Abstract: This invention relates to smoking articles, such as cigarettes, little cigars and the like, having a novel wrapper or outer covering and to a method for producing the same. More particularly, the invention relates to smoking articles comprising tobacco and a novel wrapper comprising a film having certain specified properties. The film preferably comprises a natural polysaccharide component which is preferably combined with an alkaline earth metal component. The wrapper possesses a unique appearance and other physical characteristics which are distinct from those of conventional wrappers for tobacco products, such as cigarette papers and tobacco leaves, as well as being distinct from the various modified tobacco products which have been taught as wrappers for smoking products.