Algiers is a 1938 American drama film directed by John Cromwell and starring Charles Boyer, Sigrid Gurie, and Hedy Lamarr. Written by John Howard Lawson, the film is about a notorious French jewel thief hiding in the labyrinthine native quarter of Algiers known as the Casbah. Feeling imprisoned by his self-imposed exile, he is drawn out of hiding by a beautiful French tourist who reminds him of happier times in Paris. The Walter Wanger production was a remake of the successful 1937 French film Pépé le Moko, which derived its plot from the Henri La Barthe novel of the same name.

Algiers was a sensation because it was the first Hollywood film starring Hedy Lamarr, whose beauty became the main attraction for film audiences. The film is notable as one of the sources of inspiration to the screenwriters of the 1942 Warner Bros. film Casablanca, who wrote it with Hedy Lamarr in mind as the original female lead. Charles Boyer’s depiction of the main character, Pepe Le Moko, inspired the Warner Bros. animated character, Pepé Le Pew.

Plot
Pepe Le Moko (Boyer) is a notorious thief, who, after his last great heist, escaped from France to Algeria. Since his escape, Moko became a resident and leader of the immense Casbah, or “native quarter”, of Algiers. French officials who arrive insisting on Pepe’s capture are met with unfazed local detectives, led by Inspector Slimane (Calleia), who are biding their time. Meanwhile, Pepe begins to feel increasingly trapped in his prison-like stronghold, a feeling which intensifies after meeting the beautiful Gaby (Lamarr), who is visiting from France. His love for Gaby soon arouses the jealousy of Ines (Gurie), Pepe’s Algerian mistress.

Cast
Charles Boyer as Pepe le Moko
Sigrid Gurie as Ines
Hedy Lamarr as Gaby
Joseph Calleia as Inspector Slimane
Alan Hale as Grandpere
Gene Lockhart as Regis
Walter Kingsford as Chief Inspector Louvain
Paul Harvey as Commissioner Janvier
Stanley Fields as Carlos
Johnny Downs as Pierrot
Charles D. Brown as Max
Robert Greig as Giraux
Leonid Kinskey as L’Arbi
Joan Woodbury as Aicha
Nina Koshetz as Tania