Garv’s Pick of the Week: The Last Remake of Beau Geste (Kino Lorber)
For the release week of March 16th:
Garv’s Pick of the Week: The Last Remake of Beau Geste [Blu-ray / Kino Lorber]: This is a personal choice, as I don’t believe that The Last Remake of Beau Geste is the best movie being released on video this week in this (or any alternative) universe. I simply have fond memories of Marty Feldman’s 1977 spoof of Foreign Legion movies. I’m hoping that the movie holds up upon this revisit. Ann-Margret, Michael York, Peter Ustinov, James Earl Jones, and Trevor Howard provide support to the British comedian.
While it is well-known that the film was extensively re-edited by the studio after Feldman submitted his cut (which all-involved remember as being funnier than the release version), the Blu-ray only contains the studio cut. It may be that the original edit no longer exists. Perhaps the audio commentary included on the disc will shed light on the status of the original pre-release version.
Additional Titles of Interest —
In God We Trust [Blu-ray / Kino Lorber]: Marty Feldman followed up The Last Remake of Beau Geste with this 1980 religious satire.
Céline and Julie Go Boating [Blu-ray / Criterion]: This 3 hour and 18 minute playful, surrealist film by Jacques Rivette is probably the best release of the week. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen the movie myself yet. I’ll have to correct that soon.
Crossfire [Blu-ray / Warner Archive]: Film noir tackles racism in Edward Dmytryk’s 1947 movie, starring noir-regulars Robert Young, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan, and Gloria Grahame.
Damn Yankees [Blu-ray / Warner Archive]: Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets; and little man, little Lola wants you to buy this Blu-ray.
Running Time [Blu-ray / Synapse Films]: Bruce “Ash” Campbell stars in this 1997 low-budget heist film that takes place in real time.
Promising Young Woman [Blu-ray / Universal]: Carey Mulligan stars in one of the best-reviewed and most controversial movies of last year. If you are interested in the upcoming Oscar race, you should probably check this one out.
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