In 1937, the French film "Pépé le Moko" debuted. Hollywood was so taken with it that they remade it a year later as "Algiers". Inexplicably, they remade it again in 1948. I say inexplicably because the casting of singer Tony Martin in the lead just made little sense as he was about as unlike Jean Gabin and Charles Boyer (in the previous films) as you could get! And, as a result of this miscasting, the film was a huge mistake.
The story is about a criminal boss in Algiers named Pépé le Moko (Tony Martin). He's cool but not at all in a way like other incarnations of the character. Much of this was because he seemed about as French or North African as borscht. Much of it was because he'd periodically break into song.
None of this nonsense was particularly interesting....and I found myself wanting to turn off the movie after about 20 minutes. The only thing that seemed interesting was seeing Peter Lorre cast against type...and in this case as a policeman! Overall, a dull affair and I suggest you instead see either of the earlier versions and not waste your time with this one.
The story is about a criminal boss in Algiers named Pépé le Moko (Tony Martin). He's cool but not at all in a way like other incarnations of the character. Much of this was because he seemed about as French or North African as borscht. Much of it was because he'd periodically break into song.
None of this nonsense was particularly interesting....and I found myself wanting to turn off the movie after about 20 minutes. The only thing that seemed interesting was seeing Peter Lorre cast against type...and in this case as a policeman! Overall, a dull affair and I suggest you instead see either of the earlier versions and not waste your time with this one.