The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977)

Purely Joyful Movie!

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Marty Feldman directed and stars in this satire of adventure movies of the 1930s, yet his cheerfully lewd sense of humor can be felt in the screenplay as well (he's only given a story credit, though some of the sex jokes seem to have come straight from his warped mind). Adopted twin brothers, heirs to the fortune of the ailing Sir Hector Geste, compete with their lascivious stepmother over ownership of a priceless sapphire, leading to a showdown in North Africa. Feldman uses his googly-eyed craziness for all its worth, though he is generous with the other players, particularly a winking, naughty Ann-Margret and a bemused Henry Gibson. The humor, though no more raunchy than a "Benny Hill" sketch, is a bit embarrassing however; Feldman is from the old school of British comedians, and he hammers home tired schoolboy gags as if they were uproarious (one joke, involving the opening of dual locks on a safe, seemed to get the biggest laugh, though the sniggering staging here is merely juvenile). Feldman's pacing and comic rhythm are fine, but prudish viewers need not apply. ** from ****

It's been probably 20 years since I've seen this movie. At this very moment I'm watching Marty Feldman and Gene Wilder in "The Adventures of Sherlock Holme's Smarter Brother" on AMC. The super-funny/talented Madelyn Kahn (sp) is also in the film. Mel Brook's "History of the World: Part One" was on just before this.Anyway, let's get to the point, shall we. Sorry.I'd thought of Beau Gest some time ago, but never did any research on it, until tonight. If not for AMC's airing of the two movies I mentioned, I probably wouldn't have thought to search it now.I don't remember the cross-eyed (cock-eyed?) kid in Beau Gest. Oh, my goodness! LOL! I bet I laughed, and was probably really surprised to see him too, way back then. I really hate that I can't remember more of it. The only scene I keep picturing is the two brothers sitting or lying on the beach, or what seems to be a beach. Not a lot to go on, is it? I guess this means I need to try and rent it or buy it. I know I'll laugh a lot.Marty Feldman was an absolute trip in "Young Frankenstein". When he told the doctor "Walk this way. No, I said walk *this* way." and Gene mimicked the walk. Funny! I've always thought that Marty was very funny, but had no idea that he was responsible for Beau Geste. What a great piece of information. I'm glad I searched for the movie information.Once I view the film again (after 20 years), I'll come back with a more decent review.Thank you for sharing your review. It makes me want to get the movie even more.

This movie played a thousand times when we got cable TV for the first time and it quickly became one of my late night favorites. Ann-Margret was never more beautiful and neither was Michael York! I watched it every time I could, probably 15 or 20 times. Years later, wondering if its attraction was merely to my adolescent humor, I watched it again and enjoyed it just as much when in my 30's. It has great lines, great laughs, great characters. I find that I still use quotes from this movie in my everyday conversations long after I'd forgotten where they came from. The slapstick humor of the late '70s is in full bloom in this movie and it's a close cousin in silliness to "Murder By Death".

I had not seen the original Beau Geste, with Gary Cooper in the title role, when I saw this movie. After seeing this movie, including a *hilarious* 'cameo' of Gary Cooper, I watched the original. It only made me appreciate the humor in the Last Remake even more. The Last Remake (were there ever previous remakes?) parodies the story completely, but every other scene makes you laugh. The scene with Gary Cooper would almost certainly not be allowed on TV today due to censorship so you'll have to buy this movie on, ick, VHS to see it. But at a time when new releases are $10+ to see not including popcorn, paying about $20 for a VHS of this movie, and being able to show it to friends and watch it over and over, is worth it. Trust me on this :)."So that's why you talk so slow Big G."