Beau Geste

The finest of three screen versions of PC Wren's tale of heroism in the French Foreign Legion (the others were made in 1926 and 1966, the latter a travesty). Pictorially ravishing, it features a memorable opening with a fort garrisoned by corpses, and the high adventure tone carries on from there. Cooper is suitably strong in his usual taciturn and gentle way as 'Beau', eldest of the three brothers who join the Legion to cover the mysterious 'theft' of a valuable jewel, but it is really Donlevy who leaves the most lasting impression as the sadistic Legion sergeant. Boys' Own stuff, maybe, but good fun all the same.