[4][5] Major de Beaujolais leads a French Foreign Legion battalion across the Sahara desert to relieve Fort Zinderneuf, reportedly besieged by Arabs.

The trumpeter volunteers to scale the wall and open the gate, but after waiting 15 minutes, the major climbs inside himself.

He finds the dead commandant with a note in his hand addressed to the chief of police of Scotland Yard which states that the writer is solely responsible for the theft of the "Blue Water" sapphire from Lady Patricia Brandon.

The major sends two Americans - later disclosed as the Gestes' friends, Hank and Buddy - to fetch reinforcements.

The three young Geste brothers and a girl named Isobel stage a naval battle with toy ships.

After the children become adults, she receives a telegram, announcing that her husband intends to sell the "Blue Water", a family jewel.

Lejaune assigns Digby and his American friends Hank and Buddy to Beaujolais, while he, Beau and John join a detachment, commanded by Lieutenant Maurel, marching to Fort Zinderneuf.

Boldini tells Beau and John that Lejaune knows about the mutiny and plans to have the men kill each other so there will be no witnesses to his theft of the jewel.

Remembering his childhood promise, he gives his brother a Viking's funeral, with a dog (Lejaune) at his feet.

They run into Hank and Buddy who, given the short time elapsed, may have deserted before fulfilling their order to summon reinforcements.

[6] Mordaunt Hall, critic for The New York Times, wrote that "Adventure, romance, mystery and brotherly affection are skillfully linked in the pictorial translation of Percival Christopher Wren's absorbing novel, 'Beau Geste'".

[3] He also complimented many of the principal performers: Colman ("easy and sympathetic"), Joyce ("charming"), Trevor ("effective") and Powell ("an excellent character study of Boldini").

[7] A Toronto Film Society article stated, "Beau Geste is the archetype of the Foreign Legion movie, a carefully produced, enjoyable adventure yarn with an intriguing element of mystery.