March or Die

Major William Foster, haunted by his Great War memories and struggling with alcoholism, assumes command of a Foreign Legion unit heading to Rif, Morocco. His only close ally is his sergeant Triand as he sets out to reassert French authority over Bedouin and Berber resistance.

Foster gathers a diverse group—Marco Segrain, Ivan, Top Hat, and Hastings—who must endure harsh training. The recruits bond under difficult conditions as they travel toward Morocco and the looming frontier conflict. Their resolve is tested by the brutal discipline Foster imposes.

El Krim greets Foster, proclaims that Morocco belongs to his people, and orders the French to leave. He reveals that two archaeologists have been tortured, their eyes and tongues gouged, as a grim 'gift' to Paris. He asks Foster to carry this token back to the Premier.

Foster shoots the two archaeologists to end their torment, a brutal decision he believes will spare them further pain. One of the victims turns out to be Madame Picard's father, deepening the personal stakes. The mission continues toward the French fortress.

Back at the fortress, Foster subjects his men to unforgiving training designed to break their will and bond the unit. Marco's charm and defiance clash with the discipline he imposes. The inner tensions foreshadow the coming crisis.

After failing to complete a march, Top Hat abandons the others and returns to camp, where he takes his own life to avoid further abuse. The loss weighs on the unit and signals the brutality of their environment. The mood in the camp darkens with his absence.

Hastings is abducted from guard duty at the dig site and tortured to death by a tribal raider. Marco retaliates by killing the raider, exposing the volatile and dangerous frontier conditions. The unit's morale deteriorates as violence erupts.

The tomb of the Angel of the Desert is discovered, becoming a focal point in the conflict. Foster offers the golden sarcophagus as a peace token to El Krim, hoping to avert further bloodshed. The act marks a pivotal shift in the siege's dynamics.

El Krim unites the Bedouin tribes to slaughter the European interlopers. The well-trained Legion fights valiantly, killing hundreds but eventually the defenses crumble under weight of numbers. The siege tests every soldier's resolve.

During the battle, Ivan is killed, and Marco fights on to prevent the outflanking of the surviving Legionnaires. His actions disrupt the Bedouin maneuvering and save portions of the unit, though the toll of the fighting is immense.

Foster is mortally wounded by a shot, and as the fighting wanes El Krim orders the survivors to take Foster and their dead back to France. The destruction and casualties underscore the futility of the cycle of violence.

The TV version ends with Marco deserting with Picard, choosing a life beyond the Legion. The theatrical version shows Marco staying behind to train new recruits, echoing Foster's warning that the desert will claim those who falter. Both endings reflect the brutal code the film explores.