Can I hope that Paramount Home Video will come up with a DVD version of "Beau Geste" (1926)? Does anyone out there know of such a plan?? I have seen the 1939 version, which is superb, but the '26 version has never seen the video light of day. (Paramount does not let one e-mail them, only write letters, which makes it time-consuming and awkward to physically write them. Sure would like to hear some good news about this.
Doug Deuss
[email protected]
Paramount's feelings about their silent library is that they have no financial value to them, therefore they refuse to release them on any home video format.
Unfortunately, that applies to the very few that they have prints of left. They were terrible about keeping their films from that era in good condtion, and many of them are now lost.
-J. Theakston
The Silent Photoplayer
http://www.thephotoplayer.com/
How does this compare to the '39 version with Coop? Seems there's still some Ronald Colman fans around (maybe friends of Norma D?) Still, I have trouble with Colman as a legionaire; just doesn't look tough enough.
shareopryphantom; COLMAN was tough enough. Served in WWI in the London Scottish Regiment. Was wounded at the Battle Of Messines 1914. It was serious enough to be invalided out in 1916. Outside looks do not guarantee physical courage nor distract from it.
shareAdvice from such a warrior as xerses is noted; your reward is a post at Zindernouf. You will have the task of teaching the Touregs what legionaire courage is all about. This I promise you!
Sgt. L.
p.s. In summer 1840, while fighting nationalist Abdel el Kader, the Legion sent 1200 legionaires and artillery to a battered fortress known as Miliana. Fighting hordes of Arabs in temperatures around 110 for months, the surrounded legion was suffering from limited food, ammunition and fetid water.
Casualties were extremely high, and to hid fact of many deaths, graves were filled with more than one corpse. New bodies caused the graves to rise. When a relief column finally arrived five months later, half the force was dead. The fighting force on the line was 150.
A Captain Bazaine was in charge, and had been using "dummies" dressed in legionaire uniforms to disguise the weakness to the enemy. I guess P. Wren read about this somewhere.
opryhpantom;; Good wit and information! 'I PROMISE YOU' too do some more research into the Legion. Now 'up in the tower opryphantom, and dream about the jewel in the moon-light'.
shareAlthough Daredevils of The West(Allan Lane) was a Republic serial, Paramount somehow owned the rights to it and refused to to reissue it or release it on DVD or tape for about 60 years.
It was famous for being "lost" and only four chapters were availiable. Ray Beame had a very flawed copy with much of the sound missing as well as the entire second chapter except for the sound.
The Serial Squadron restored the film but had to hire voice "doubles" due to an incomplete voice track. A few frames of one chapter are damaged.
As you pointed out, Paramount evidently doesn't see much commercial value in making older films available. Kudos to Serial Squadron for its ongoing work in film restoration of the serials, especially the silent ones.
A DVD version would be wonderful, but I would be happy with just a vhs tape! I have never seen the 1926 version but I would love to---Ronald Coleman is one of my favorite actors. Does anyone know where I can get a tape!
Badger 37
[email protected]
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It's available via bootleg dealers, and you can get quite good copies.
"So what else is on your mind besides 100 proof women, 90 proof whiskey, and 14 karat gold?"
ScarletPimernel64; The names and contact information of these "bootleg dealers" would be useful.
shareMovies Unlimited is listing it as available as of now see the link below
http://turnerclassic.moviesunlimited.com/Product.asp?sku=D90724
bearcorg; Thank You.
share[deleted]
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