March or Die

An American commander in the French Foreign Legion who is haunted by memories of the Great War. He struggles with alcoholism and leads a tough, by-the-book unit into Morocco to restore French authority. His willingness to make morally ambiguous calls—such as shooting the trapped archaeologists to end their suffering—defines his controversial leadership and ultimate fate.

Foster's faithful sergeant, a weathered and loyal veteran who keeps the unit together under harsh conditions. He embodies grit and steadiness, offering a counterbalance to Foster's harsher impulses. Triand represents the human anchor of discipline and camaraderie in the Legion's brutal march.

The Gypsy Marco Segrain is a charming jewel thief known for a Riviera crime spree before joining the Legion. He is quick-witted, impulsive, and often insubordinate, bringing a volatile energy to the unit. His relationship with the archaeologists, and his subsequent choices, drive much of the group’s internal tension.

A Russian giant who previously served as a bodyguard for the deposed imperial family. Ivan is a formidable presence whose strength shapes battle dynamics and whose loyalty remains a subject of unit dependency. He fights bravely and pays the price alongside his comrades.

A fashionable musician nicknamed Top Hat, he lacks the physical traits typically expected of a soldier. His presence adds wit and style to the group, but his inability to endure the march leads to his tragic suicide, highlighting the Legion's brutal selection process.

A romantic English aristocrat who longs for the days of the Great War. He brings a sense of old-world charm and reckless idealism to the squad, contrasting the harsher realities of desert combat. Hastings's arc culminates in a brutal fate that underscores the film’s themes of sacrifice and lost glory.

A Louvre archaeologist (Simone Picard) leading digs near Erfoud, she embodies the allure of scientific pursuit amid conflict. Her relationship with Marco highlights tensions between culture, curiosity, and danger in a war-torn frontier. She is central to the dig story and the tragic outcomes of the expedition.

The de facto leader of the Bedouin tribes, El Krim is Foster's old ally turned adversary. He embodies calculated resistance and pragmatic leadership, leveraging tribal unity to challenge French power. His actions shape the climactic battles and the ultimate decision to withdraw and return home.