Film Review: Reviewed By Tony Sloman; 3 out of 5

Dr Kildare's veteran writer/director Willis Goldbeck fashioned a more-than-passable film from this robust tale of the Foreign Legion, before he went off to co-script two of John Ford's better later movies, but Beau Geste it isn't. Nevertheless, with Burt Lancaster at the peak of his teeth-and-glory years in the lead, and tough hombres Gilbert Roland and Kieron Moore in support, this comedy adventure is well worth catching, especially since it's in sharp 1950s Technicolor. Unfortunately, leading lady Jody Lawrance is rather uninteresting and those phoney night studio interiors show up badly on television, revealing the desert sky as nothing more than a royal blue painted backdrop. But if you accept it for what it is, you'll have fun.

Plot Summary

A Foreign Legion sergeant learns a tribal leader is planning to launch an attack on a remote fort, and leads a small band of soldiers into the desert to distract the enemy hordes. However, he soon discovers a more dangerous threat - the Legion's various foes are plotting to join forces. Comedy adventure, starring Burt Lancaster, Jody Lawrence and Kieron Moore.