Algiers (1938)

This is quite an enjoyable pairing of Charles Boyer ("Pepe") and Hedy Lamarr ("Gaby"). Filmed on location for some of it, Boyer is a jewel thief who arrived in Algeria a few years earlier and governs the Casbah area of the city much like a Mafia Don. The French authorities are determined to bring him to justice and "Slimane" (Joseph Calleia) is just biding his time. He's given quite a helping hand when "Gaby" arrives and "Pepe" falls for her - she reminds him of times gone by in Paris - and also causes quite a stir with his girlfriend "Ines" (Sigrid Gurie). It could certainly be doing with some additional wattage - but even so, the film is stylish to look at, and the performances from Boyer, Gurie, Gene Lockhart and Alan Hale as a sort of prophetic grandfather kind of character add a quite a lot of richness to Henri La Barthe's pretty nondescript, very dialogue heavy, 1931 novel. It's certainly worth a watch if not for the story, then for the performances.