Beau Geste is a BBC television serial, based on the 1924 novel by P. C. Wren. The series aired on BBC1 from 31 October to 19 December 1982 and starred Benedict Taylor, Anthony Calf and Jonathon Morris as the three brothers. Plot Although minor plot points separate the versions, all of the versions share a common element of a stolen gem, which one of the Geste brothers, Beau Geste, is thought to have stolen from his adoptive family. This version, unlike the Hollywood movies, stays true to the book, in that the three young brothers join the legion, are later commanded by Sergeant Major Lejaune (not Markov, as in one of the Hollywood versions), and this TV adaptation contains the scene from the book where the surrounded Legionnaires defiantly sing Le Boudin. The Legionnaires' equipment is spot-on too, right down to the correct mess-tins and bayonets. Filmed entirely in England, at various locations, with its desert scenes being filmed in a sand pit in Dorset. Cast Benedict Taylor: Michael 'Beau' Geste Anthony Calf: Digby Geste Jonathon Morris: John Geste Andrew Armour: Recruiting Sgt. Major Sally Baxter: Isobel Lucy Benjamin: Young Claudia (as Lucy Baker) Jonathan Burn: Colonna John Cannon: Legionnaire Nicolas Chagrin: St. Andre John Challis: Cpl. Dupre Julia Chambers: Claudia Les Conrad: Legionnaire Robin Crane: Young Digby Paul Critchley: Young John Barry Dennen: Buddy Harry Fielder: Legionnaire John Forgeham: Sgt. Maj. Lejaune Nadio Fortune: Guantaio Pat Gorman: Legionnaire Stefan Gryff: Boldini Terry Gurry: Corporal Paul Hawkins: Young Beau Randal Herley: Recruiting Officer Andrew Lodge: Glock Christopher Malcolm: Hank Red Milner: Legionnaire John Moreno: Maris Kenneth Owens: Brandt Daniel André Pageon: Vauren (as Daniel Pageon) John Patrick: Rastignac Sian Pattenden: Young Isobel Maurice Quick: Burdon Terry Raven: Indian Gentleman Bunny Reed: Schwartz Christopher Reilly: Young Augustus John Repsch: Corporal Jon Rumney: Bolidar David Shawyer: Sgt. Maj. Dufour Philip Shelley: Augustus Brandon Barry Summerford: Legionnaire David Sumner: Maj. Henri de Beaujolais Damien Thomas: Capt. Renouf Robert Vowles: Guard Corporal Wendy Williams: Lady Brandon External links 1982 British television series debuts 1982 British television series endings 1980s British drama television series BBC television dramas Television shows based on British novels 1980s British television miniseries English-language television shows French Foreign Legion in popular culture Television shows set in Dorset