Jump to content

List of films featuring the French Foreign Legion

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of films featuring the French Foreign Legion in which the Foreign Legion is portrayed either through its plot or by a main character.

The Foreign Legion is an elite unit of the French army, established in 1831, and it has seen action throughout the world, recently in Africa and the Middle East. It has been featured in a large number of films, including a number about the legion itself, such as 1949's Outpost in Morocco.

List of films

[edit]
Title Director Notable cast Summary Released Notes
Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion Charles Lamont Bud Abbott, Lou Costello 1950
Adventure in Sahara D. Ross Lederman Paul Kelly, C. Henry Gordon, and Lorna Gray Stationed at Fort Agadez, a lonely French desert outpost in Algeria, Legionnaire Jim Wilson leads a mutiny against his cruel and oppressive commanding officer Captain Savatt. 1938
Alarm in Morocco Jean Devaivre Jean-Claude Pascal, Erich von Stroheim, and Gianna Maria Canale 1953
Ali Baba Bound Robert Clampett Mel Blanc (voice) Porky Pig discovers a plot by Ali-Baba and his Dirty Sleeves to attack his fort and rushes to warn his fellow legionnaires, only to discover everyone has left for the Legion convention in Boston, and is forced to single-handedly defend the fort with his rented camel. 1940 Animated short film
Arabian Tights Hal Roach Charley Chase, Muriel Evans, and Carlton Griffin After being coerced into joining the Foreign Legion, Charley and his friends are captured and imprisoned by an Arabian sultan. 1933 Comedy short
Beau Geste Herbert Brenon Ronald Colman, Neil Hamilton, and Ralph Forbes 1926 Based on the novel of the same name
Beau Geste William A. Wellman Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, and Robert Preston 1939
Beau Geste Douglas Heyes Guy Stockwell, Doug McClure, and Leslie Nielsen 1966
The Last Remake of Beau Geste Marty Feldman Marty Feldman, Ann-Margret, and Michael York 1977
Beau Geste Douglas Camfield Benedict Taylor, Anthony Calf, and Jonathon Morris 1982 Television mini-series
Beau Hunks James W. Horne Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, and James W. Horne Oliver joins the Foreign Legion after being jilted by his girlfriend dragging his best friend Stanley along with him. 1931
Beau Ideal Herbert Brenon Ralph Forbes, Loretta Young, and Irene Rich Otis Madison joins the French Foreign Legion in order to rescue a boyhood friend held prisoner in Morocco. 1931
Beau Sabreur John Waters Gary Cooper, Evelyn Brent, and Noah Beery 1928 Lost film
Beau Travail Claire Denis Denis Lavant, Michel Subor, and Grégoire Colin Galoup reflects on his career as a Foreign Legion officer, leading troops in the Gulf of Djibouti, and his jealous rivalry with young recruit Gilles Sentain. 1999 Awards: 5 total
Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion Lester Fuller Buster Crabbe, Fuzzy Knight, and Cullen Crabbe This early U.S. television series followed the adventures of Capt. Michael Gallant and his fellow Foreign Legionnaires 1955-1957 One of the few American television series in the 1950s to be filmed outside the US, most being limited to California, with the show being shot on location in Morocco. Several episodes were edited into the 1954 film Desert Outpost.
China Gate Samuel Fuller Gene Barry, Angie Dickinson, and Nat King Cole Sergeant Brock and Goldie, ex-American Korean War veterans serving as French Foreign Legion mercenaries in the First Indochina War, are ordered to lead a squad to blow up an arms depot near the Chinese border. 1957
Desert Hell Charles Marquis Warren Brian Keith, Barbara Hale, and Richard Denning 1958
