Review of Beau Geste

I think this was the third adaptation of the "Beau Geste" story. It looks gorgeous in colour, the desert, the uniforms, the Arabian props, all lend credence to the traditional romantic image of the French Foreign Legion as the story captures. But what this version is seriously lacking is adequate direction and writing. Stockwell in the lead is very wooden as a result. Savalas runs riot, comes across as caricature by times, while Leslie Nielsen ends up giving the best and most believable performance (not something you would equate Nielsen with - a serious performance). The script is very bare and the drama uninspired as a result. We are left with all these great sets and potential, and with the poor directing we end up looking at skirmishes that would have looked more at home in a western from the previous decade. It all becomes very irritating and boring by the end.

If one is looking for the best French Foreign Legion film set in the North African deserts I would highly recommend "March or Die" starring Gene Hackman instead.