Algiers

A notorious jewel thief who has evaded capture by sheltering in the Casbah. He is resourceful, wary of informers, and deeply attached to Gaby, which complicates his crime-filled life. His loyalty to his friends is real, even as he remains trapped by the very place he calls home. His ultimate desire is to escape the Casbah, a wish that clashes with the reality of his surroundings.

A French tourist engaged to Giraux who becomes drawn to Pepe. She weighs duty against love and is shaped by the manipulations of those around her. Her meetings with Pepe fuel the romance and push the plot toward a fateful decision at the docks. She embodies a longing for freedom beyond the Casbah’s walls.

Pepe's ally within the Casbah who acts as go-between for information and warnings. She helps Pepe evade traps, but she also uses information to steer events, showing loyalty tempered by practical caution. Her actions influence the balance of power and the choices Pepe makes.

A thief who harbors jealousy toward Pepe and schemes to bring him down by betraying him to the police. Regis drives the plot’s intrigue by manipulating Pierrot and slipping information to others. His ambition pushes the action toward a deadly confrontation.

An Algerian detective who admires Pepe while leading the pursuit to arrest him. He balances affection with duty, and he orchestrates moves to trap Pepe through deceit as well as direct pursuit. The tension between his respect for Pepe and his role as an investigator drives key scenes.

Pepe's friend whose fate becomes a pawn in Regis's machinations. He is recruited with a feigned appeal by a supposed ill relative and ends up at the mercy of those who wish to trap Pepe. His injury and funeral highlight the costs of the Casbah’s deadly games.

Pepe's ally among the Casbah's circles who ends up taking a violent role to stop Regis. He intervenes decisively, killing Regis when the moment demands. His actions underscore the precarious line between loyalty and violence in the Casbah.

An elder figure in the Casbah who represents the older, wiser world of the quarter. The Grandpere’s house becomes a focal point for warnings and tense conversations that drive Pepe toward or away from danger. He embodies the sense of tradition and memory within the Casbah.