Milland and Robert Preston), a wonderful script and a great desert location shoot. I would say that it's a bit better than another great and similar adventure tale, "Gunga Din"--also from 1939!! And, just for fun, here are a few other films from this amazing year: "The Wizard of Oz", "Stagecoach", "Midnight", "Ninotchka" and "The Women"! By the way, when you watch this film, note the chubby guy with a beard and pipe when he dies. The sadistic Sergeant (Brian Donlevy--in his best role of his career) props the dead guy up to make it look like he's alive. Look closely--he's obviously breathing! Also, a moment later in a scene that is NOT a mistake, watch as one of the dying guy goes into spasms. This is pretty cool--something you don't see in films very often.

GManfred I have seen this Old Chestnut, as they refer to old entertainment, several times. This is a terrific picture that gets better with the passage of time - mainly because it's a great movie and also because they don't make 'em like this anymore.Whatever happened to Hollywood? Can't they make a picture for adults anymore? I don't mean X types, I mean with a plot for grownups. The plot of 'Beau Geste' has been synopsized by many reviewers and needs no further rehash, but it is a classic example of "escapist entertainment" prevalent in the late 30's in which you can put your mind in neutral and just go with the storyline, however illogical. It works here. The three leads, Cooper, Milland and Preston, play off each other extremely well, and the part of Markoff had to have been Brian Donlevy's best role - never cared for him very much.I never took a film course - I just know what I like, as Justice Stewart once said. I know what movies are good...and the thief of the Blue Water is beside the point.