Movie Reviews by Edwin Jahiel

BEAU GESTE (1939)

Directed by William Wellman. The second *serious* remake of the famous P.C. Wren novel about family ties, honor and sacrifice among British aristocrats, leading to adventures in the Foreign Legion. The 1926 original movie was by prolific H. Brenon, who made 320 movies, including the first (1926) of the three "The Great Gatsby" films. Brenon's Geste starred Ronald Colman, William Powell and Victor McLaglen, all beautifully cast. The third version, in 1966, is laughable, more boo-boo than Beau, more jest than Geste. It miscast Telly Savalas, Dean Stockwell and Doug McClure. The middle version has a top director and three fine stars: Gary Cooper. Ray Milland, Robert Preston. Asking the audience to believe that this trio (even Welsh-born Milland) are British blueblood brothers is too much . Yet there they are, so nice to watch, so colorfully seconded by a splendidly corny supporting cast: Brian Donlevy, J. Carrol Naish, Albert Dekker, Broderick Crawford, Donald O'Connor, Susan Hayward. This may be a typical Foreign Legion romantic adventure, but it has its own kind of class. A smooth , well put-together movie from Hollywood's best vintage year . (Edwin Jahiel)