Pépé le Moko

Pépé le Moko (1937)

  • 100% of critics liked it
    (29 reviews)

  • 82% of users liked it
    (2,244 ratings)

Pepe is a notorious French criminal, wanted by the police, especially by Inspector Slimane. He is in hiding in the Casbah, the Arab quarter of Algiers, where he is safe so long as he stays there, although he yearns to return to France. Pepe rules his small gang, composed principally of Carlos, Max… More

Unrated, 1 hr. 34 min.
Directed By
Julien Duvivier
Written By
Henri La Barthe
Genres
Drama, Romance, Art House & International
In Theaters
Jan 28, 1937 Wide
On DVD
Jan 7, 2003

Critic 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.

  • Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

    The French original has it all over on the Hollywood version in the way it conveys atmosphere.

  • Ty Burr, Boston Globe

    Pepe le Moko, made in 1937, begins with that tinny, swooning French soundtrack music that conjures up European movies before the war, but it isn't until a few minutes later that you realize you're in for something special.

  • Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

    A timeless romantic thriller that steeps us in one of those great artificial movie worlds that become more overpowering than reality itself.

  • Gary Dowell, Dallas Morning News

    Mr. Gabin was no stranger to playing doomed men on film, and his Pépé is the grandest of the damned.

Read all 16 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Bob S


    Jean Gabin rules. Almost everyone else in this movie is a "type" while Gabin feels like a human being. I'm sure that's largely by design but it is also a testament to Gabin's unique talent as a screen actor.

  • AJ V


    Okay foreign movie, but I should really watch it again before I write more about it.

  • Stella D


    atmospheric and cynical proto-noir with an iconic performance by jean gabin as the tragic antihero trapped by his illusions. just a few years later, hollywood would remake this almost shot for shot as algiers with charles boyer, changing only the ending. fools. btw this was… More

  • Tim S


    I love Jean Gabin. I think he was way ahead of his time as far as acting. This is an interesting film that you could tell had a strong effect on some films that I really love. The camera work and atmosphere were great and it's a nice anti hero story which was cool to see. There… More

  • Ken S


    Great character driven tragedy about master criminal Pepe Le Moko! A great performance by Gabin that defines tough guy nihilism. One of films original badass anti-heroes

Read all 6 featured audience ratings