A notorious jewel thief finds his self-imposed exile in the Casbah threatened when he falls for a beautiful tourist.
The infamous jewel thief Pepe le Moko (Charles Boyer) lives as a fugitive, hiding from the authorities in the labyrinthine Casbah district of Algiers. While safe within its walls, he is a prisoner, unable to leave. His resolve is tested when he meets Gaby (Hedy Lamarr), a stunning and sophisticated tourist from Paris. Consumed by his love for her and a longing for his old life, Pepe’s gilded cage becomes unbearable, forcing him to consider risking his freedom for a chance at a new life with her.
This American remake of the acclaimed 1937 French film Pépé le Moko became a major Hollywood success, earning four Academy Award nominations and solidifying the exotic romantic thriller as a popular genre. The original film’s star, Jean Gabin, turned down the chance to reprise his role, opening the door for Charles Boyer, who had initially been offered the part in the French version. The film’s success made a star of Hedy Lamarr, and its atmospheric depiction of the Casbah created a lasting, if highly romanticized, image in the public imagination, influencing later films like Casablanca. A musical version, Casbah, followed in 1948.
Production Co: United Artists / 96 minutes / 1938
Director: John Cromwell
Screenplay: John Howard Lawson, James M. Cain
Main Cast: Charles Boyer (Pepe le Moko), Sigrid Gurie (Ines), Hedy Lamarr (Gaby), Joseph Calleia (Slimane), Alan Hale (Grandpere), Gene Lockhart (Regis)
