Beau Ideal (1931) | Directed by Herbert Brenon - Full Movie

An American joins the French Foreign Legion in order to rescue a boyhood friend.

Beau Ideal is a 1931 American pre-Code adventure film directed by Herbert Brenon and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The film was based on the 1927 adventure novel Beau Ideal by P. C. Wren, the third novel in a series of five novels based around the same characters. Brenon had directed the first in the series, Beau Geste, which was a very successful silent film in 1926. The screenplay was adapted from Wren's novel by Paul Schofield, who had also written the screenplay for the 1926 Beau Geste, with contributions from Elizabeth Meehan and Marie Halvey.

The film starred Ralph Forbes (reprising his role as John Geste from the 1926 Beau Geste), Loretta Young, and Irene Rich. The other lead, Lester Vail, was making his film debut, after he replaced Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., who had originally been selected for a principal role in the film. Exteriors were filmed on locations in Arizona and Mexico, while the interiors were filmed on the RKO lot in Hollywood, and production took approximately five weeks to film. Post production would take place in November and December 1930, before the film was released on January 16, 1931.

Directed by: Herbert Brenon, Ray Lissner (assistant)
Written by: Paul Schofield (screenplay) Elizabeth Meehan (adaptation) Marie Halvey (dialogue)
Based on Beau Ideal by P. C. Wren
Produced by: Herbert Brenon
Starring: Ralph Forbes, Loretta Young, Irene Rich, Lester Vail
Cinematography: J. Roy Hunt
Edited by: Herbert Brenon
Music by: Max Steiner
Production company: RKO Radio Pictures
Distributed by: RKO Radio Pictures
Release date: January 16, 1931 (Premiere-New York City)
January 25, 1931 (US)
Running time: 82 minutes, 79 minutes (Canada, Ontario)
Country: United States
Language: English
Budget: $707,000
Box office: $575,000