Beau Geste (TV series)
| Beau Geste | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Action |
| Based on | Beau Geste by P. C. Wren |
| Written by |
Alistair Bell Terrance Dicks |
| Directed by | Douglas Camfield |
| Starring |
Benedict Taylor Anthony Calf Jonathon Morris John Forgeham |
| Composer(s) | Stephen Deutsch |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Barry Letts |
| Location(s) | Dorset, England, UK |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC1 |
| Picture format | 4:3 |
| Audio format | Mono |
| Original release | 31 October – 19 December 1982 |
Beau Geste is a BBC television serial, based on the novel by P. C. Wren. The series aired on BBC1 from 31 October to 19 December 1982 and starred Benedict Taylor, Anthony Calf and Jonathon Morris as the three brothers.
Plot
Although minor plot points separate the versions, all of the versions share a common element of a stolen gem, which one of the Geste brothers, Beau Geste, is thought to have stolen from his adoptive family. This version, unlike the Hollywood movies, stays true to the book, in that the three young brothers join the legion, are later commanded by Sergeant Major Lejaune (not Markov like in one of the Hollywood versions), and this TV adaptation contains the scene from the book where the surrounded Legionnaires defiantly sing Le Boudin. The Legionnaires' equipment is spot-on too, right down to the correct mess-tins and bayonets. Filmed entirely in England, at various locations, with its desert scenes being filmed in a sand pit in Dorset.
Cast
Benedict Taylor .... Michael 'Beau' Geste
Anthony Calf .... Digby Geste
Jonathon Morris .... John Geste
Andrew Armour .... Recruiting Sgt. Major
Sally Baxter .... Isobel
Lucy Benjamin .... Young Claudia (as Lucy Baker)
Jonathan Burn .... Colonna
John Cannon .... Legionnaire
Nicolas Chagrin .... St. Andre
John Challis .... Cpl. Dupre
Julia Chambers .... Claudia
Les Conrad .... Legionnaire
Robin Crane .... Young Digby
Paul Critchley .... Young John
Barry Dennen .... Buddy
Harry Fielder .... Legionnaire
John Forgeham .... Sgt. Maj. Lejaune
Nadio Fortune .... Guantaio
Pat Gorman .... Legionnaire
Stefan Gryff .... Boldini
Terry Gurry .... Corporal
Paul Hawkins .... Young Beau
Randal Herley .... Recruiting Officer
Andrew Lodge .... Glock
Christopher Malcolm .... Hank
Red Milner .... Legionnaire
John Moreno .... Maris
Kenneth Owens .... Brandt
Daniel André Pageon .... Vauren (as Daniel Pageon)
John Patrick .... Rastignac
Sian Pattenden .... Young Isobel
Maurice Quick .... Burdon
Terry Raven .... Indian Gentleman
Bunny Reed .... Schwartz
Christopher Reilly .... Young Augustus
John Repsch .... Corporal
Jon Rumney .... Bolidar
David Shawyer .... Sgt. Maj. Dufour
Philip Shelley .... Augustus Brandon
Barry Summerford .... Legionnaire
David Sumner .... Maj. Henri de Beaujolais
Damien Thomas .... Capt. Renouf
Robert Vowles .... Guard Corporal
Wendy Williams .... Lady Brandon