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Pépé le Moko (re-release)

EMAILPRINTRialto Pictures

Pépé le Moko (re-release) reviews
98
4.5 User Score:

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.

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...

100

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.

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100

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.

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100

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.

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100

The New York Times A.O. Scott

One of the most purely enjoyable films ever made.

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100

New Times (L.A.) David Ehrenstein

Not to be missed. And pay close attention to the finale. It's a genuine surprise.

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100

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.

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100

Boston Globe Ty Burr

Foreign intrigue is raised to an art form.

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100

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.

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100

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

It turns out that Pepe Le Moko is even better than "Algiers."

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88

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.

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80

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.

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80

Village Voice J. Hoberman

Casually racist and inordinately sexist, Pépé le Moko is best enjoyed for its offhand surrealism.

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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.

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