Pépé le Moko (1937) on Netflix
Pépé le Moko, a wanted thief, has spent nearly two years hidden in the Casbah of Algiers, out of reach of Inspector Slimane. Then Gaby, a visitor from Paris, appears.
- Netflix4.4/5
- IMDb7.6/108,813 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes100%
Trailer
Plot summary
Pépé le Moko, a famous thief from Paris, has lived in hiding in the crowded Casbah quarter of Algiers for almost two years, surrounded by his gang and his mistress Inès. The police cannot reach him inside its narrow, tangled streets, and the local residents shelter him, but he misses the life he left behind. Inspector Slimane, who has formed a teasing bond with him, promises to arrest him the day he steps outside. Then Gaby, a glamorous Parisian visitor wearing jewels, comes to the quarter, and Pépé is drawn to her; Slimane notices the attraction and brings her group to meet him.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Pépé le Moko (1937)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- The title character's French accent and womanizing, as played by Charles Boyer in the 1938 American remake Algiers, inspired the name and comic premise of the Looney Tunes character Pepé Le Pew, introduced in 1945.
- With the Second World War approaching and the film's dark nature causing concern, French authorities eventually barred citizens from viewing Pépé le Moko over its demoralizing influence.
- According to a BBC documentary, Pépé le Moko served as inspiration for Graham Greene's screenplay for The Third Man.
- The Casbah was a replica built at Joinville-le-Pont near Paris, with only exterior shots filmed in Algiers; lead actress Mireille Balin never set foot in Algeria while making the film.
- To create a sense of realism despite filming on a set, director Julien Duvivier opened the Casbah with documentary-style footage and used longer shots when focusing on characters.
