The Lost Remake of Beau Geste Blu-ray
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2026 5:00 pm
I'm pleased to announce the Kickstarter campaign to fund a new Blu-ray, "The Lost Remake of Beau Geste," A co-production of Split Reel and Men With Wings.
The disc features my 2013 documentary about a parody of "Beau Geste" made in 1939 by a group of San Diego State College kids on the set left behind in the California desert by Paramount. Also included are the parody of"Beau Geste" and the group's follow-up, "King Congo" which was filmed in color. It premiered in November 1941 and has not been seen publicly since 1945.
I have also written a companion book, "The Films of Wade Millerr," a heavily illusttrated volume, printed in full color, detailing the production of the two films and providing biographical detail about Bob Wade and H. Billy Miller, who co-wrote, directed, produced, edited, and acted in both films.
Wade and MIller went on to write some thirty acclaimed crime and mystery novels using several pseudonyms including Wade Miller and Whit Masterson. As Masterson, they wrote the novel "Badge of Evil" filmed by Orson Welles as "Touch of Evil."
"Beau Geste" and "King Congo" were both shot on 16mm and only ever existed as one single print each - no negative, no duplicates. Bob Wade had VHS copies of each struck in the 1980s. Although I found both film prints in the Wades' garage, they had deteriorated beyond salvaging. The transfers have been enhanced as much as possible and the results are quite watchable.
These two movies are great fun and as rare as rare gets. I think you'll get a lot of enjoyment from them, I sure have.
Frank Thompson
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sp ... uve_backed
The disc features my 2013 documentary about a parody of "Beau Geste" made in 1939 by a group of San Diego State College kids on the set left behind in the California desert by Paramount. Also included are the parody of"Beau Geste" and the group's follow-up, "King Congo" which was filmed in color. It premiered in November 1941 and has not been seen publicly since 1945.
I have also written a companion book, "The Films of Wade Millerr," a heavily illusttrated volume, printed in full color, detailing the production of the two films and providing biographical detail about Bob Wade and H. Billy Miller, who co-wrote, directed, produced, edited, and acted in both films.
Wade and MIller went on to write some thirty acclaimed crime and mystery novels using several pseudonyms including Wade Miller and Whit Masterson. As Masterson, they wrote the novel "Badge of Evil" filmed by Orson Welles as "Touch of Evil."
"Beau Geste" and "King Congo" were both shot on 16mm and only ever existed as one single print each - no negative, no duplicates. Bob Wade had VHS copies of each struck in the 1980s. Although I found both film prints in the Wades' garage, they had deteriorated beyond salvaging. The transfers have been enhanced as much as possible and the results are quite watchable.
These two movies are great fun and as rare as rare gets. I think you'll get a lot of enjoyment from them, I sure have.
Frank Thompson
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sp ... uve_backed