Malvern French Film Centre
English title: Pépé Le Moko
Director: Julien Vuvivier
Certificate: PG
1937
Running time: 1hr 34mins
French with English subtitles
Jean Gabain gives a definitive performance as a notorious Parisian gangster hiding out in the labyrinthine Casbah of colonial Algiers. Its claustrophobic depiction makes it a sanctuary and a trap, where Western identity and morality are eroded – a political parable about colonialism and entrapment. Pépé’s longing for Paris and a beautiful tourist ultimately lead to his tragic downfall. This early Film Noir influenced classics such as Cassablanca.
