Beau Geste (Universal Pictures) (1966)

‘Geste’ Exciting Adventure (Advance) A new generation of moviegoers will have an opportunity of seeing an immortal adventure _ story when Universal’s “Beau Geste’”’ Opens a... : abt thet 2: Theatre. While the story proved highly successful film entertainment in its previous productions — the most recent almost 30 years ago —the current version is photographed in Technicolor and embodies every up-to-date technique. Shorn of extraneous sub-plots and cast with youthful players, the new screen translation of Percival Christopher Wren’s classic novel of the French Foreign Legion is terse and lean in its retelling in the screenplay by Douglas Heyes, who also directed. He shows a distinct reverence for the original story of a sensitive young man who joins the Foreign Legion to protect the woman he loves and of his younger brother who follows him into the Legion. The story is recreated with excitement, suspense and full characterizations. Guy Stockwell, who has been seen in ‘The War Lord,” “Blindfold” and ‘And Now Miguel’ to date, plays the title role. As his younger brother, a combination of two roles in the earlier films, Doug McClure of “The Virginian”’ television series, has his most demanding role to date. Leslie Nielsen is Lieutenant De Ruse, the leader who is unable to lead. And in the role of the notorious Sgt. Dagineau, made famous by Noah Beery, Sr., and Brian Donlevy, is Telly Savalas as a despotic, tragic figure through whom the absorbing action adventure story makes an ironic comment on small wars. Guy Stockwell Still Teaches (Advance) Guy Stockwell thought he was giving up teaching when he left a one-room schoolhouse at Dutch Flat, California, to become an actor, but the star of Universal’s production in Technicolor of ‘““Beau Geste,” comingee 2... to the Bssecten hots ce Theatre, found his former profession too interesting to abandon completely. Shortly after he completed his first motion picture, “The War Lord,” Stockwell resumed teaching after working hours as a faculty member of the Adult Education Division of Beverly Hills High School. He has continued to moonlight as a Mr. Chips ever since, instructing drama classes and directing plays in which his adult students appear as exercises in acting. “It’s something I love doing,” says the screen’s new “Beau Geste.” “When I go on location with a picture—and that’s rather often—a substitute teacher takes over for me. But when I’m working at the studio and have enough strength left after an exhausting day, I drive to Beverly Hills and teach classes.” Recreate Fort Zinderneuf (Advance) Fort Zinderneuf, the brooding, sun-baked desert fortress that became a symbol of romances to moviegoers four decades ago, was rebuilt at Buttercup Valley, California, for Universal’s new production of ‘‘Beau Geste” in Techmicolor coming. 242.6: we to the aioe tate rast Theatre. A larger structure than the original, the fort with its high sentry tower and embrasures required 40 tons of concrete and 68 tons of plaster. Universal City Studio craftsmen dispatched to the desert for the construction project worked a labor total of 100,000 man hours. A duplicate of the massive fortress was built on Stage 12 at the studio for interior scenes. Total cost: $350,000. Stage ‘Beau Geste’ Battles (Current) Although Guy Stockwell, Doug McClure, Telly Savalas and other cast members chalked up an unparalleled record of doing their own action scenes, ten of Hollywood’s top stuntmen were engaged for the spectacular leaps and falls that are seen in. battle sequences in Universal's ‘Beau Geste’”’ now DMUEUN OH ees ee Theatre. ‘Beau Geste’ A Best-Seller (Advance) A best-seller when it first appeared in American book stores in 1925, one year after its original publication in England, and never out of print in the four decades that have followed is Percival Christopher Wren’s novel of the French Foreign Legion that is the literary source of Universal’s. producticn in Technicolor of ‘Beau Although the British writer subsequently wrote other novels based on his Legion experiences, among them “Beau Ideal’ and “Beau Sabreur,”’ his story of the Geste brothers remained his most popular work and has sold over a million copies in hardback and softcover editions to date. Originally published in this country by Frederick A. Stokes, it is now a standard on the book list of J. P. Lippincott and only recently appeared in a 47th printing. The present film edition of “Beau Geste”’ is one of a number of softcover printings that have been issued over a 20-year period. Doug Honeymoons In Desert (Advance) Doug McClure and his new bride, the former Helen Crane, were able to take a honeymoon