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Algiers

  • 19381938
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Charles Boyer and Hedy Lamarr in Algiers (1938)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer2:15
1 Video
49 Photos
  • Drama
  • Mystery
  • Romance

Beautiful Gaby meets a romantic jewel thief in the mysterious Casbah.Beautiful Gaby meets a romantic jewel thief in the mysterious Casbah.Beautiful Gaby meets a romantic jewel thief in the mysterious Casbah.

IMDb RATING
6.7/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John Cromwell
  • Writers
    • John Howard Lawson(screenplay)
    • James M. Cain(additional dialogue)
    • Henri La Barthe(from the novel "Pepe Le Moko" by)
  • Stars
    • Charles Boyer
    • Hedy Lamarr
    • Sigrid Gurie
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Cromwell
  • Writers
    • John Howard Lawson(screenplay)
    • James M. Cain(additional dialogue)
    • Henri La Barthe(from the novel "Pepe Le Moko" by)
  • Stars
    • Charles Boyer
    • Hedy Lamarr
    • Sigrid Gurie
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 57User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars
      • 1 win & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:15
    Official Trailer

    Photos49

    Charles Boyer, Hedy Lamarr, and Sigrid Gurie in Algiers (1938)
    Charles Boyer, Hedy Lamarr, and Sigrid Gurie in Algiers (1938)
    Charles Boyer and Alan Hale in Algiers (1938)
    Charles Boyer, Stanley Fields, and Gene Lockhart in Algiers (1938)
    Charles Boyer and Hedy Lamarr in Algiers (1938)
    Charles Boyer and Hedy Lamarr in Algiers (1938)
    Charles Boyer, Hedy Lamarr, Joseph Calleia, and Joan Woodbury in Algiers (1938)
    Charles Boyer and Joan Woodbury in Algiers (1938)
    Charles Boyer, Alan Hale, and Stanley Fields in Algiers (1938)
    Charles Boyer and Hedy Lamarr in Algiers (1938)
    Charles Boyer, Alan Hale, and Stanley Fields in Algiers (1938)
    Charles Boyer and Hedy Lamarr in Algiers (1938)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Charles Boyer
    Charles Boyer
    • Pepe le Mokoas Pepe le Moko
    Hedy Lamarr
    Hedy Lamarr
    • Gabyas Gaby
    Sigrid Gurie
    Sigrid Gurie
    • Inesas Ines
    Joseph Calleia
    Joseph Calleia
    • Slimaneas Slimane
    Alan Hale
    Alan Hale
    • Grandpereas Grandpere
    Gene Lockhart
    Gene Lockhart
    • Regisas Regis
    Walter Kingsford
    Walter Kingsford
    • Louvainas Louvain
    Paul Harvey
    Paul Harvey
    • Janvieras Janvier
    Stanley Fields
    Stanley Fields
    • Carlosas Carlos
    Johnny Downs
    Johnny Downs
    • Pierrotas Pierrot
    Charles D. Brown
    • Maxas Max
    Robert Greig
    Robert Greig
    • Andre Girauxas Andre Giraux
    Leonid Kinskey
    Leonid Kinskey
    • L'Arbias L'Arbi
    Joan Woodbury
    Joan Woodbury
    • Aichaas Aicha
    Nina Koshetz
    • Taniaas Tania
    • (as Mme. Nina Koshetz)
    Claudia Dell
    Claudia Dell
    • Marieas Marie
    Ben Hall
    • Gilas Gil
    Bert Roach
    Bert Roach
    • Bertieras Bertier
    • Director
      • John Cromwell
    • Writers
      • John Howard Lawson(screenplay)
      • James M. Cain(additional dialogue)
      • Henri La Barthe(from the novel "Pepe Le Moko" by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Pepe Le Moko, a thief who escaped from France with a fortune in jewels, has for two years lived in, and virtually ruled, the mazelike, impenetrable Casbah, "native quarter" of Algiers. A French official insists that he be captured, but sly Inspector Slimane knows he need only bide his time. The suave Pepe increasingly regards his stronghold as also his prison, especially when he meets beautiful Parisian visitor Gaby, who reminds him of the boulevards to which he dare not return...and arouses the mad jealousy of Ines, his Algerian mistress. —Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
    • pepe le moko character
    • thief
    • casbah
    • jealousy
    • africa
    • 30 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • You've Got A Date With Danger, A Rendezvous With Romance In The Glamorous, Mysterious Algiers . . Make A Date Now !
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Mystery
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Animator Chuck Jones based the Warner Brothers cartoon character "Pepe le Pew" on the "Pepe le Moko" character played by Charles Boyer in this film.
    • Quotes

      Inspector Slimane: When one can't use guns, one must work with brains.

