Customer Reviews

Pépé le Moko

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Le Moko? A prince of plunder," says Inspector Slimane. "Fifteen convictions, 33 daylight robberies, two bank holdups. And burglaries? We haven't enough fingers in this room on which to count them all. How could he not be admired? And such a good boy! He wears his heart on his sleeve. As quick with a smile for his friends as a knife for foes. So charming."

Pepe le Moko (Jean Gabin) fled France for Algiers after a robbery, and has been holed up in the Casbah for two years. He's a major crime figure and the police, as long as he stays in the Casbah's labyrinth of streets, stairways and alleys, protected and warned by the people who live there, can't touch him. But le Moko is tired of his fate. He longs for France and freedom. He's bored with his life and with his mistress (Line Noro). The Casbah has become a prison. He knows Inspector Slimane (Lucas Gridoux), for whom he has a degree of liking, is patiently waiting for the opportunity to trap him. Then one night, escaping from a botched police raid, he encounters Gaby (Mireille Balin), a slumming socialite whose bills are being paid by a wealthy older man. She, at first, is intrigued by his reputation and then is captured by his charm and confidence. Le Moko is captured, too, by her beauty, her freshness and by the overwhelming lure of freedom she represents. In the background, observing and then manipulating, is Inspector Slimane. When we first meet him, Slimane seems a little too obsequious to his superiors and a little too outclassed by le Moko. In fact, he proves smarter and more ruthless than anyone else. The ending is a heartbreaker.

Jean Gabin gives a performance of such understated power that you can't keep your eyes off him. What's le Moko like, asks one character. Charming and frightening is the reply. For those, such as myself, who consider Gabin probably the finest screen actor, the charm is there, and so is the possibility of brutality not far from the surface. Lucas Gridoux also gives a fine performance. Inspector Slimane is a "native" cop, working under French superiors. He knows the Casbah, he can read le Moko. He's patient and he's determined. Slimane walks with a stoop and a smile that's all too ready, as though he has learned what it takes to work with the French. With all that, Gridoux gives Slimane a toughness and tenacity that underlines the inevitability of le Moko's fate.

This is a picture to watch while falling in love, said Elvis Mitchell, then a film critic for the New York Times. He's right. The film at times is almost jaunty and can be cynical, but it also tells a story that is poetic, romantic and doomed. After watching the final scene, you'll be glad to have someone to hug.

The Criterion DVD looks just fine. There are several interesting extras.

One of the most influential films of the 20th century, PEPE LE MOCO has a legendary reputation for not being seen. In 1938 Hollywood remade it as Algiers, but kept the original off-limits. Jean Gabin, in a truly iconic performance, is the titular notorious and elegant master thief who is safe as long as he stays in the Casbah.

"Women long for him, his rivals want to destroy him, and the law is breathing down his neck..." Enter a Parisian playgirl and Pepe is compelled to risk his life and its confines once and for all.

This landmark crime romance is the precursor to film noir. Restored to full length, this digital transfer with new subtitles is loaded with extras including a 1962 interview with director Julien Duvivier. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Criterion for releasing this wonderful restoration of Pepe le Moko. This film was impossible to find on dvd prior to this release, and Criterion has gone to great lengths to do a complete presentation.
The film itself looks wonderful. There's still some slight aging, etc, but most of these were retained on purpose. In addition to the film, this disc includes some great supplements including the history of "Pepe" and a direct comparison between Pepe le Moko and the English language remake the next year, Algiers.
I had seen Algiers many times prior to seeing Pepe. I loved Charles Boyer but if you have a chance to see both films I think you will agree that Pepe le moko is by far supperior. Jean Gabin's screen presence to an extent that Boyer doesn't quite match. In addition, the romance in Pepe has real sparks and chemistry. This is simply a wonderful film, and this dvd edition is excellent.
Thank you Criterion.

This film reached almost legendary status in the US because Hollywood remade it as ALGIERS & kept the original from being shown. Pauline Kael called it 'superb entertainment' & Graham Greene thought it was considerably more. Who am I to disagree? This movie is a perfect demonstration of why women all over the world fell in love with mugs like Gabin & Bogart & why little boys wanted to grow up and be them. The plot couldn't be simplier. A master thief is safe from the police as long as he stays within the confines of the Casbah. A bulldog police inspector is determined to lure him out. Enter the bored mistress of a wealthy Frenchman to complete the triangle. But what drives the story is not plot but character. All the elements: direction, writting, acting, lighting, editing etc. are all of a piece & eliminating one seriously alters the whole. In one memorable scene Pepe & the woman gaze into each other's eyes while reciting stops on the Paris Metro simultaneously reaching the same destination from opposite ends. If this scene doesn't get to you the ending surely will.