delayed by his work in TV’s “The Virginian” series during the production in Technicolor of Universal’s French Foreign Legion adventure drama, “peal Gestes, COMING a. .....2:2:....LO) WOKE Theatre. “We should have waited,” says TV's Trampas. “I didn’t know that honeymoons and movie filming doniGanix.. Doug relates that he and Helen checked in at a luxury hotel in Yuma, Arizona, headquarters for the ‘‘Beau Geste”’ company of 300, and prepared to enjoy the pleasures of a bona-fide honeymoon. Their first rude shock came when they discovered that privacy is hard to come by when newlyweds are surrounded by actors, extras, hairdressers, makeup men, electricians and a full complement of crew members. “It was like a honeymoon at Broadway and 42nd Street or the intersection of Hollywood and Vine,” as Doug tells it. Savalas As Famous Heavy (Advance) Telly Savalas inherited one of moviedom’s most famous heavy roles in Universal’s production in Technicolor of ‘‘Beau Geste,”’ comDT. 2 oar to, thes. fee Theatre, but the character star with the bullet-smooth head isn’t worried about being typed as a villain. He’s aware that the role of the despotic Sergeant-Major Dagineau, played in earlier screen versions by Noah Beery, Sr., and Brian Donlevy, might narrow the range of the parts that will come his way in the future. “But for a part like Dagineau in one of the great adventure dramas of all time, what actor wouldn’t have gambled ?”’ reasons Savalas, a first-generation American of Greek ancestry who once worked with the State Department’s informational services branch. “It’s a brilliant, once-ina-lifetime acting challenge.” As a tough military man, Savalas menaced Guy Stockwell, Doug McClure, Leslie Nielsen and a whole demi-brigade of French Foreign Legion recruits in ‘Beau Geste.”’ Nielsen Changes His Image (Current) The determination of Leslie Nielsen to move into earthier roles after a long stretch of screen assignments as what he terms “elegant gentlemen” was realized with his starring part in Universal’s exciting melodrama in Technicolor, ‘‘Beau Geste,”’ now at the Pee ee a, eee Theatre. As Lieutenant De Ruse in the famous Percival Christopher Wren story, the Canadian-born actor feels that he has broken the pattern. “He’s an officer of great sensibilities, but he’s not a fop,” says Nielsen. “From the moment he appears on the screen, he is a real flesh-and-blood man with his own strengths and weaknesses. It was a joy to play the part.” 4 "BEAU GESTE” STARS AVAILABLE FOR RADIO INTERVIEWS ON FREE TRANSCRIPTION! OPEN-END TALKS WILL PROVIDE STRONG LOCAL NO-COST PLUGS FOR YOUR ‘‘BEAU GESTE”’ BOOKING WITH RADIO STATION ACCEPTANCE! GUY STOCKWELL, DOUG McCLURE, LESLIE NIELSEN and TELLY SAVALAS are presented in individual interviews that are interesting as well as fine promotional help for the picture. The four open-end interviews are all on one transcription — and are accompanied by complete continuity sheets for each of the Star interviews — in question and answer form so that they can be handled as personalized interviews with your local radio station personalities. Be sure to write now to RADIO DEPARTMENT, UNIVERSAL PICTURES, UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA 91608, for the FREE OPEN-END RADIO INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTION on “‘BEAU GESTE.” “BEAU GESTE” and its stars get the full radio saturation treatment throughout the entire continent via the famed Dick Strout “CELEBRITY PROFILES” Program and a network syndication for a listening exposure on more than 1,000 stations | throughout the U. S. and Canada! ORDER YOUR FREE TEASER TRAILER It’s important to get this excitement-packed COLOR Teaser on your theatre screen for complete audience penetration! Be sure to get it early—at least several weeks ahead of your opening date to stimulate advance desire to see ‘‘BEAU GESTE.”’ And, schedule it for every performance as well as cross-plugging at other theatres. The TEASER TRAILER is FREE—order it now— FROM YOUR LOCAL UNIVERSAL EXCHANGE! The Regular National Screen Trailer is a real powerhouse of sell—and should be ordered from your local National Screen Service Branch. TV TELOP or SLIDE Sharp attention-getting sales message exposure with these TV flashes! Order direct from QQ TITLE CARD CO., 247 WEST 46TH ST., NEW YORK, N. Y. 10036. Specify which type you want. FREE! FREE! IV SPOTS in COLOR and in black-and-white— with dynamic eye-and-ear impact. The set has TV SPOTS to appeal to every type of viewer. In a variety of time lengths, with sufficient silent footage for your playdate information. Order the FREE TV SPOTS now—from Herman Kass, National Exploitation Department, Universal Pictures, 445 Park