PEPE LE MOKO

France, 1937, 94 minutes, Black and white.
Jean Gabin, Marcel Dalio.
Directed by Julien Duvivier.

Pepe Le Moko is a French classic and a classic gangster film. Made in the late thirties in France, it features Jean Cabin in one of his celebrated roles as a famous thief in the Casbah. The black and white photography, the acting and the re-creation of the atmosphere are fine indeed. The imprisonment of the thief within the Casbah is dramatised and symbolised by a gallery of interesting characters. There was an American remake with Charles Boyer called Algiers. There was also a musical remake, of some success, with Tony Martin and Yvonne de Carlo called Casbah, 1948.

1. The film as a French classic of the thirties? The gangster tradition? The French view of the gangster tradition in its Algerian backgrounds? Reputation now?

2. Quality of the black and white photography, musical score, the atmosphere of Algiers and the Casbah? Atmosphere and attention to detail?

3. The gangster tradition in film by the late thirties? American models, French variations? The world of gangsterism, Algeria, and its atmosphere of international intrigue and crime? Characters in the gangster film, the clash with the police?

4. The way the film introduced the audience to the Casbah? The attention to visual detail, the streets, the buildings, light and darkness, narrowness and constriction? The appearance of the Casbah as a kind of prison for those who lived there? The barrier and coming out of the Casbah as from some kind of imprisonment? The range of people who lived there?

5. The picture of the French police and their detection work, collaboration with the Algerians? Regis and the leads and what the consequences were?

6. The film's introduction to Pepe? Jean Gabin's quality of interpretation of Pepe? His dominance in the underworld, his skill at crime? His relationship with the gangs and his helps? Carlos, Pierrot, Grandpere etc.?

7. The violence of the Casbah and the attention given in the film to the shootout? Its impact, implications of the way of life?

8. The portrait of the women in the film? Inez, her hold, jealousy and the repercussions for Pepe?

9. The contrast with Gaby? Elusive, vision, sharing? Coolness of approach?

10. Loyalties, betrayal. fear? Vengeance murders? The attention given to Pierrot's plot and the inevitability of Regis' death? The consequences of this for them all?

11. The plot with Gaby and the further complications?

12. Slimane, his presence, skill, tracking? The screenplay's use of the cat and mouse technique?

13. The growing inevitability of the trap around Pepe and his followers? Carlos, Tania and the various deaths?

14. The irony of the bid for freedom, the openness of the wharf, the contrast with the Casbah? The possibility of a new life? Nemesis and fate closing in on Pepe?

15. How interesting a French character study of criminal types? The presentation of the criminal world, imprisonment? The yearning for escape? Men and women and their roles in mutual downfall?