If you are a fan of comedy, you are likely familiar with Marty Feldman from his iconic role as Igor in Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, or perhaps even The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother. What you might not know if you are not an Anglophile is that Feldman had a rich comedy background in England that made him a notable public figure. He is known around the world for his prominent eyes, but his whip-smart, irreverent humor kept him on the cutting edge of comedy, often referred to as an honorary member of the Monty Python gang. His success stateside earned him a five picture deal with Universal, but he only made two before his untimely death in 1982. His directorial debut The Last Remake of Beau Geste was meant to be a non-linear, surreal send-up of the classic 1924 adventure novel Beau Geste, but the studio recut his film behind his back to make it fit the mold of something straightforward such as Young Frankenstein. While we are more than likely to never get to see this reportedly “far superior” cut from Feldman, Kino Classics has once again rescued a very obscure, still-hilarious movie from the sands of time with a new Blu-Ray release.
I am the reason that The Last Remake of Beau Geste was not released as Feldman intended. Well, I was not born yet, but as the story goes it is the general ignorance of the American people to history and culture that crippled Feldman’s comedic aspirations. In reality, I have a voracious appetite for culture from all eras, but even I had never heard of the original Beau Geste novel before checking out this film. This novel is steeped in English upper class values and tales of nobility and how serving at the pleasure of your country is the most honorable thing one can do. Feldman naturally believed this was absurd, as the idea of dying nobly “for flags” is a load of crap, and the best way to excise his disbelief was to take the piss out of it. Beau Geste had been adapted countless times on film, most famously in 1939 with Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, and Robert Preston, but Feldman was going to make the “definitive” take on the tale – the last remake that would ever be needed. His take just happens to be a screwball adventure with broad sight gags, sexual innuendos and other bawdy bits that would never fly today. It’s bitingly funny.
The core story is that of a wealthy nobleman (Trevor Howard) who secretly adopts twin boys to carry on his legacy after his wife dares to give birth to a girl – what good will that do him? Beau (Michael York, Austin Powers) is a perfect physical specimen of a man; he is handsome and capable in almost every way. His “identical” twin brother Digby (Feldman) would not exactly be classified as such. There is a good amount of laughter to be milked from the stark differences between the two – the sight of a bug-eyed child version of Digby will sneak up on you with laughter. The introduction of a young new stepmother (Ann-Margret, Bye Bye Birdie) shakes up the household, as her gold digging ways leads to the theft of a priceless family gem that sends the brothers on a perilous path. The two eventually end up serving up in the French Foreign Legion, where they interact with character actors such as Peter Ustinov, Avery Schreiber, Terry-Thomas and even James Earl Jones. Feldman expertly eviscerates the pugnacious actions of colonialists and the self-righteousness of those engaging in these activities.
It is easy to get hung up on the idea that this version of the film has not been blessed by Feldman, but his comic sensibilities cannot be dimmed. This is simply a film that will have you laughing out loud throughout most of the runtime. The film does run out of steam somewhat near the end of the film, but it never ceases to be an enjoyable romp. Marty Feldman is doing some character work here that will be appreciated by those unfamiliar with his range. As a creative, he has also brought on an ensemble that is hard to top. Many of the individuals mentioned are typically the best part of their respective movies, so to have them together in one film is really special. The level of spectacle on display is pretty impressive, even if it is “just a comedy.” This movie is the best version of itself when it is harnessing its Python sensibilities and being completely absurd, such as when this take on Beau Geste collides with the famous Cooper version in a completely inventive way. Feldman was not content to make a straightforward studio comedy, but the studio in question had other ideas. The Last Remake of Beau Geste is a very niche proposition with a complicated history, but the huge laughs provided here are universal.
Video Quality
The Last Remake of Beau Geste comes to Blu-Ray from Kino Classics with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 that appears to be derived from an older master that is in really good shape. The presentation is pleasing throughout most of the runtime with image stability and delineation being top notch. Instances of print damage occasionally pop up, but overall clarity and detail is excellent. This transfer maintains the natural film grain of the presentation with only minor instances of it seeming a bit clumpy. The picture can run a bit soft in long shots, but colors are well saturated in a visually splendid way. Skin tones are natural and consistent with subtle facial features easily noticeable in closeup. Black levels hold up well with very little in the way of crush. This presentation is quite impressive, and worth the wait for fans who have been clamoring for a high-def release.
Audio Quality
This new Blu-Ray comes with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that captures the intention of the film really well. The dialogue holds up wonderfully, coming through clearly without being stepped on by the music or sound effects. The environmental effects are delineated nicely from the chatter of the prisoners to the waves on the beach at the end. The track avoids most instances of age related wear and tear or distortion. This is a film that utilizes music really well, and it is presented with great clarity. The songs maintain a pleasing fidelity as they come through the room. This is a track that represents the film in a loving manner. Optional English subtitles are provided on this disc.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary #1: Sledge Hammer creator and Feldman friend Alan Spencer provides an invaluable commentary track in which he acts as something of an advocate for Feldman by revealing how drastically the released version of the film differs from Feldman’s preferred cut. In addition to this, he offers a great deal of information on all of the character actors within the film. Spencer makes the case for why America’s lack of interest in art and literature hindered the comedic potential of the film and made the studio take over.
- Audio Commentary #2: Entertainment journalist and author Bryan Reesman provides a less personal track, but more historically expansive information than the previous track. This is a jam-packed, laser focused track that is well worth a listen.
- Audio Interview with Co-Star Michael York: A 16-minute audio interview with a laryngitis-inflicted York in which he discusses coming to work on the picture, collaborating with Feldman, his memories of Peter Ustinov and many more interesting tidbits from this period of time. This is a really nice addition to the package.
- Trailers From Hell with Alan Spencer: A nearly three-minute piece in which Spencer appears on screen to give a brief rundown of the history of the project and details some of the groundbreaking elements of the film.
- Radio Spots: A two-minute series of interesting radio spots, which oddly do not feature much of any content from the film. These spots mostly hype up the cast and the accomplishments of the past.
- Image Galleries: There are image galleries focusing on the promotion of the film, behind-the-scenes moments and other black-and-white and color stills.
- Trailers: The two-minute trailer for The Last Remake of Beau Geste is provided here. There is also a trailer for Feldman’s other feature In God We Trust, also newly released by Kino Classics.
Final Thoughts
The Last Remake of Beau Geste is a really funny film that may have been considered a classic if Universal had allowed director and star Marty Feldman to make the film he wanted to make. As it stands, it is a story filled with ridiculously silly and smart gags that will have you laughing out loud pretty consistently. Kino Classics has released this long-awaited title on Blu-Ray featuring a lovely A/V presentation and a commendable amount of special features. If you are a fan of the Monty Python or Mel Brooks school of comedy, you will likely find a lot to delight in with this one. Recommended
The Last Remake of Beau Geste will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on March 16, 2021.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