Ave., New York, N. Y. 10022, and specify Color or B&W and stations to be used. RADIO SPOTS Complete Transcription—geared for powerful selling job—packed with the drama, excitement and emotion of the picture. In varied lengths to fit programming and ad budget. This RADIO SPOT TRANSCRIPTION—FREE—is now ready for your use! Write request to RADIO DEPARTMENT, UNIVERSAL PICTURES, UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA 91608. “BEAU GESTE” Paperback Edition Published By Pocket Books For Strong Promotion Help A special Motion Picture Edition of the famous and widely read “BEAU GESTE” novel has been published by POCKET BOOKS to mark the release of the new Universal filmization of the desert adventure saga. The big distribution of the Paperback will add box office push to your engagement of the picture with the publisher's all-out sales efforts for the colorful book. Contact your local Pocket Books distributor regarding display card and printed materials— and augment his efforts with stills and paper accessories from the picture wherever you can. THEATRE FRONT Dramatize your Theatre Front— also your advance lobby—with a flashy display to build instant excitement. The 24-sheet and the printed accessories—plus the action stills—will fit in perfectly for This is a captivating display set of 8 x 10s that belongs both in your lobby display and out-front to delight the eyes—as well as present the story, stars and adventure. Order from your Local NATIONAL SCREEN SERVICE BRANCH. “‘Beau Geste’’ March Be on the lookout for top-label recordings of the stirring tempo tune, “THE BEAU GESTE MARCH” from the new picture. It’s subtitled ‘‘THE MARCH OF THE FOREIGN LEGION,’’ and the records will be around to music-help your engagement! MERCHANT TIE-UPS Cash in on the famous title of the new picture for a variety of promotions with the business people in your city. Department store window displays can feature both women’s and men’s attire in desert tan... the same applies to shoe stores, hat shops, rug stores. Create a Foreign Legion coiffure for the ladies .. . offer prizes for a brand-new baby named ‘‘Beau.”’ a picturesque and crowd-stopping effect! Banner Accessories Available for out-front excitement are DeLuxe Fluorescent Sectional Valances, 3-piece Streamers, Flags, Wall Banners, etc. Material available from your local National Screen Service Branch, and in Canada from Consolidated Theatre Services. GET SCENE MATS FROM NATIONAL SCREEN SERVICE production credits Beau an GUY STOCKWELL PORTE Aa DOUG McCLURE De Ruse...........LESLIE NIELSEN Dagineau............ TELLY SAVALAS Boldini ...........-.... DAVID MAURO Fouchet........ ROBERT WOLDERS Krauss: eee as LEO GORDON Rostov. MICHAEL CONSTANTINE Kerjacki......... MALACHI THRONE Beaujolais............ JOE De SANTIS Produced by Walter Seltzer; Screenplay and directed by Douglas Heyes; Based upon the novel by Percival Christopher Wren; Photographed in Technicolor; Director of Photography, Bud Thackery, A.S.C.; Art Directors, Alexander Golitzen and Henry Bumstead ; Set Decorations, John McCarthy, James S. Redd; Sound, Waldon O. Watson, David H. Moriarty; Unit Production Manager, Wes Thompson; Film Editor, Russell F. Schoengarth; Makeup, Bud Westmore; Hair Stylist, Larry Germain; Assistant Director, Terry Morse, Jr.; Music, Hans J. Salter; Musical Supervision by Joseph Gershenson; “Beau Geste March,’ Hal Hopper. "BEAU GESTE" [2.6] COMBAT—Vicious hand-to-hand combat ensues before the garrison defending Fort Zinderneuf in the desert is decimated in the immortal French Foreign Legion adventure story, “Beau Geste.” A Universal picture in Technicolor, it co-stars Guy Stockwell, Doug McClure, Leslie Nielsen and Telly Savalas as Sergeant Dagineau. LIVE COLOR STILLS | TV PAGE PUBLICITY Plant items with your television editors about the stars in ‘‘BEAU GESTE’’ who are well known to television audiences — Doug McClure, Guy Stockwell, Leslie Nielsen, Telly Savalas and newcomer Robert Wolders. FIND OUT—via your newspapers and radio—if there are any exmembers of the Foreign Legion in your town. You can get good printed and air space with this activity! New Dramatic Display! HI-RISE Standee! Here’s something new—and most effective — from National Screen. The standee sells for $9.95, and is usable mounted on metal base and tubular stand, or can be hung on a wall. In full Color, and specially designed. Also brand new from National Screen is their Day-Glo Title Display—a terrific eye-grabber that’s 24” x 82” and convertible to 24” x 60”. ORDER from your nearest NATIONAL SCREEN SERVICE Exchange! PSDRPESTA ESD LD atl et tI I SERB BR ZI SIR a RO ABT AIS GILES Gc ASST I ARENSON SIE NE INTE INS, x (Still No. 1979-22)