Pépé, a notorious gangster from Paris, has been forced to seek refuge in the maze of Casbah where he evades the police's futile attempts to capture him. During the police force's attempts to find a way to capture him, the mobster Pépé continues to raid jewelry stores and steal whatever he can get his hands on, and when he is not on a robbery he spends his time with his lover, Inès, or plays card. However, one night when Pépé is dodging the police's hopeless attempts to catch him, he crosses paths with Gaby Gould, a stunning Parisian woman. This encounter opens up Pandora's Box for Pépé and he falls in love with Gaby who reminds him of ultimate freedom. The score played in the film intensifies the perplexity of Pépé's situation that is further improved through cinematography, which produces a sense of entrapment. In addition, the misé-en-scene and acting is of world class. In end, Pépé Le Moko offers a spellbinding story, which at the end deliberately forces the audience to ponder the film's fundamental message.

French film star Jean Gabin effuses sensuality in his portrayal of Parisian master thief "Pepe Le Moko" in the 1937 film of the same name. Pepe has been sequestered in the Casbah of Algiers for two years, having evaded authorities. The Casbah whose labrynthine mazes of narrow streets, alleyways and terraces and sympathetic populace provide a safe haven for Pepe and his gang.

The suave yet tough Gabin struts around in sartorial splendor a veritable king in this sheltered environment. He fears the consequences of leaving the Casbah into the arms of police. Local authorities, well aware of his wherabouts have been unable to ferret him out.

A chance encounter between Pepe and attractive Parisian socialite Gaby Gould played by Mireille Balin gives local Algerian police inspector Slimane played by Lucas Gridoux an idea. Gabin is so smitten by the stylish, diamond bedecked Balin, that the inspector endeavors to lure Gabin out of the Casbah using her as bait. The cool calculating Pepe has been hopelessly enraptured with Balin and against his better judgement, helplessly seeks her out beyond the confines of his comfortable asylum.

The filming done in large part in Algiers gives an excellent representation of the physical make up of the Casbah. Director Duvivier successfully drives home the axiom that crime ultimately does not pay.

This review is for the Criterion Colleciton DVD edition of the film.

Pepe le Moko is one film which has inspired many other releases. It inspired the 1938 American film, "Algiers" and the Warner Brothers cartoon character, Pepe le Pew. It has been the subject of many parodies also.

It is about a notorious French criminal named Pepe, who is hiding out in the Casbah of the Algerian capital, Algiers. He is being trailed by the French police. They use his weakness as a ladies' man and hire young attractive woman to lure him out. He falls in love with her and that is all I want to say at risk of it being a spoiler.

The film has some fine acting and impressive scenes of the Casbah, the oldest section of the algerian capital, accessible only on foot because its very narrow streets.

There are also some really good special features, including an in-depth comparison of the film with it's 1938 American remake "Algiers," and other influences the film made. There is an interview with the director, Julien Duvivier. There are scenes from a biography on the lead actor Jean Gabin, excerpts from a British Film institute study on the film and a theatrical trailer.

This is a great release that you will not want to miss.

The DVD release of "Pepe le Moko" is a wonderfully crisp, clear transfer from the original print. Fresh detail, with new, sharp English subtitling. It's like watching a whole new movie.
This, along with Criterion's remaster of "Grand Illusion", have set a high standard for DVD releases of the older B&W French classics.

Having already seen the remake of "Pepe Le Moko" entitled "Algiers" years ago, I decided to see the remastered original, in March 2002 in the theatre. While I had appreciated Charles Boyer, I fell absolutely in love with Jean Gabin, and the entire film. What a masterpiece! I was really blown away, being intensely captivated for the 90 minutes or so, being in another time and place. I went to view it a second, and third time also. And the ending of "Pepe" is preferable to "Algiers." P.S. I'm waiting for the DVD also.

High quality movie with Jean Gabin as the handsome and cool gangster hiding out in the seedy Casbah where people are packed in like sardines. It's a romance with a fine mixture of adventure in an exotic setting, crime drama, colorful characters, and suspense all inspired by Gabin's love for a beautiful, unconventional woman.