Pépé le Moko

Pépé le Moko

Year: 1937

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: French

Director: Julien Duvivier

DramaRomanceCrimeCrime drugs and gangstersCaptivating relationships and charming romance

France’s most wanted outlaw, Pépé le Moko, has taken refuge in the winding Casbah of Algiers, knowing that any attempt to leave will be met by waiting police. While navigating the maze, he encounters Gaby, a stunning Parisian who has become lost there, and instantly falls in love, complicating his desperate bid for freedom.

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Timeline & Setting – Pépé le Moko (1937)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Pépé le Moko (1937). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Casbah of Algiers

The Casbah of Algiers is a labyrinthine warren that becomes Pépé's fortress and prison. Its winding alleys and close-knit community shield him from the police, creating a quasi-autonomous enclave within the city. Leaving the Casbah would spell capture, while staying draws danger and desire closer to him, especially through his entanglement with Gaby.

🏙️ Casbah of Algiers 🗺️ Labyrinthine streets 🏛️ Colonial era setting

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:43

Main Characters – Pépé le Moko (1937)

Meet the key characters of Pépé le Moko (1937), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Pépé le Moko (Jean Gabin)

A charismatic but increasingly paranoid thief who has hidden in the Casbah for nearly two years. He navigates love, loyalty, and danger as the walls close in. His longing for freedom clashes with the inevitability of capture.

🕶️ Antihero 🗺️ Labyrinth dweller 💔 Romantic

Gaby (Mireille Balin)

A Parisian woman who becomes the catalyst for Pépé's desires and the Casbah's social dynamics. Her attraction to Pépé pulls her into a forbidden proximity with danger, loyalty, and escape. She embodies cosmopolitan allure, torn between love and circumstance.

💃 Parisian ❤️ Romantic 🤝 Catalyst

Inspector Slimane (Lucas Gridoux)

A determined police inspector who forms an unusual relationship with Pépé and vows to arrest him if he leaves. He orchestrates the pursuit with a mix of professional rigor and personal intrigue, mirroring the larger clash between law and desire.

🎯 Pursuing 🧭 Strategist 🕵️‍♂️ Authority

Régis (Fernand Charpin)

A Casbah resident who collaborates with the police and schemes to trap Pépé. His ambition and treachery drive key turning points, including the use of Pierrot as bait.

🕴️ Schemer 🔗 Collaborator 🗡️ Rival

Pierrot (Gilbert Gil)

Pépé's friend who becomes bait to lure him out of the Casbah. His disappearance heightens tension and culminates in tragedy, underscoring the costs of loyalty and manipulation within the Casbah.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Loyalist 🪤 Bait 💔 Victim

Inès (Line Noro)

Pépé's ally in the Casbah who helps keep him in place by concealing truths about Gaby's whereabouts. She embodies practical loyalty and the quiet resilience of Casbah residents.

🧭 Loyalist 🗣️ Informant 🛡️ Protector

Carlos (Gabriel Gabrio)

Pépé's ally who helps with communications, delivering messages and aiding in the ruse. He represents the resourceful, interconnected network of the Casbah.

🧰 Helper 🗺️ Messenger 🤝 Ally

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:43

Major Themes – Pépé le Moko (1937)

Explore the central themes of Pépé le Moko (1937), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Love and danger

Romance with Gaby intensifies life in the Casbah while amplifying the peril surrounding Pépé. The relationship strains loyalties and exposes characters to pursuit and betrayal. The story uses this love to explore how desire can trap people in a web of risk and consequence.

🔒 Confinement

The Casbah acts as both sanctuary and prison for Pépé. His freedom is precarious; the walls and the community keep him safe from arrest yet tether him to danger. The plot hinges on the tension between staying inside and attempting to flee, with safety never fully guaranteed.

⚖️ Loyalty and law

Community loyalty shields Pépé from capture, while collaboration with authorities reveals how individuals navigate justice. Inspector Slimane's pursuit blends professional duty with personal fascination, complicating the hunt. The film probes how law, loyalty, and personal stakes intersect in a colonial city.

🌃 Nightlife and illusion

Nighttime in the Casbah heightens the seductive atmosphere that hides danger. Residents' camaraderie contrasts with Pépé's mounting isolation at the center of attention. The mood shifts between glamour, threat, and tragedy as events unfold toward the harbor and the final act.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:43

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Pépé le Moko Summary

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Pépé le Moko Summary

Pépé le Moko Timeline

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Pépé le Moko Timeline

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Pépé le Moko (1937) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Pépé le Moko (1937) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Pépé le Moko (1937) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow