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Pépé le moko

Released Mar 3, 1941 1h 34m Drama List
100% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Pépé le Moko (Jean Gabin), one of France's most wanted criminals, hides out in the Casbah section of Algiers. He knows police will be waiting for him if he tries to leave the city. When Pépé meets Gaby Gould (Mireille Balin), a gorgeous woman from Paris who is lost in the Casbah, he falls for her. She also reminds him of all the things he loves about Paris. Even as Pépé knows he is being trailed by Inspector Slimane (Lucas Gridoux), he considers a future with Gaby.

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Pépé le moko

Critics Reviews

View All (32) Critics Reviews
Variety Staff Variety Interesting movement holds through the entirety. Life in the native quarter, with its squalor and intrigues, is particularly well presented and photographed. Apr 27, 2009 Full Review Empire Magazine Rated: 4/5 Dec 30, 2006 Full Review Melissa Anderson Time Out Film noir as we know (and love) it is just around the corner from here. Feb 9, 2006 Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia Duvivier frames it as a tragic and moving melodrama that, following the specificity of poetic realism, finds its strength in the dazzling performance of Jean Gabin and in the orientalist atmospheres of Algiers's Casbah. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 7/10 Jan 13, 2024 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand [Jean] Gabin is marvelous as the confident yet restless Pepe, a cultured man equal parts elegance and edgy brutality at home in this urban jungle but restless to escape. Nov 18, 2023 Full Review Henry Stewart Brooklyn Magazine It's about Paris--though not a single scene is either set or shot there. Jul 20, 2016 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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William L A stylish sort of pre-noir that combines a claustrophobic setting and atmosphere with a slick depiction of the gentleman criminal, Pépé le Moko presents a conflicted protagonist that is charismatic, romantic, at times empathetic, but without a doubt villainous and self-serving. There is a smooth quality to the cinematography and transitions, and much of the film would serve as a mold for decades of similar films - a complex lead, tortured romantic interests, exotic locales, a backdrop of conflict, and a violent resolution. That said, the film has limitations in its less than consistent storyline, often slightly overbearing storyline, but it's still got an undeniable slickness to it all. (3.5/5) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/21 Full Review s r 1001 movies to see before you die. A great French criminal film showing the ruffians in the casbah of Algiers. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review scott s Not my favorite film with Jean Gabin but he does put on a great performance. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member debut of gr8 french actor jean gabin who plays bad so good but plot seems alot like charles boyer's 'algiers' oh yeah cos its a remake! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member It's technically sound, but poetic realism bores me. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member not enough pepe the froh Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Pépé le moko

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Pépé le moko

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Movie Info

Synopsis Pépé le Moko (Jean Gabin), one of France's most wanted criminals, hides out in the Casbah section of Algiers. He knows police will be waiting for him if he tries to leave the city. When Pépé meets Gaby Gould (Mireille Balin), a gorgeous woman from Paris who is lost in the Casbah, he falls for her. She also reminds him of all the things he loves about Paris. Even as Pépé knows he is being trailed by Inspector Slimane (Lucas Gridoux), he considers a future with Gaby.
Director
Julien Duvivier
Producer
Raymond Hakim
Screenwriter
Jacques Constant
Distributor
Criterion Collection, Rialto Pictures
Genre
Drama
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 3, 1941, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 28, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA)
$153.9K
Runtime
1h 34m
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