How others will see it. An entertaining and atmospheric crime drama, the audience is expected to sympathize with Pepe while still wanting him to receive justice. the film is no better than Warner Bros. cops and robbers movies from the thirties. However, since it is a French film set in an exotic location, it has a freshness that most American films (then and now) are missing.
How I felt about it. In real life, of course, Pepe would never leave the Cashbah, not even for magnifique French tail. Regis (Fernand Charpin) would never dare return to the Casbah after Pierrot (Gilbert Gil) was tricked into a trap. Ines (Line Noro) would not betray him either, not even out of jealousy. Slimane (Gridoux) would not be allowed into Pepe's inner circle, not even if he bribes his way in with hot young French woman.
All this makes the plot so much nonsense. While the story doesn't hold up, it has its outrageous charm. The characters are exaggerated and colorful, and the Casbah is a melting pot of dispossessed cultures.
Of course, Gaby (Mireille Balin) is not merely a desirable and alluring woman to Pepe. She represents France in all its cultural, old world glory. Pepe is homesick, and will risk his freedom, even his life, to see the Eiffel tower once again, or some such thing.
Nonsense. Pepe is a gang leader, and the Casbah is not only a perfect safety zone, it gives him a power base to fence jewels and chase exotic ladies. He should be like Carlos (Gabriel Gabrio), a blockheaded but practical tough guy who knows when he has it good.
Ines is like a fly on the wall, useful for information but lacking in good judgment. Detective Slimane is like a serpent, a hissing bad omen that no one seems to be able to be rid of. Gaby is an adventurer. Having secured the wealthy lifestyle she long coveted, she found out it isn't enough, and a spicy romance with a wanted gangster makes life amusing again.
The characters are interesting, but not really plausible. For all its atmosphere, Pepe le Moko is all smoke and no fire. The only exception is when Regis gets what is coming to him.