Mi ha particolarmente colpito linterpretazione di brian donlevy nel ruolo del cattivo sergente. New post on cinenostalgia brian donlevy was noted for playing dangerous tough guys from the 1930s to the 1960s. Part of what makes the character so threatening and mesmerizing is that his ruthlessness is equaled by his abilities as a leaderinbattle. That doesnt matter much because the beau geste 1939 story is one of the classics, and made even more classic by hollywoods wonderful treatment of the book.
Its acclaimed cast featured four future winners of academy awards for best actor or actress. Beau geste, novel about the french foreign legion by percival c. Wrens 1924 adventure novel beau geste is a touchstone in the genre, giving us the most honourable and likable of heroes in the geste brothers, and a villain to scorn through the ages in sergeant major lajaune. Particularly known for playing tough guy roles, he mainly appeared in supporting roles on screen. Amongst the films for which he was best known were beau geste 1939 and the great mcginty 1940. Often typecast as a villain, he played the definitive bad guy in such films as destry rides again, union pacific and beau geste all in 1939. Wellman and starring gary cooper, ray milland, robert preston, brian donlevy and susan hayward, it was. Interestingly, considering that lineup, the acting honors in beau geste go to brian donlevy as the sadistic markoff.
The screenplay by robert carson was based on the 1924 novel of the same name. The captain was my brother, michael geste, later and generally known as beau geste, by reason of his remarkable physical beauty, mental brilliance, and general distinction. Of course brian donlevy was at his best in this film as the vicious sergeant, and it is one of the few times when i have thought he acted well. Its less dated than the similar gunga din from that same year, has many uniquely. Brian donlevy in particular was praised by critics for his memorable portrayal of the cruel markoff. Im continuing my series of postings on william a wellman films with a look at another of his smash hits. But his career reached its apex in the 1940s, where he was under contract with paramount, and where he made most of the hit films i cited as those. Jun 05, 2011 this entry was posted in 1930s, classic movie, william a wellman and tagged beau geste, brian donlevy, donald oconnor, french foreign legion, gary cooper, gp huntley, harvey stephens, heather thatcher, james stephenson, paramount pictures, pc wren, ray milland, robert carson, robert preston, ronald colman, susan hayward, theodor sparkuhl. The first real biography of brian donlevy, an underrated actor who often played bad guys but had a surprising range. Mi ha particolarmente colpito linterpretazione di brian donlevy nel ruolo del cattivo sergente marcoff, per cui ebbe una nomination agli oscar come migliore attore non protagonista.
The best villains are those who not only steal all the scenes they are in, but make you root for them by exposing their. My first movie version was the 1939 release produced and directed by william a. Gary cooper, ray milland, susan hayward, and broderick crawford. Donlevy first gained star status with his oscarnominated turn as the villain in beau geste. The 1926 silent film had not only been critically acclaimed, but had also done spectacularly well at the box office as well. Therefore, my first film antagonist in the story is the renamed sergeant markoff played by brian donlevy who remains the definitive actor in that role in my eyes. Wrens adventure novel beau geste is a virtual sceneforscene remake of the 1927 silent version. Beau geste was an ultimate boyman book to be much enjoyed by women who love real men too.
Wellman, the screenplay was adapted by robert carson, based on the 1924 novel of the same title by p. Brian donlevy is best remembered for beau geste, the great mcginty and the radio and tv series dangerous assignment as steve mitchell. At 15, donlevy ran away from home, hoping to join general pershings purge against mexicos pancho villa. Brian donlevy was noted for playing dangerous tough guys from the to the he usually appeared in supporting roles. It was the scandalous disappearance of the blue water that led to the selfexile of beau, the oldest of the geste brothers. Carrol naish, albert dekker, broderick crawford,and more. It is unique in that it features four actors that would subsequently win oscars as best actors or actresses cooper, milland, crawford, and hayward. The film received two academy awards nominations with no wins. It is approached by a relief column of soldiers, sent to rescue the beleaguered occupants. Among his bestknown films are beau geste and the great mcginty. Beau geste 1939 gary cooper and susan hayward in beau geste 1939 gary cooper in. Beau geste by percival christopher wren, paperback.
Beau geste is a 1939 paramount pictures actionadventure motion picture starring gary cooper, ray milland, robert preston, brian donlevy, and susan hayward. Anyway, the three geste boys individually enlist in the french foreign legion, all taking the blame for a crime that will go unmentioned. Dec 31, 2016 the books title refers to the fact that donlevy was equally comfortable playing a bad guy destry rides again, union pacific, beau geste or a good guy wake island, kiss of death. Brian donlevy, the good bad guy brian donlevy 19011972 was an underrated film actor with surprising range and a littleheralded gift for comedy. Among his bestknown films are beau geste 1939, the great mcginty 1940 and wake island 1942, in which he played the lead. The mystery of fort zinderneuf in beau geste by john davis. But the performance everybody remembers in beau geste is brian donlevys sadistic sergeant. Carrol naish, albert dekker, broderick crawford, donald ooconnor. Wellman and starring gary cooper, ray milland, robert preston, brian donlevy, susan hayward, j. I prefer the casting of the silent film ronald colman, neil hamilton, william powell, victor. Returning from technicolor to atmospheric black and white, this is a melodramatic imperialist adventure in the vein of gunga. Brian donlevy is pure evil and quite good in the role of the bad sgt.
