The Man from Cairo

The Man From Cairo (Italian: Dramma nella Kasbah/Avventura ad Algeri) is a 1953 British, Italian American international co-production film-noir starring George Raft, who plays a man that is mistaken for a detective by the French and is sent to find lost World War II gold in Algiers, despite the film's title.[2]

The Man From Cairo
Directed byRay Enright
Produced byBernard Luber
Written byEugene Ling
Phillip Stevens
Janice Stevens
Based onstory by Ladislas Fodor
StarringGeorge Raft
Gianna Maria Canale
Massimo Serato
Irene Papas
Music byRenzo Rossellini
Production
company
Michael David Productions
Distributed byEros Films (UK)
Lippert Films
Release date
27 November 1953
CountryUnited Kingdom
Italy
USA
LanguageEnglish
Budget$235,000[1]

The 1953 picture was the last completed film in which Raft had top billing and the last of three films he made for Lippert Pictures.[3] It was the final feature film of director Ray Enright.

Plot

The French government investigate the location of some bullion stolen during the war.

Tourist Mike Canelli, an ex-serviceman who served in Algeria during the war, is mistaken for an American agent assisting the French.

Cast
  • George Raft as Mike Canelli
  • Gianna Maria Canale as Lorraine Belogne
  • Massimo Serato as Basil Constantine
  • Guido Celano as Sgt. Emile Touchard
  • Irene Papas as Yvonne Le Beaux
  • Alfredo Varelli as General Dumont, also known as Professor Crespi
  • Leon Lenoir as Capt. Akhim Bey
  • Mino Doro as Major Le Blanc, assumed name of Emile Moreau
  • Angelo Dessy as Pockmark

Production

The film was produced by Bernard Luber, who had just made Loan Shark with Raft.

Irene Papas made her American film debut.[1]

The film was shot on location in Algeria and Italy.

The film was made for $155,000 with $80,000 in deferrals.[1]

Reception

The New York Times said the best thing about the film was "a sleazy, authentic-looking backdrop. The murky alleyways, run-down hotels and palm-fringed facades, obviously photographed on the spot, stand in direct, flavorsome contrast to the business at hand—unfortunately, the old spy and monkey business... Three scenarists have crammed the plot with enough skulking and double-talk to rival an Eric Ambler opus, minus the master's finesse, characterizations and, of course, suspense... Mr. Raft is Mr. Raft, still the same competent, brisk and unimaginative performer."[4]

References
  1. Mark Thomas McGee, Talk's Cheap, Action's Expensive: The Films of Robert L. Lippert, Bear Manor Media, 2014 p 155
  2. Vagg, Stephen (9 February 2020). "Why Stars Stop Being Stars: George Raft". Filmink.
  3. Everett Aaker, The Films of George Raft, McFarland & Company, 2013 p 156
  4. Review of film at New York Times


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