Pepe Le Moko - Criterion Collection

Rating:
Summary: Le Pew, I Agree.
Review: One reviewer claimed this higly overrated film was the inspiration for Pepe Le Pew, the Looney Tunes cartoon character. I don't know if there is any truth to his claim, but I would say the Le Pew association works on another level: This film stinks! I hate everything about it, including its overdone art design, its terrible (and way too melodramatic) acting, its dreadful pacing and its derivative storyline. Don't waste your time.

Rating:
Summary: Le Pew, I Agree.
Review: Pépé, a notorious gangster from Paris, has been forced to seek refuge in the maze of Casbah where he evades the police's futile attempts to capture him. During the police force's attempts to find a way to capture him, the mobster Pépé continues to raid jewelry stores and steal whatever he can get his hands on, and when he is not on a robbery he spends his time with his lover, Inès, or plays card. However, one night when Pépé is dodging the police's hopeless attempts to catch him, he crosses paths with Gaby Gould, a stunning Parisian woman. This encounter opens up Pandora's Box for Pépé and he falls in love with Gaby who reminds him of ultimate freedom. The score played in the film intensifies the perplexity of Pépé's situation that is further improved through cinematography, which produces a sense of entrapment. In addition, the misé-en-scene and acting is of world class. In end, Pépé Le Moko offers a spellbinding story, which at the end deliberately forces the audience to ponder the film's fundamental message.

Rating:
Summary: Dazzling pursue for freedom¿
Review: Pépé, a notorious gangster from Paris, has been forced to seek refuge in the maze of Casbah where he evades the police's futile attempts to capture him. During the police force's attempts to find a way to capture him, the mobster Pépé continues to raid jewelry stores and steal whatever he can get his hands on, and when he is not on a robbery he spends his time with his lover, Inès, or plays card. However, one night when Pépé is dodging the police's hopeless attempts to catch him, he crosses paths with Gaby Gould, a stunning Parisian woman. This encounter opens up Pandora's Box for Pépé and he falls in love with Gaby who reminds him of ultimate freedom. The score played in the film intensifies the perplexity of Pépé's situation that is further improved through cinematography, which produces a sense of entrapment. In addition, the misé-en-scene and acting is of world class. In end, Pépé Le Moko offers a spellbinding story, which at the end deliberately forces the audience to ponder the film's fundamental message.

Rating:
Summary: DVD is superb
Review: The DVD release of "Pepe le Moko" is a wonderfully crisp, clear transfer from the original print. Fresh detail, with new, sharp English subtitling. It's like watching a whole new movie.
This, along with Criterion's remaster of "Grand Illusion", have set a high standard for DVD releases of the older B&W French classics.

Rating:
Summary: TAKE ME TO THE CASBAH
Review: This film reached almost legendary status in the US because Hollywood remade it as ALGIERS & kept the original from being shown. Pauline Kael called it 'superb entertainment' & Graham Greene thought it was considerably more. Who am I to disagree? This movie is a perfect demonstration of why women all over the world fell in love with mugs like Gabin & Bogart & why little boys wanted to grow up and be them. The plot couldn't be simplier. A master thief is safe from the police as long as he stays within the confines of the Casbah. A bulldog police inspector is determined to lure him out. Enter the bored mistress of a wealthy Frenchman to complete the triangle. But what drives the story is not plot but character. All the elements: direction, writting, acting, lighting, editing etc. are all of a piece & eliminating one seriously alters the whole. In one memorable scene Pepe & the woman gaze into each other's eyes while reciting stops on the Paris Metro simultaneously reaching the same destination from opposite ends. If this scene doesn't get to you the ending surely will.

Rating:
Summary: A base for many later productions
Review: This review is for the Criterion Colleciton DVD edition of the film.

Pepe le Moko is one film which has inspired many other releases. It inspired the 1938 American film, "Algiers" and the Warner Brothers cartoon character, Pepe le Pew. It has been the subject of many parodies also.

It is about a notorious French criminal named Pepe, who is hiding out in the Casbah of the Algerian capital, Algiers. He is being trailed by the French police. They use his weakness as a ladies' man and hire young attractive woman to lure him out. He falls in love with her and that is all I want to say at risk of it being a spoiler.

The film has some fine acting and impressive scenes of the Casbah, the oldest section of the algerian capital, accessible only on foot because its very narrow streets.

There are also some really good special features, including an in-depth comparison of the film with it's 1938 American remake "Algiers," and other influences the film made. There is an interview with the director, Julien Duvivier. There are scenes from a biography on the lead actor Jean Gabin, excerpts from a British Film institute study on the film and a theatrical trailer.

This is a great release that you will not want to miss.