Many film adaptations have been made of the book of the same name, but this is the classic. Wren beau geste has the unenviable status of being a book that people know of, but which fewer and fewer have actually read. Predstavlja drugu po redu adaptaciju istoimenog romana p. He comfortably performed in drama, adventure, and comedy the great mcginty, the errand boy. Oscar nominations for best supporting actor brian donlevy and best art direction. Its an imposing character and a performance often imitated but never really equaled. The best villains are those who not only steal all the scenes they are in, but make you root for them by exposing their humanity, vulnerability, or sheer likeability. Read brian donlevy 219 success facts everything you need to know about brian donlevy by nathan velez available from rakuten kobo. He showed his versatility in the title role of preston sturges political satire the great mcginty 1940 and impressed both new. Beau geste je americki crnobijeli pustolovni film snimljen 1939. Gary cooper makes a perfect beau, while ray milland and robert preston are well cast as his brothers john and digby in. Susan haywards role was minor, but of course she was a virtual unknown at that time.
The books title refers to the fact that donlevy was equally comfortable playing a bad guy destry rides again, union pacific, beau geste or a good guy wake island, kiss of death. It relies on outdated propaganda created by the hollywood publicity machine popular in the early years that created bigger than life back stories to sell their stars. This is our attempt at a loving tribute to screen legends messieurs gary cooper and brian donlevy and the classic 1939 film. Wellmans film of beau geste was released during that banner year of 1939, when it seemed hollywood was cranking out only classic films. With gary cooper, ray milland, robert preston, brian donlevy.
Naslovni protagonist, ciji lik tumaci gary cooper je britanski aristokrat koji je zbog optuzbi za. Home guest posts the mystery of fort zinderneuf in beau geste by john davis. Of course beau geste never stole the sapphire, or anything else. May 24, 2019 my first encounter with beau geste was through the classics illustrated comic book. Carrol naish, albert dekker, broderick crawford, charles. About the book brian donlevy 19011972 was an underrated film actor with surprising range and a littleheralded gift for comedy. Waldo brian donlevy february 9, 1901 april 6, 1972 was an american actor, noted for playing dangerous tough guys from the 1930s to the 1960s. Wellman, the screenplay was adapted by robert carson, based on the 1924 novel of. Common sense is not always common practice as brian donlevy s story shows. Gary cooper, ray milland, robert preston, brian donlevy, susan hayward, j.
Mention its name, and the typical response is, oh, thats about the french foreign legion. It was good to see donald oconnor as a young beau, as well as stalwarts like albert dekker and j. Maintained by find a grave cremated, ashes scattered at sea. Thus all three gestes turned up in north africa, among the ranks of the foreign legion.
Gary cooper, ray milland, brian donlevy, william wellman. This is the first book dedicated to brian donlevy, an underrated actor who was often typecast as a villain but who had a surprising range and an unheralded gift for comedy. Their loyalty to the flag is tested under the iron fist of the sadistic sergeant markoff brian donlevy, a sicko who grins when his c. Brian donlevy 19011972 was an underrated film actor with surprising range and a littleheralded gift for comedy. Gary cooper, ray milland, robert preston, susan hayward, brian donlevy, j. Robert carson screen play, percival christopher wren based on the novel by. Wrena, odnosno remake koji je u mnogo cemu koristio istovjetno kadriranje istoimenog nijemog filma iz 1926. While i have to admit that there wasnt, perhaps, anything mindblowingly profound in this book except maybe that its so very different from the messages found in most more modern lit, there were a few things i thought made this book one i want the.
Popular sequels followed this novel, but it is the 1924 book which is the basis for the many screen versions of the story, along with its many comic parodies. And if the stone has been stolen, the paper might be an invaluable clue to its recovery. Brian donlevy 219 success facts everything you need to. Beau geste is a 1939 paramount pictures actionadventure film starring gary cooper, ray milland, robert preston, brian donlevy, and susan hayward. Beau geste by percival christopher wren, paperback barnes.
They pretty much steal most of the layout from the 1926 silent version, so there is not much difference narratively. Action adventure, starring gary cooper, ray milland, robert preston and brian donlevy. I came across this comment about donlevy that someone wrote online. Gary cooper, ray milland, robert preston, brian donlevy. Brian donlevy february 9, 1901 april 6, 1972 was an american actor, known for many film roles from the 1930s to the 1960s. His tenure below the border was brief, and within a few months he was enrolled in military school.
Union pacific and beau geste, he also displayed his range in the. My first encounter with beau geste was through the classics illustrated comic book. This book is a complete disservice to the real life and talents of the very underrated actor, brian donlevy. The son of an irish whiskey distiller, brian donlevy was 10 months old when his family moved to wisconsin. Sep 04, 2011 it is unique in that it features four actors that would subsequently win oscars as best actors or actresses cooper, milland, crawford, and hayward. However, beau geste is very different from most of his movies that ive discussed so far. The novel followed the adventures of the geste brothers beau, digby. Often typecast as a villain, he played the definitive bad guy in such films asdestry rides again, union pacific destry rides again, union pacific and andbeau geste beau geste all in. Fort zinderneuf is a french foreign legion outpost, standing mute, somewhere in the sahara. Often typecast as a villain, he played the definitive bad guy in such films asdestry rides again, union pacific destry rides again, union pacific and andbeau geste beau geste all in 1939. All three must contend with the tyrannical sergeant markoff brian donlevy, who. Beau geste 1939 is directorproducer william wellmans superb, high. Beau geste, american actionadventure film, released in 1939, that was based on the 1924 novel of the same name by percival c. John and digby couldnt believe that beau was a thief and refused to allow him to shoulder the blame alone.
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