Le secret de la Casbah

Titre original : Dramma nella Kasbah

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Espion Film noir Criminalité Drame Mystère Thriller

Ajouter une intrigue dans votre langueAn American tourist, who served in Algeria during WW2, is mistaken for an American agent hired by the French government to recover its gold reserves that went missing in the Algerian desert ... Tout lireAn American tourist, who served in Algeria during WW2, is mistaken for an American agent hired by the French government to recover its gold reserves that went missing in the Algerian desert during the war.An American tourist, who served in Algeria during WW2, is mistaken for an American agent hired by the French government to recover its gold reserves that went missing in the Algerian desert during the war.

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5,3/10

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Avis à la une

1brogmiller

4 fingers

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.

4planktonrules

Amazingly familiar and unanimated

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.

5coltras35

The Man from Cairo

An American tourist, who served in Algeria during WW2, is mistaken for an American agent hired by the French government to recover its gold reserves that went missing in the Algerian desert during the war.

People representing many nationalities and reasons are also seeking the gold. It boils down to a battle between Canelli and the original looter aboard a speeding train.

The Man From Cairo sees George Raft handle some intrigue in this fairly routine noir thriller. I found it a bit too talky and the pace was rather languid. Of course, the location was good and George Raft with his ultra-stoic demeanour and cool delivery of the one liners makes things watchable. And Gianna Maria Canale is a sight for sore eyes!

7bnwfilmbuff

Enjoyable Raft Vehicle

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.

searchanddestroy-1

Adventure drama from a western director where Peter Lorre is missing.

It was unusual from Ray Enright - an excellent western maker - to make such an espionage post war feature. It was very popular after WW2, to provide such plots with former nazis, new Russian Soviet enemies and many intrigues. And of course George Raft was hired several times for such schemes. This one, among the last that Ray Enright directed, is not above nor worst than another one of this kind. It is agreeable and predictable to watch. No more. If you are a Raft's fan, go ahead, if not, you'll miss nothing at all. But there is an overall good atmosphere, north Africa atmosphere, very common for this period, late forties early fifties. I don 't know why, I expected to see Peter Lorre in every scene of this intrigue. I don't know why....

Anecdotes
Final film of director Ray Enright.

Citations
[In a bar at the airport in Cairo, Charles Stark can be seen entering. Upon noticing a particular individual who is reading a newspaper, Stark approaches and sits down next to him. This is Mike Canelli]
Agent Charles Stark: Well, well.
[Canelli looks up.]
Agent Charles Stark: From New Orleans, Louisiana to the airport bar in Cairo, Egypt is a long way, even for a guy like Mike Canelli.
Mike Canelli: [smiles and folds his newspaper] Just like somebody said, it's a small world. Hello Charlie.
[Canelli and Stark shake hands.]
Agent Charles Stark: [returns the handshake] What are you doing in Cairo, Mike?
Mike Canelli: Oh, just a twenty minute stopover on my flight west.
Agent Charles Stark: It's been four years since I last saw you back home. What brings you all the way over here?
Mike Canelli: [puts his newspaper on the counter] Knocking around, having fun, trying to stay out of trouble.
Agent Charles Stark: [laughs] That I want to see. Where there's trouble, you'll find Mike Canelli.
Mike Canelli: What's your excuse for being here, Charlie?
Agent Charles Stark: Sorry, Mike, I'm on a confidential assignment, heading for Saudi Arabia.
Mike Canelli: [with interest] Sounds mysterious. But you always did go in for that cloak and dagger stuff.
Agent Charles Stark: Where are you bound for now, Mike?
[an intercom can be heard announcing a flight to Algiers, which is planning to leave soon.]
Mike Canelli: That's me, Charlie. I'm heading for my old stomping grounds, Algiers for a visit.
Agent Charles Stark: Look, Mike, I'm coming there myself in a couple of weeks. Forget I mentioned I'm on a job, will you? If we run into each other, we're strangers, okay?
Mike Canelli: Sure, Charlie? What do you got in Algiers?
Agent Charles Stark: Maybe nothing but a long dull tail job on a guy with a four-fingered right hand.
Mike Canelli: [nods and taps him with his newspaper] I'll be seeing you.
[Stark watches as Canelli turns to leave the bar]