Harrison's Reports (1931)

10 HARRISON’S REPORTS January 17. 1931 “Beau Ideal” (RKO, Jan. 15; running time, 80 min.) It is clear that what has prompted Director Brenon to put this book into a picture is the success his “Beau Geste,” founded on the book by the same author, had made at the box office ; but it is hardly a “Beau Geste” ; it is not, in fact, a very good entertainment, for very little appeal is directed to the emotions, and the action is not interesting enough to hold one's attention gripped. The only part that may interest the masses is the fight between the Arabs and the Frenchmen, which occurs in the closing scene. The reason why “Beau Ideal” does not interest as much as “Beau Geste” is this: In “Beau Geste,” each of three brothers, thinking that one of the other brothers had stolen a valuable jewel, and in order to divert suspicion from them and to throw it on himself, disappears and joins the French Foreign Legion. This is an admirable act on the part of each one of them and the spectator followed their fate with sympathy. In “Beau Ideal.” an American, (Lester Vail), who loved an English girl, when he finds out that the man she loved (Ralph Forbes) had been condemned by a court-martial to the Penal Battalion, to spend ten years in chains, decides to join the Legion so as to find out where Forbes is and, by helping him to escape, render a service to the heroine. But the sacrifice he goes through is so out of reason that the spectator becomes incredulous and therefore he does not follow the action with sympathetic interest. It seems as if every player overacts. Even the children, which represent the principal characters in their childhood, overact. Lester Vail is supposed to be an American, but he speaks with an English accent. The only one who seems to be “at home” is George Rigas, who takes the part of the Emir. Lester Vail, when a child, had visited England with his mother, had become acquainted with Loretta Young, an English girl, and had carried her memory through the years. Feeling that he loves her, he goes to England to propose to her. He hears from her lips that the man she loved (Ralph Forbes) had joined the French Foreign Legion, had killed his superior officer for having kicked and otherwise mistreated his wounded brother, also a member of the Foreign Legion, and had been condemned by a court-martial to the Penal Battalion, to spend ten years in chains. Vail goes to Africa, joins the Legion, and learns that, if he should show insubordination often, and if he should strike a superior officer, he would be sent to the Penal Battalion. And so he planned to be sent to the Battalion with the hope of finding Forbes, and of succeeding in some way in sending him back to Miss Young. During a march through the desert their adjutant drops his compass and they lose their way. Thirsty and tired, the men go almost insane, revolt, and kill their adjutant. Another French detachment comes along, and the officers, finding them in revolt, arrest them. The hero takes the blame for the murder, although he was innocent. He is court-martialed and sent to the Penal Battalion. While in a grain pit (which was a prison) with other prisoners, the Post is attacked by Arabs and every one is massacred with the exception of those in the pit. who had been overlooked. Thirst and hunger kills every prisoner except Vail and Forbes. The Emir, who had planned the massacre, comes along and, hearing voices in the pit, sends his men to investigate. They rescue the two prisoners and in time nurse them back to health. A half caste woman, mistress of the Emir, sends for the French and delivers Forbes to them as a deserter, but not Vail, she tells him that the Arabs plan another massacre. He bargains with her to help him reach the French post to inform them of it, in return promising to come back to her to take her away from the "brown” men, whom she had come to hate. Vail succeeds in his purpose. When the truth becomes known, Vail and Forbes are pardoned and decorated. Forbes sets out for England and asks Vail to go along with him, but he would not go because he meant to keep his promise to the half-caste woman. When he returns to her. however, he finds her in the arms of another. This makes him feel free; he rushes to join Forbes. Percival C. Wren is the author ; Herbert Brenon the director. Don Alvarado, Otto Matiesen, Irene Rich, Paul MacAllister, Hale Hamilton and others are in the cast. “Caught Cheating” — with Charlie Murray and George Sidney ( Tiffany , Dec. 20; running time, 58 min.) The first part is considerably slow; the last half arouses some interest and causes some laughs. But the picture on the whole is nothing to brag about. If tbe house should be full, it may be considered a fairly good entertainment. The action revolves around crooks, and around the predicament of the innocent George Sidney and of Charlie Murray who unwittingly get mixed up with them. George Sidney gives a woman a “lift” ; she was the wife of Cabrone, a notorious gangster who, having learned that she was at a roadhouse with another man. had set out to find her and to kill the other man. While speeding away, she alights from her car and accepts Mr. Sidney’s invitation to get into his car. Cabrone overtakes him but just as he was to put Sidney “on the spot,” a motor cop comes along and saves him. Publicity makes him famous and Charlie Murray, a big business man from the West, comes to him to congratulate him and to give him a big order. Sidney is frightened to death but Murray thinks him brave. Since Sidney finds out that Murray will not give him an order unless he acts the part of a brave man. he is forced to act it. Sidney receives callers from a rival gangster gang who had been impressed with his bravery and post men to follow him so as to protect him from Cabrone. When he takes Charlie to a cabaret, they follow him there. His wife suspects Sidney of being unfaithful to her. and goes to the cabaret to watch him. While in the cabaret Cabrone and his gang appear dressed as policemen and succeed in luring Sidney and Murray away from there and in taking them to their lair. While in the lair of Cabrone rival gangsters start machine gun firing. Cabrone and his gang respond. Murray and Sidney grab machine guns themselves and fire. The Cabrone gang is exterminated, and when the police arrive Sidney and Murray are declared heroes. Sidney succeeds in getting a big contract from Charlie. The plot has been founded on a story by W. Scott Darling. It was directed by Frank Straver. Xita Martan, Robert Ellis. Dorothy Christy, George Regas and others are in the cast.