Beau Geste

[Wellesnet]

On 17 March 1939, Orson Welles's production of "Beau Geste" was broadcast on "The Campbell Playhouse," CBS-Radio. Co-starring Laurence Olivier, it was another excellent show, and the only time these two Shakespearean greats ever acted together. That broadcast is available on Youtube, although in mediocre sound quality:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdVAF1iMc0U

Made into a film the same year, starring Gary Cooper.
A silent version, which Welles may have seen, was made in 1926, with Ronald Coleman and Neal Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon in the old Batman TV show)..

Synopsis:
Beau, John, and Digby Geste are three inseparable, adventurous brothers who have been adopted into the wealthy household of Lady Brandon. When money in the uppercrust household grows tight, Lady Brandon is forced to sell her most treasured jewel the mighty "Blue Water" sapphire. The household gets it out for one final look, the lights go out and it vanishes stolen by one of the brothers, no doubt. That night, Beau, Digby, and John each "confess" and slip out, John leaving behind Isabel, whom he loves. They all join the Foreign Legion, and Beau and Digby are split from John and put under the command of the ruthless and sadistic Sergeant Markoff. Things begin to get hairy as the rest of the Legionaires plot a mutiny against Markoff, in the midst of an attack by Arab hordes.

[Wich2]

It's been a while since I heard this one, but I recall liking it, too (of course the story's a classic corker in any medium.) Olivier had played the piece on stage, and admitted to basing his work on Colman's in the classic Silent:



Noah Beery recreates his role from that film, and as I recall, bobbles several lines. That's always odd, when you have the text in front of you; but then, many film actors were nervous when faced with a mic.

-Craig

[Le Chiffre]

I remember liking PC Wren's book a lot when I read it some 20-25 years ago. The Campbell radio play is well done, but I'd like to hear it in top-notch sound sometime. Ted Davenport doesn't have a "VG" next to Beau Geste, so I would assume it's better sound than the ones online.

Yes, regarding Beery's flubs (Olivier even makes one too, although his performance overall is very good), I believe it was the "Theatre of the Imagination" audio doc that said that many of the top names in Hollywood were approached for the Campbell Playhouse, but were terrified at the thought of live performance.

[Wich2]

Yep. There are many stories of film stars with little or no stage experience being terrified by the live audience and the microphone.

Joan Crawford was one. For her they used a device like the one below, to give her something to hang on to, and to keep her the right distance from the mic. They say it was invented for Jack Barrymore who wasn't nervous, but who acted too physically and moved around to much.

-Craig

[Le Chiffre]

Thanks, I've never seen one of those before. Looks almost like a walker. Maybe they called it a "talker".

[FRANKTHOMPSON]

My next book is on all the adaptations of "Beau Geste" -- film, stage, TV, radio, and more. I thought maybe somebody can answer a question about the Welles version.

There is no credit given to the actor who plays Digby, the third Geste brother. He isn't named in the spoken credits on the broadcast and his name appears in no other credit list. Does anyone have any ideas?

Similarly, while Naomi Campbell is the voice of Isobel, there is no credit for the character as a child. All three of the children who play the young Geste brothers are credited. In this case, I suppose Campbell may simply have had the chops to play the character as a child, but I can't decide.

I'd appreciate any assistance.

Frank Thompson

[Wich2]

Frank -

Hmmm... tough one. And two of the usual sources for such info, Bret Wood and Dave Goldin, offer nothing.

- Young Isabel: Yes, the three male kids are credited, but she is not. It may indeed be that Naomi played down - generally easier for a female actor. *

- Digby: You're right, no credit. This might just be a screw-up, though that big an omission would be rare. A longish shot: Edward Ryan, credited as Young Digby, is also Older Digby? * A longer one: It could be that Digby is a Doubled Role by a "Regular Mercury" cast member? Sometimes those went uncredited. Are you sitting down? One candidate might be:

Orson Welles.

Digby's biggest scenes are when Orson's primary character, Beau, is off-stage. Digby's voice is high, rapid, and with a heavy layer of Received Pronunciation (almost an imitation of Olivier's at that time.) Listen to Digby's longer speeches, after Beau's death: is there perhaps a hint of Wellesian rhythm at the ends of lines?

Best,
- Craig

[FRANKTHOMPSON]

The other major "Beau Geste" mystery is who wrote the script?

[Terry]

This Is Orson Welles lists Howard Teichmann as the adapter (he was also part of the cast.)

[Le Chiffre]

Thanks Terry, that inspired me to do a little digging online. Teichmann, according to Wiki, took over writing the Campbell Playhouse shows from Howard Koch, whose last CP show was THE GLASS KEY, which was the week before BEAU GESTE, so Beau must have been Teichmann's first show for the Mercury. He also acted in at least three other CP shows. Perhaps his biggest triumph as a writer was the 1955 play THE SOLID GOLD CADILLAC, a muckraking satire of capitalist corruption co-written with Welles favorite and Algonquin member George S. Kauffmann. That was made into a movie the next year with Mercury players Ray Collins and Hiram (Chubby) Sherman in supporting roles. It also starred Judy Holliday, who was a one-time switchboard operator for the Mercury Theater. I wonder if she was working on the night of WOTW.

BTW, BEAU GESTE is available in good sound at the IU Welles website, along with the original script:
https://orsonwelles.indiana.edu/items/s ... 571%2C3160

[FRANKTHOMPSON]

Interesting. I have Teichmann credited with editing as well as performing. Thanks for the tip.