      Commissioner Janvier: I prefer guns!

      Inspector Slimane: In your case, honest sir, such a preference is unavoidable.

    • Crazy credits
      When complete cast credits are listed at the start of a movie and at the end, there are usually no changes. In this movie, the end credits reverse the order of the last two credits: Bert Roach follows Ben Hall.
    • Alternate versions
      Some prints have a different opening credits sequence, in which the credits are shown against a black background.
    • Connections
      Featured in Hollywood: The Great Stars (1963)
    • Soundtracks
      C'est la vie
      (1938) (uncredited)

      Music by Vincent Scotto

      Lyrics by Ann Ronell

      Performed by Charles Boyer

    User reviews57

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    A Pre-War Treasure: The Casbah as Imagined by a Decaying Eurocentrism
    "Algiers" is director John Cromwell's remake of the French film, "Pepe Le Moko" which appeared only a year earlier. The Gallic flick starred Jean Gabin, then and now one of the truly great actors to emerge from that country. So Cromwell took a risk giving the lead role of jewel thief Pepe to young actor Charles Boyer. The risk paid off - and continues to do so as this fascinating prewar movie is readily available on budget-priced DVD.

    Pepe is wanted in metropolitan France for stealing jewelry but not, apparently, for any crimes of violence. He's hunkered down in Algiers's famous "casbah," the native quarter whose name is evocative of mystery and, of course, sensuality. Pepe seems to be a sort of Great White Crime Boss in the native quarter where locals both protect and respect him. It's never clear how he ascended to that height.

    Pepe has a beautiful lover, Ines, played by the truly gorgeous Sigrid Gurie. Legend has it that "Algiers" was to be the vehicle to propel this Scandanavian actress to wide fame but in reality her film career was rather short. The winner in this case, besides Boyer, was newcomer Hedy Lamar whose role as Gaby is central to Pepe's loss of control over his small world and, eventually, of himself.

    Gaby arrives in Algiers engaged to a fat, vulgar borderline-loathsome older man who clearly regards her as a trophy bought and paid for. Why she needed this creep isn't clear. What is clear is her falling in love with Pepe who abandons the devoted and clinging Ines for this right-off-the-boat hothouse beauty.

    A Parisian police official is in Algiers (Algeria, a French colony for those who don't know history) determined to collar Pepe. His forays into the casbah meet with no success and quiet derision from both the locals and some of the French police who understand that the casbah is honeycombed with escape routes and populated with folks eager to thwart the gendarmerie. A very interesting character is Inspector Slimane, Joseph Calleia. Amused by the foolish antics of his superior, Slimane knows the casbah and in his own way is determined to bring Pepe to justice. His mission isn't kept from Pepe and the two have a cordial relationship with the cop telling the crook that eventually he will be the cause of his own downfall.

    Sarcastic, witty and observant, Slimane is an arresting character (pun intended). It's not clear if he's a native gone over to the police or a Frenchman who has jumped the reservation and found a more comfortable life straddling two cultures. There's something almost Russian in his outlook and words.

    "Algiers" ends with a famous scene that while not at the level of the closing moments of "Casablanca" nonetheless rightfully shares pride of place with that all-time great movie.

    Boyer is powerful in a role in which, through circumstances he could have controlled but didn't, he slides into a mortal abyss.

    A must-see movie for anyone interested in prewar films that reflect an actually racist view of non-European life at once almost ridiculous but at the same time dramatically engaging.

    And let's not forget yesterday's lunacies: Cromwell, a director with many films under his belt, was blacklisted through most of the 50s and his career never rebounded from that extra-legal punishment for non-crimes.

    8/10
    helpful•52
    19
    • lawprof
    • Jul 28, 2004

    FAQ1

    • *Question blanked*

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 5, 1938 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Argel
    • Filming locations
      • Algiers, Algeria
    • Production company
      • Walter Wanger Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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