Desert Legion Joseph Pevney Alan Ladd, Richard Conte, and Arlene Dahl 1953
Desert Sands Lesley Selander Ralph Meeker, Marla English, and J. Carrol Naish 1955
The Desert Song Roy Del Ruth John Boles, Carlotta King, and Louise Fazenda 1929 Based on the operatta of the same name.
The Desert Song Robert Florey Dennis Morgan, Irene Manning, and Bruce Cabot 1943
The Desert Song H. Bruce Humberstone Kathryn Grayson, Gordon MacRae, and Steve Cochran 1953
The Devil's in Love William Dieterle Victor Jory, Loretta Young, and Vivienne Osborne 1933
Drums of the Desert George Waggner Ralph Byrd, Lorna Gray, and George Lynn 1940
Due della legione straniera Lucio Fulci Franco and Ciccio, and Alighiero Noschese 1962
Escape from Sahara Wolfgang Staudte Hildegard Knef, Bernhard Wicki and Hannes Messemer 1958
Escape to the Foreign Legion Louis Ralph Hans Stüwe, Alexander Murski, Eva von Berne 1929
Flesh and the Woman Robert Siodmak Gina Lollobrigida, Jean-Claude Pascal, and Peter van Eyck 1954
Die Flucht aus der Hölle Hans-Erich Korbschmitt Armin Mueller-Stahl 1960
The Flying Deuces A. Edward Sutherland Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, and Jean Parker 1939
Follow that Camel Gerald Thomas Phil Silvers, Kenneth Williams, and Jim Dale 1967
The Foreign Legion Edward Sloman Norman Kerry, Lewis Stone, and Crauford Kent 1928 Considered a lost film.
Fort Algiers Lesley Selander Yvonne De Carlo, Carlos Thompson, and Raymond Burr 1953
Fremdenlegionär Kirsch Philipp Lothar Mayring Max Kirsch, Philipp Lothar Mayring, Benno Norbert 1921
Le Grand Jeu Jacques Feyder Marie Bell, Pierre Richard-Willm, and Charles Vanel 1934
Hermoso Ideal Alejandro Galindo Conchita Martínez, Rodolfo Landa, and Alejandro Ciangherotti Version of Beau Ideal (1931) 1948
Invincible Blackie Ko Dave Wong, Sharla Cheung and Blackie Ko A timid triad member fled to France with his lover after killing a rival gang boss accidentally, in order to earn a living and to gain a French nationality, he joins the Foreign Legion. 1992
Juarez William Dieterle Paul Muni, Bette Davis, and Brian Aherne 1939
Jump into Hell David Butler Jacques Sernas, Peter van Eyck, and Marcel Dalio 1955
Legion of Missing Men Hamilton MacFadden Ralph Forbes, Ben Alexander, and Hala Linda 1937
Legion of the Doomed Thor L. Brooks Bill Williams, Dawn Richard, and Anthony Caruso 1958
Legione Straniera Basilio Franchina Viviane Romance, Marc Lawrence, and Alberto Farnese 1953
Legionnaire Peter MacDonald Jean-Claude Van Damme, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and Steven Berkoff A 1920s boxer who wins a fight after having been hired by gangsters to lose it, then flees to join the French Foreign Legion 1998
Lionheart Sheldon Lettich Jean-Claude Van Damme, Harrison Page, and Deborah Rennard When his brother is seriously injured, a paratrooper legionnaire returns to Los Angeles to enter the underground fighting circuit to raise money for his brother's family 1990
Little Beau Porky Frank Tashlin (as Frank Tash) Joe Dougherty (voice, uncredited), Billy Bletcher (vocie, uncredited) Porky Pig is ordered by his Commandant to wash the Commanadant's camel. A cable arrives, saying that Ali Mode's Riff Raffs have attacked, and the Commandant and everyone except Porky march to the rescue. However, Ali Mode and his men later attack the fort and Porky must defend his post single-handedly. 1936 Animated short film
Lost in the Legion Fred C. Newmeyer A. Bromley Davenport, Betty Fields and Leslie Fuller 1934
A Man Called Sarge Stuart Gillard Gary Kroeger, Gretchen German, and Marc Singer 1990
March or Die Dick Richards Gene Hackman, Terence Hill, and Catherine Deneuve 1977
