The Last Remake of Beau Geste

On accident, I picked up this oddly titled movie from the comedy section of my local video store, just hoping for a mildly entertaining flick for my boyfriend and I to sit down for the evening to. Now, it has proved itself to be one of our favorites. Marty Feldman was a great actor and I am continuously searching for more of his work. This movie is at the top of my list right next to The Producers.

Man, I saw this movie in the theater with my parents.. I was so lucky.. they took me to every film they thought worthy...It was hot in Austin Texas and we loved the air conditioning..that's probably why we were there..but my young mind loved the satire (though I didn't know what it was) and man.. Michael York was a hottie!) I am so lucky.. my parents knew what they were doing...

I saw some GEMS.. of course.. we're pretty base, unsophisticated folks so the movies we like won't set the world afire.. my mom and I had a great time discussing how wimpy Leslie Howard was as Ashley Wilkes in Gone With the Wind.. and we still laugh about Hannibal Lecter's Fava Beans... we've seen dogs do the same slurping thing.. at any rate... I have one question to ask...

Why in the HELL isn't this on DVD??? For hell's sake, we've got Mariah Carey's films on DVD.. but we don't have one of Marty Feldman's greatest films on DVD??? This just goes to show that intelligence, taste and class has NO place in the film industry.. not really..

And the sick thing is.. I freakin love movies.. I could spend every day watching films all day.. good God.. Now I have another reason to believe my parents warped me..:) seriously..folks, whether you believe these comments or not (and if I listened to all of the comments on this site, I'd have missed some FAB films) give this movie a chance...and for GOd's sake..if you find it on video.. HOLD ON TO IT.. it NEVER shows up on telly and it isn't on DVD.. and by rights it should.. right alongside Young Frankie and the rest...

At any rate.. I owe Mr. Feldman a thank you.. he gave me some of the best laughs of my life..

Thanks Marty, you're long gone and can't read this.. but maybe your family can.. you gave me some of the best laughs I can remember.. and you didn't have to swear to do it.. thanks, man.. my life is truly better for having seen ya..

Sincerely, Mad Monica

When I saw the opening title sequence with the Universal logo spinning and Marty popping it up like a baloon I cracked myself up. I didn't know any of the actors when I first saw it when I was younger but as time passed by I began to realize how important Marty was to worldwide comedy. He was so funny on YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN but here is HIS own film and he can do whatever he feels like. I love Mel Brook's work but I this film is one of the first film-spoofs like TOP SECRET! and HOT SHOTS! The sequence where Marty escapes out of prision is a homage to Charlie Chaplin, doubtlessly. Michael York is a young hero but the gags all fall onto Marty. He's the funny one and gets all the attention. York is the sidekick, really. I really don't know how they managed to get a cross-eyed kid to play Marty as a child but the resemblance is remarkable. James Earl Jones is fantastic too as a desert bandit. Highly recommended for a few laughs!!!!!!!!!

I remember Marty Feldman, having first seen him in TV's "At Last the 1948 Show" in the '60's and his eccentric brand of humour has not aged much. I say much because sadly the naughty sexual innuendo and double entendre's do make me wish for a simpler age. A time when the thought of aged Trevor Howard and an absolutely stunning Anne-Margaret heading for the bedroom to do "something creative with a chandelier and a feather duster" brought forth a chortle.

The rest however is top notch improvisational comedy. Constantly watchable if not thigh-slappingly funny. It is a stream of amusement interspersed with runs of out loud laughter.

The horse with the prosthetic leg matching his rider is brilliant. As another poster stated the large range of quality actors appearing is a tribute to Marty Feldman's professional standing. To see Darth Vader, er, I mean James Earl Jones doing a very funny parody of Terry-Thomas who actually appears in the film is wonderful.

I liked Mel Brooks' "Men in Tights" which closely resembles "Last Remakes" style but somehow Marty could skew the humour that one more degree to make it just that little bit more eccentrically funny.

It may seem a bit silly in parts now, but overall it is thoroughly enjoyable. And finding a child look-a-like for Marty Feldman made me push this films rating from a 7 to an 8.

I had not seen the original Beau Geste, with Gary Cooper in the title role, when I saw this movie. After seeing this movie, including a *hilarious* 'cameo' of Gary Cooper, I watched the original. It only made me appreciate the humor in the Last Remake even more. The Last Remake (were there ever previous remakes?) parodies the story completely, but every other scene makes you laugh. The scene with Gary Cooper would almost certainly not be allowed on TV today due to censorship so you'll have to buy this movie on, ick, VHS to see it. But at a time when new releases are $10+ to see not including popcorn, paying about $20 for a VHS of this movie, and being able to show it to friends and watch it over and over, is worth it. Trust me on this :).

"So that's why you talk so slow Big G."