Campbell Playhouse: Beau Geste - March 17, 1939

By: Orson Welles

Narrated by: Orson Welles

Orson Welles both starred in and directed The Campbell Playhouse, a radio drama (1938-40) produced by Welles and John Houseman. The episodes include adaptions of classic novels and plays, as well as radio versions of the era's popular films.

©2010 ABN (P)2010 ABN

Great Fun

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Hearing Laurence Olivier and Orson Welles doing a radio play together. A bit of static in the recording (which can hardly be surprising :-))

What does Orson Welles bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

It's an audio dramatization of the book by P.C. Wren

Could you see Campbell Playhouse: Beau Geste - March 17, 1939 being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I don't know, but maybe that Laurence Olivier fellow should play the lead. Oh wait. :-)

Any additional comments?

This is a condensed adaption of the great bestselling novel by P.C. Wren. It is extremely fun if you have already read the book, which I had done. It might be a bit breathlessly paced if you haven't. The story itself is VERY twisty, so you have to pay attention to the exposition if you haven't read the book. But if you have, you can concentrate on the highly entertaining interpretation of the characters, which with Laurence Olivier, Orson Welles, and Noah Berrie doing the acting, is wonderful fun.