Le secret de la Casbah

Well, that's the way this low-budget crime drama was promoted. Starring Screen Heavy George Raft (well past his prime) and filmed abroad in 1953, it was just an attempt by prolific B-movie producer Robert Lippert to exploit Raft's familiar name. Here, he is cast as a vacationer heading to Algeirs, for no reason in particular. There, he runs into considerable danger due to a case of mistaken identity. He is thought to be an agent investigating a gold theft that happened during the war. At times, it seems that almost everybody he runs into has had some connection to the robbery, (and most of them do) needlessly adding even more confusion to an already muddled plot. This is one film that needed all the exposition it could get, but, though details are hashed over endlessly, it doesn't make things any clearer. And though it was advertised as being ''filmed where it happened'', there isn't much of the expected exotic scenery. There are some sleazily authentic backgrounds, but little use is made of them. It might as well have been filmed in Idaho,for all the ''atmosphere'' it generates. This is a very claustrophobic looking production, which relies almost entirely on Raft's fast-fading charisma to keep it afloat. Sadly, he just doesn't make a very convincing hero (though he was a terrific villain) and he sounds as if he's imitating Humphrey Bogart. The rest of the cast is dubbed, including leading lady Gianna Maria Canale, who not only has no chemistry with Raft, but is almost twice his size, and moves like a robot. There is an early appearance by the great Greek actress Irene Papas,but she's wasted in a nothing role.Strangely, the movie retains enough interest to keep you watching to the end, but that's not saying much. And neither this film, nor the other Lippert quickies Raft did,generated any new interest in him. When this one reached the US, it landed on the bottom half of a double bill, supporting another Lippert production ''Sins Of Jezebel''. They are all available on DVD from VCI ENTERTAINMENT. And the transfers are better than the movies. That's pretty ironic-In most cases, it's usually the other way around. Incidentally, this one was advertised with one of the most striking posters a Lippert feature ever had. Too bad the advertising was superior to the product. Well, it's not as if THAT'S never happened before, time and time again...

George Raft blows into Algiers from Cairo to discover that the local police and the French spies are trying to track down a couple of hundred million in gold that's been missing since the Second World War. With an attitude of "what's that got to do with me?", he schedules an appointment with fellow American Richard McNamara, goes to his apartment, helps himself to a drink, and finds Irene Papas dead. He's spotted by Gianna Maria Canale, who describes him to the police, then refuses to identify him. With his passport held, he finds himself under suspicion of being involved with the missing gold.

In his last starring role (and Ray Enright's last movie as director), Raft finds himself irresistible to women, and bluffing his way through a murky situation. It's an interesting plot, and Raft's diffident performance matches that of his ill-defined character; the fact that it's never clear why he's in Algiers made me suspect early on that he was involved in more than a Wrong Man sort of way. This Hitchcockian tale has a lot to recommend it, but the short budget keeps it from being superior.

British/American/Italian coproduction not set in Cairo but Algiers. George is in good form even if a bit too old for the role. Gianna Maria looking quite striking turns in a good performance. Okay, it is a bit of a stretch that she could go for George. The mood is adequately noirish. Interesting plot involving a tourist (Raft) unwittingly getting intertwined investigating a crime ring stealing gold hidden in North Africa from the Nazis after the invasion of France in WWII. And the musical score added to the viewing pleasure. Also notable this was Irene Papas' American film debut. Raft was at his best as a "shady" good guy in his later roles in the 40s and 50s. Recommended.

A truly risible film of interest only to die hard film buffs. George Raft is very dapper and expensively tailored but still has the look of a man from whom one would hesitate to buy a second-hand car. He is anyway a wee bit long in the tooth for these sorts of capers and has absolutely no chemistry with luscious former beauty queen Gianna Maria Canale who gives the impression that she is still parading for the judges. Fellini 'regular' Mino Doro, with peruke, is a good villain and there is a tantalising glimpse of stunning Irene Papas in a bathtub. The rest of the cast with the exception of Massimo Serrato, is composed of planks. On a serious note, Gianna Maria was runner-up in the Miss Italia contest of 1947 to Lucia Bose, recently taken from us by the Chinese virus.

George Raft is an ex-G.I. who is wandering the world. He just happens into Algeria at the same time an old friend is investigating the theft of French government gold. When the friend is killed, Raft is pulled into the investigation and his life is suddenly hanging by a thread. So it's up to tough-guy Raft to clear himself for the murder and get to the bottom of the theft.

Years before, George Raft made BACKGROUND TO DANGER. Now a decade later, he's made a film that is very similar. Unfortunately, in the meantime, he's gotten 10 years older AND 10 years more wooden in his performance. It was amazing to see how unanimated and dull he'd become in the meantime--with very little energy or emotion--like he's just walking through the role. He talks a lot but doesn't do all that much--possibly due to the script or possibly because he's obviously too old to play the action hero. Sadly, all the supporting actors are pretty forgettable, too--forcing Raft to shoulder the entire turgid film.

The bottom line is that this film isn't all that original (having seen several similar films) and it's not particularly fun or interesting--though it's not a bad film. Worth seeing only if you have relatively low expectations.