The 1939 film "Beau Geste" is based on the novel by P. C. Wren which is set in the period before World War I and is about three Englishmen who enlist in the French Foreign Legion to protect the honor of their adoptive mother. Most of the film is set in French Algeria. There are no coins in this film but French Legion officers and non-commissioned officers wear medals for service and bravery.

A large group of Legionaires approach a desert fort. A soldier climbs into the fort and disappears. An officer, Major Beaujolais, enters the fort and finds only bodies. One body holds a note confessing to a jewel robbery fifteen years ago in England. The officer leaves and the fort then begins burning.

A group of Arabs attack and the French move to a defensive position.

Major Beaujolais wears the Legion of Honor Medal (for service as officers or bravery), the Colonial Medal (for service in a French colony), and the Morocco Commemorative Medal (for service in the French-Morocco war 1907-1912). His Colonial Medal includes two clasps with names of colonies but they are too small to read.
Lieutenant Martin wears the same first two medals and his Colonial Medal has one clasp.

The film moves to England fifteen years ago. Three brothers, Beau, Digby, and John Geste, have been adopted by Lady Patricia Brandon. Also living with her is a young woman, Isobel Rivers, and her absent husband Sir Hector's heir. John and Isobel fall in love. The boys and Isobel become adults and Lady Brandon's husband writes that he is coming home, needs money, and intends to sell the family's famous sapphire the "Blue Water".

Left to right: John, Isobel, Lady Brandon, Augustus, and Beau
Someone steals the jewel and the three brothers separately join the French Foreign Legion and leave letters confessing to the theft.

They have been in for a while and spot the new enlistee John.

The three brothers are together and they make references to the "Three Musketeers" and their slogan "One for All and All for One". Sergeant Markoff is the tough top sergeant of the regiment.

He wears the Military Medal (for bravery), the Colonial Medal, and the Morocco Commemorative Medal His Colonial Medal, like the Major's, includes two clasps with names of colonies.

Sergeant Markoff learns about the jewel and believes that one of the brothers has it with him.
The sergeant reads an order sending a group of soldiers including Beau and John to isolated Fort Zinderneuf. Digby is sent to a separate mounted regiment.

At the fort some of the soldiers resent the sergeant's harsh discipline and attempt to stage a mutiny. Sergeant Markoff and the two Geste brothers disarm the mutineers and the mutiny ends when some Arabs attack the fort.

A battle ensues killing most of the soldiers. Sergeant Markoff places the bodies along the top of the fort to simulate live soldiers. Beau has been killed and the only soldiers left are Markoff and John.

John sees Markoff searching Beau's body and both men produce guns. John shoots Markoff. Digby arrives with the relief force and finds John. He places Beau's confession in Markoff's hands and both brothers desert the Legion. They encounter and join two American deserters.

The four attack some Arabs at a water hole and Digby is shot. John is able to return to England.

He informs Lady Brandon of the deaths of the two brothers and that Beau stole the sapphire which he knew to be a fake to avoid embarrassing Lady Brandon.

Gary Cooper as Michael "Beau" Geste
Robert Preston as Digby Geste
Ray Milland as John Geste
Susan Hayward as Isobel Rivers
Heather Thatcher as Lady Patricia Brandon
Brian Donlevy as Sergeant Markoff
James Stephenson as Major Henri de Beaujolais
Harvey Stephens as Lieutenant Martin
Director: William A. Wellman
Writers: Robert Carson
Based on the 1924 novel Beau Geste by P. C. Wren (Percival Christopher Wren)