Vera Cruz

1954 western directed by Robert Aldrich and starring Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster. Two mismatched cowpokes take up sides in Mexico after the U.S. civil war to supposedly overthrow the dictator but seemingly more interested in a shipment of gold. Cooper is silent and stalwart as usual, Lancaster is the darker guy of the two but is the bad guy you love to hate.

Watch for the gunfight at the end and see if you can guess who wins.

Action packed western with good cast.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047647/

Beau Geste

Another terrific film from 1939 (What was it about that year?).

Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, Robert Preston, and Brian Donlevy star in this story about honor, duty, and redemption.

Great opening draws you into this French Foreign Legion adventure where three brothers combat the enemy and their sadistic officer. Sentimental ending ( I won't spoil it) is memorable.

There were two other versions I am aware of: a silent film version starring Ronald Colman and a '60s remake with Telly Savales. But this is the first one I saw and it has stuck with me.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031088/