Beau Geste

Still from the 1939 film adaptation of Beau Geste, starring (from left) Ray Milland (as John Geste), Gary Cooper (Beau Geste), and Robert Preston (Digby Geste) and directed by William A. Wellman.

Beau Geste, novel about the French Foreign Legion by Percival C. Wren, published in 1924.

The title character, whose given name is Michael, and his brothers, Digby and John, have joined the French Foreign Legion after being falsely accused of a crime. They meet many trials together in North Africa, facing a sadistic commanding officer and fierce Arab troops. Beau and Digby die honourably in battle.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.
Citation Information
Article Title: Beau Geste
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 09 April 2018
Access Date: March 13, 2025