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Year One
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
Pépé le Moko (re-release)

Universal acclaim
Based on 12 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 7 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Romance
Written by:
Jacques Constant
Julien Duvivier
Henri Jeanson
Henri La Barthe (also novel)
Directed by: Julien Duvivier
Release Date:
Theatrical: March 1, 2002
Running Time: 92 minutes, B/W
Origin: France
Language(s): French (with English subtitles)
Summary
RATING: Not Rated
Starring Jean Gabin, Mireille Balin, Gabriel Gabrio, Lucas Gridoux, Gilbert Gil, Line Noro, Saturnin Fabre, and Fernand Charpin
A re-release of Julien Divivier's 1937 romantic crime classic.
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database Film Forum Profile
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum
An early voice-over segment about the Casbah itself, before Gabin makes an appearance, is so pungent you can almost taste the place, even though the filming was clearly done in a studio.
Read Full Review >Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold
Above all, the film is a classic of "poetic realism," that distinct brand of pessimistic '30s French urban drama that gave lyrical, sometimes even surrealistic, interpretations to working-class romances and underworld characters, settings and dramas.
Read Full Review >Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt
This masterpiece of poetic realism features one of Gabin's most renowned performances, a smart subtext about French colonialism, and enough exotic atmosphere to keep your head in the clouds long after the final scene.
Read Full Review >New Times (L.A.) David Ehrenstein
Not to be missed. And pay close attention to the finale. It's a genuine surprise.
Read Full Review >Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington
A timeless romantic thriller that steeps us in one of those great artificial movie worlds that become more overpowering than reality itself.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan
Beautifully crafted, movingly acted, still involving and entertaining, this is just the kind of film people are talking about when they say they don't make them like this anymore.
Read Full Review >San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle
It turns out that Pepe Le Moko is even better than "Algiers."
Read Full Review >New York Daily News Jami Bernard
The movie elevated the basic gangster picture into what became known as the niche genre of poetic realism. And, aside from Garbo, never have key lights on a star's face caused so much swooning among fans.
Read Full Review >Variety Staff (Not Credited)
Interesting movement holds through the entirety. Life in the native quarter, with its squalor and intrigues, is particularly well presented and photographed.
Read Full Review >Village Voice J. Hoberman
Casually racist and inordinately sexist, Pépé le Moko is best enjoyed for its offhand surrealism.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 4.5 (out of 10) based on 7 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Pat C. gave it an8:
A charming and deftly told film, memorable in its day for the ease in which it immersed the viewer in a foreign culture. Pepe is a Robin-Hood style criminal hero whose popularity derives more from the enemies he's assembled than from nuances in his character, but the desperation in his situation is not glossed over. But the real star of the show is the Casbah itself, and it's no stretch to see how the intrigue of this French North African urban scene paved the way for Casablanca, which soon followed.
Roy D. gave it an 8:
Liked Casbah with Tony Martin circa forties as well.
Dave V. gave it a 6:
Interminable. After and interesting set-up describing how the Casbah works, although there are interesting bits, it's slow as molasses. 90 minutes, but felt like 3 hours.
JD H. gave it a 10:
Ed Z. gave it a 0:
Complete rubbish... Don't believe everything you read.
