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Pepe Le Moko - Criterion Collection | Year: 1941 Classification: Foreign Film - French Directed: - Julien Duvivier Actors/Actresses: - Jean Gabin The inspiration for "Pepe Le Pew". I'm not kidding! Criteron's DVD informs us that the amorous, animated skunk would never have come to life had it not been for French actor Jean Gabin's Pepe from *Pepe le Moko*. That's reason enough to like this movie: imagine how poorer the world would be without Le Pew. In the meantime, *Pepe le Moko* itself is somewhat overrated. Released in France in 1937, it was blocked from American shores years after the American re-make *Algiers*, with the result that the critics over here have been overgenerous with their praise. The movie's claim to be the "Father of Film Noir" can be demonstrably disputed . . . and even if you accept that claim as a given, you're still left with comparing it to later, greater movies in the genre. The fact is, the French are just not naturals at noir: any country that can create several philosophical and scientific systems of CUISINE is never really going to feel the grittiness of the noir milieu where it counts -- at the gut level. (The French can even name the genre -- "noir" -- without truly understanding what it's really about.) Example? Jean Gabin himself as Pepe, the exiled French gangster languishing in Algiers' Casbah. He's too civilized an actor for this essentially rat-like role. (At least Charles Boyer, in the American version, sort of LOOKS rat-like.) Finally, the leading lady is in ho gave us GARDEN OF EDEN with Corinne Griffith a few years back) in conjunction with Turner Classic Movies was issuing a newly restored version of the original 1916 version. Louis Feuillade (1873-1925) was the undisputed master of the movie serial. He took what was regarded as the cheapest form of cinematic entertainment and turned it into an art form. Although not as erotic or as violent as LES VAMPIRES his previou omment> Buy Pepe Le Moko at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Pepe Le Moko Search with the Priority Search Engine on Pepe Le Moko This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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