TCM Comments: Wake Island (1942) and Beau Geste (1939) – Starring Brian Donlevy Double Feature

[Music] good evening I'm Alicia Malone and tonight on TCM we have a lineup of films starring Brian Don Levy he was the Irish American character actor who was particularly good as a villain or a tough leader our first film sees him as a major of the Marines who has nerves of Steel from 1942 directed by John faroh Wake Island the script is by W Bernett and Frank Butler and as the title suggests the story is set on Wake Island it's a small island in the North Pacific where a group of US Marines have been stationed they don't have a lot to do and are put under the command of a major played by Brian Don Levy but suddenly everything changes when Pearl Harbor is bombed and just 5 hours later Wake Island is under attack this features a great performance by Brian Don Levy who'd been acting in films since the 1920s and knew all about being in war he grew up in Wisconsin as the son of an Irish whiskey distiller but he left home at around 14 years old lying about his age to get into the army so he could join the hunt for Poncho via in Mexico Don Levy also served in World War I but had an interest in acting so in the 1920s he moved to New York where he tried his best to get into Broadway and make ends meet dvy was cast in a few roles in Broadway play and then started to get small acting Parts in movies but it wouldn't be until barar Coast from 1935 where he acted opposite Edward G Robinson that Don Levy would start to be noticed slowly he established himself as a character actor mainly playing supporting roles though he did have a few chances at being the lead as we'll see later tonight but right now also starring William Bendix and Robert Preston from 1942 this is Wake Island Wake Island was released in September of 1942 and wartime audiences in the United States reacted enthusiastically to its patriotic message of Victory even in the face of defeat and it became a big hit both commercially and critically Wake Island also received four Oscar nominations including best director for John faroh best screenplay for WR Bernett and Frank Butler best picture and best supporting actor for William Bendix the first and only Oscar nomination for that great character actor Mrs Min was the big winner that year and while Brian Don Levy wasn't nominated for his performance in Wake Island he would receive a nomination for our next movie so keep watching after the break as we see Bryant on Levy play a cruel commander in the French Legion in a 1939 drama starring Gary Cooper and Ray Miland next on TCM Bo J then the great MTI and later in impact Don Lev is are force to be reckoned with tonight thanks for being with me on TCM I'm Alicia Malone and tonight we are focusing on the career of character actor Brian Don Levy he was a recognizable face on the screen during the 1930s and 40s where he played a string of supporting Parts as tough guys and occasionally a lead role that showed his sweeter more sentimental side that's not what we're about to see in our next film Brian Don Levy earned an Oscar nomination for playing a sadistic French Legionnaire who rules with brutality from 1939 directed by William Wellman the film is Bo the screenplay by Robert Carson is based on a book by perciful Christopher Ren which had been bought previously to the screen in 1926 with a silent film starring Ronald Coleman this time it's Gary Cooper in the title role as Bo who along with his brothers Digby played by Robert Preston and Sean played by Ray Miland leave home to join the French Foreign Legion the three brothers are hopeful for action and adventure but find themselves stuck under the cruel command of Sergeant marov played by Don Levy Don Levy is excellent here as a character who abuses his power over his soldiers and apparently Don Levy himself didn't make too many friends on this set director William Wellman remembered that Don Levy quote lorded over everybody I've never seen a guy that could get every everybody to dislike him as he did yet he was so good in the picture so I kept him in perhaps St Levy was just in character also with Susan Hayward from 1939 let's watch Brian Don Levy in BO Brian Don Levy received excellent critical reviews for Bo and was singled out for his performance even over that great cast of Gary Cooper Robert Preston and Ray Miland he certainly made for a formidable vill and according to director William Wellman Don Levy also wasn't liked on the set particularly by Ray Miland Wellman claimed that in a scene where Miland and Don Levy were fencing Miland purposely aimed at a part of Don Levy's body that wasn't padded and caused a cut that drew blood but the assistant director Joe Youngerman disputed this tale saying that Milan would never do that and there wasn't even a fencing scene in the movie apparently Don Levy did get stabbed in the shoulder during production but that was was an accident boess was nominated for two Oscars best art Direction and best supporting actor for Brian Don Levy this was to be his only Oscar nomination of his career but soon after Don Levy got a chance at a rare leading role that's what we'll be watching next on TCM as Brian Don Levy goes from being on the streets to being in politics in the great McGinty directed by Preston Sturges it's after this break so don't go anywhere next on TC M the great minint then impact and later an American romance we're in love with Don levy on TCM tonight