Marcia o Crepa Frank Wisbar Stewart Granger, Dorian Gray, and Carlos Casaravilla 1962 Known as The Legion's Last Patrol in the United Kingdom and Commando in the United States.
Marocco en het Vreemdelingenlegioen Theo Frenkel 1912
La Légion saute sur Kolwezi Raoul Coutard Bruno Cremer, Mimsy Farmer, and Giuliano Gemma Based on the French intervention during the 1978 military coup in Kolwezi. 1980 Known as Military Coup in Kolwezi in the United States.
Les Morfalous Henri Verneuil Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jacques Villeret, and Michel Constantin 1984
Morocco Josef von Sternberg Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich, and Adolphe Menjou 1930 Film was selected to the National Film Registry in 1992.
The Mummy Stephen Sommers Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, and John Hannah 1999
Outpost in Morocco Robert Florey George Raft, Marie Windsor, and Akim Tamiroff 1949
Renegades Victor Fleming Warner Baxter, Myrna Loy, and Noah Beery 1930
Rogues' Regiment Robert Florey Dick Powell, Märta Torén, and Vincent Price 1948
Savate Isaac Florentine Olivier Gruner 1995
Savior Predrag Antonijevic Dennis Quaid, Nastassja Kinski, and Pascal Rollin 1998
Scorching Sands Hal Roach, Robin Williamson Stan Laurel, James Finlayson, and Katherine Grant 1923
Secondhand Lions Tim McCanlies Haley Joel Osment, Michael Caine, and Robert Duvall 2003
Sergeant X Vladimir Strizhevsky Ivan Mozzhukhin, Trude von Molo, and Peter Voß 1932
Sergeant X of the Foreign Legion Bernard Borderie Noëlle Adam, Christian Marquand, and Paul Guers 1960
Il sergente Klems [it] Sergio Grieco Peter Strauss, Tina Aumont, and Pier Paolo Capponi 1971 Known as Man of Legend internationally.
Siren of Atlantis Gregg G. Tallas Maria Montez, Jean-Pierre Aumont, and Dennis O'Keefe 1949
Ten Tall Men Willis Goldbeck Burt Lancaster, Jody Lawrance, and Gilbert Roland 1951
The Three Musketeers Colbert Clark, Armand Schaefer Jack Mulhall, Raymond Hatton, Ralph Bushman, and John Wayne 1933 The Three Musketeers serial was edited into the 1946 film Desert Command.
Timbuktu Jacques Tourneur Victor Mature, Yvonne De Carlo and George Dolenz 1959
Totò sceicco Mario Mattoli Totò 1950
Trouble in Morocco Ernest B. Schoedsack Jack Holt, Mae Clarke and Paul Hurst 1937
Two Mules for Sister Sara Don Siegel Shirley MacLaine, Clint Eastwood Two fortune hunting mercenaries assist Mexican revolutionaries to fight the French. 1970 Set during the French intervention in Mexico
Un de la légion Christian-Jaque Fernandel, Robert Le Vigan, and Daniel Mendaille 1936
Under Two Flags J. Gordon Edwards Theda Bara, Herbert Heyes, and Stuart Holmes 1916 Based on the novel of the same name. Considered a lost film.
Under Two Flags Tod Browning Priscilla Dean, James Kirkwood and John Davidson 1922
Under Two Flags Frank Lloyd Ronald Colman, Claudette Colbert, and Victor McLaglen 1936
Under Two Jags George Jeske Stan Laurel 1923
The Unknown George Melford Lou Tellegen, Theodore Roberts, and Dorothy Davenport 1915
Wages of Virtue Allan Dwan Gloria Swanson, Ben Lyon, Norman Trevor, Ivan Linow, Armand Cortes, Adrienne D'Ambricourt 1924
Wee Wee Monsieur Del Lord Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curly Howard 1938 Comedy short
We're in the Legion Now! Crane Wilbur Reginald Denny, Esther Ralston and Vince Barnett 1936
The Winding Stair John Griffith Wray Alma Rubens, Edmund Lowe and Warner Oland 1950

Further reading

[edit]
  • Guinle, Pierre and Giuseppe Ricci. Filmografia Della Legione Straniera.

Rimini: Cineteca del Comune di Rimini, 1992 78p. Series Title: Riminicinema: Quaderni della cineteca; 9.

  • Leibfried, Philip The Films of the French Foreign Legion Bear Manor Media (November 10, 2011)