MovieChat Forums > Pépé le Moko (1941) Discussion > Come with me to the Casbah

Come with me to the Casbah

posted 13 years ago by LCShackley
2 replies | jump to latest

When this was shown on TCM, presenter Ben Mankowicz revealed that the WB cartoon character Pepe le Pew was based on Charles Boyer's character in the remake of this picture, ALGIERS. The skunk's famous line, "Come with me to the Casbah" never actually appears in the Boyer movie, although (he claims) it is in the trailer.

Also revealed was that the director of the American remake tried to destroy all copies of PEPE LE MOKO, probably because they would reveal his lack of imagination in refilming the story.

[–] vonhangman 10 years ago

Careful. That anecdote about a barbarian wanting to destroy all the copies of Pepe le Moko ought to be directed at the producer, Walter Wanger (if it is indeed true) and not at the director, John Cromwell. If you see Algiers you would know that there is no lack of imagination in the filming of that version of the story. In my view, the two films contrast with one another in the most fascinating way.

[–] buxtehude99 9 years ago

I agree. John Cromwell does a good job. It's the writing and editing I have trouble with. They couldn't have condensed the exposition? It goes on and one. And why not show the crime (as in Pepe) rather than have a man stand there and tell it (Algiers)?