The precursor to Paramount Pictures, Famous Players-Lasky Corp, produced the film Beau Geste, in 1926. It was based on P. C. Wren's novel of life in the French Foreign Legion. The second book in the series, Beau Sabreur, was made into a film in 1928, starring Gary Cooper, also by Paramount. While Beau Sabreur was unconnected to Beau Geste, having completely different characters, this third film was billed as the sequel to the first film, having many of the same characters. Like the other two films, this movie was based on the Wren novel of the same name, which had been released in 1928.Review of novel. Retrieved September 10, 2014. RKO purchased the rights to the novel in July 1930, and Herbert Brenon, who had directed Beau Geste, became the first person attached to the project.
