Written by Julien Duvivier, Henri La Barthe and Jacques Constant
Based on the novel by Henri La Barthe
Starring Jean Gabin, Mireille Balin and Lucas Gridoux
France, 1937
Here's a movie way ahead of its time. It came out in the late 30s but seems so modern it could be from the 60s. It's credited as being one of the biggest influences on the noir genre and it directly inspired THE THIRD MAN, widely considered one of the best films ever made. Also, you'd have to be asleep not to notice it must have been an influence on CASABLANCA, also widely considered one of the best films ever made.
This is the story of a gangster on the run who escapes Paris and flees to hide out in the Casbah quarter of Algiers. Police inspectors explain at the beginning of the film why this makes it difficult to capture him: the neighborhood is built on a steep incline, with narrow winding passageways and buildings crammed so close together one can travel from terrace to terrace, rather than at street level. It's over populated and insulated, a refuge for not just criminals but also those marginalized by wider society.
So, the police are constantly trying to figure out a way to draw him out, and his undoing ends up arriving in the form of a visiting beauty from Paris, who the gangster falls in love with, not only because he's bored of the Casbah, but also because she reminds him of the previous home he longs for. She stands as a symbol and reminder of freedom.
This movie is almost entirely made by its excellent use of location. Sure, the crime and romance plots are exciting and keep your interest, but it just wouldn't be the same without the intricate sets that stand in for the winding alleys and roof tops of the Casbah, blended with real exterior shots of the exotic locale.
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