Adapted from Henri La Barthe's novel, a jewel thief cannot
be arrested until he leaves the Casbah to follow an alluring woman.
In Algiers Paris police commissioner Janvier (Paul Harvey) complains
that jewel thief Pepe le Moko (Charles Boyer) is hiding in the
Casbah; but local Inspector Slimane (Joseph Calleia) says that
Pepe can't be arrested. Pepe discusses jewels and makes fun of
Carlos (Stanley Fields). Police led by Janvier and Inspector Louvain
(Walter Kingsford) search for Pepe. Regis (Gene Lockhart) tells
Ines (Sigrid Gurie) to warn Pepe, who stops Pierrot (Johnny Downs)
from shooting. They hide in a secret room of Grandpere (Alan Hale).
Pepe questions Ines and gives her a ring. They flee, and shots
are fired. Pepe finds Ines and meets Gabrielle (Hedy Lamarr) but
leaves. Regis tells Slimane that he can get Pepe to come after
Pierrot outside the Casbah. Pepe asks Slimane about Gabrielle.
Pepe warns Pierrot about Regis and slaps him. Gabrielle tells
her fiancé Andre (Robert Greig) that she met Pepe. Ines
asks Pepe what he dreams of and wants to go to Paris with him.
Ines tells Pepe that Pierrot went with Regis. Pepe finds Regis,
and they wait for Pierrot. Regis gets nervous, and they play cards.
Pepe sits with Gabrielle, and they talk of Paris. Pepe admires
her jewelry, and they dance. Gabrielle avoids his kiss but says
she will come tomorrow. Pierrot staggers in and asks Pepe for
Regis, who is terrified. Wounded Pierrot faints, but Carlos uses
his gun to shoot Regis. Pierrot dies, and Slimane tells Pepe about
his funeral. Pepe drinks and pushes Ines out. Pepe tells Grandpere
he can leave the Casbah. Ines runs after Pepe as Slimane calls
the police. Ines tells Pepe that Gabrielle is waiting so he won't
go. Gabrielle comes to Pepe, who says she is beautiful. They kiss,
and Pepe says he is trapped in the Casbah.
Carlos asks Pepe if he got her jewelry. Slimane tells Andre that
his fiancé Gabrielle was in the Casbah. Andre forbids her
to go there; but she is going until Slimane tells her that Pepe
was killed. Pepe waits disappointed. Andre and Gabrielle plan
to leave. Pepe sends Carlos with a letter. L'Arbi (Leonid Kinskey)
tells Pepe that Carlos was arrested, but he delivered the letter.
L'Arbi tells Pepe that Gabrielle is waiting; Pepe realizes he
is lying and learns they are waiting for him. Ines tries to stop
Pepe, who goes to the steamship office. Ines tells Slimane that
Pepe went to the boat. On the boat Pepe sees Gabrielle; but she
does not see him, and he is arrested. In the final scene Pepe
runs toward her shouting and is shot by the police.
A somber mood pervades this romantic drama about a suave
jewel thief, who misses the freedom of Paris, as the seeming safety
of the lawless Casbah begins to feel like a prison.