Casablanca

• Title:  Casablanca
• Director:  Michael Curtiz
• Date:  1942
• Studio:  Warner Brothers
• Genre:  Classic, Drama
• Cast:  Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre
• Format:  Black & White, Standard
• R1, NTSC

"What in heavens name brought you to Casablanca?"  Cap't Louis Renault
"My health, I came to Casablanca for the waters."  Rick Blaine
"The waters?  What waters -- we're in the desert." -- Cap't Renault
"I was misinformed." -- Rick

"What's your nationality?" Maj. Strasser
"I'm a drunkard."  -- Rick

"Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world -- she walks into mine." -- Rick

"I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here." -- Cap't Renault
"Your winnings, sir."  -- Waiter
"Oh, thank you very much."  -- Cap't Renault

Casablanca is one of  the best movies ever made.  Like all great movies it is still enjoyable after repeat viewings, and can even become more enjoyable because of  the anticipation of favorite lines and scenes and actions.  The movie, after a brief audio introduction, swiftly carries you into it's world.  Casablanca -- crossroads of the world, filled with refugees from war-torn Europe hoping to beg, borrow, or steal enough to obtain exit visas and passage on the plane to Lisbon and from there passage to America.  Part of  what Casablanca does so well is not only the main plot of three "little people" -- but the small side plots -- the older German couple who have finally obtained passage and are practicing their imperfect English, the woman who sells her diamond tennis bracelet - for far less than it's worth because she's desperate for money (and the broker knows it), the pickpocket, the young girl who asks Rick if she should trust Cap't Renault and do a "very bad thing" so she and her husband can escape Casablanca.  There is a real sense that everyone in Casablanca has a story - and it may be as compelling as the story of  Rick, Ilsa and Victor Laszlo.

But at the heart Casablanca is about Rick, Ilsa, and Victor -- three good people caught in a mess.  Rick - the cynic, who "sticks his neck out for nobody," Victor - hero of  the people, who escaped a German Concentration Camp and is leader of the underground free French.  And Ilsa - the girl they both love and have loved at different times.  The film is about Rick's journey from cynic to unlikely hero -- but there's an edginess to the movie - the audience doesn't know what Rick's final decision will be.  Part of this may have been the cast didn't know, supposedly the script was unfinished and the movie was made on the fly.  But even if that wasn't so, and even when you have the final scene with all it's perfect dialogue memorised - you've seen this movie that often, the film still manages to have a sense of surprise to it, a sense of anticipation, and it creates a world that envelops you.  It truly is a brilliant, brilliant film.

Also - Casablanca is filled with great lines, those quoted above, and gems like Cap't Renault's "I'm only a poor, corrupt official," or his "Major Strasser has been shot - round up the usual suspects," not to mention Rick's speech to Ilsa at the end of  the film -- and the last line of  the film as well.  Totally classic!

Besides the sparkling script -- the film is filled with great images as well:  Ilsa's hand knocking over the champagne glass as Rick kisses her as the Germans match into Paris; the rain washing away the ink of Ilsa's note to Rick; the close-up as Cap't Renault drops the bottle of  "Viche Water" into the trash.  And light and shadow is used so well in the film.  Ingrid Bergman looks so beautiful, especially when she walks into Rick's the lighting on her face makes her practically glow.  But shadows and half  light are used well.  Mist and smoke are also used to enhance the visual image:  the smoke obscuring Rick as he gets on the train in Paris, and the mist and fog shrouded airport at the end of the film are two examples.  Another of my favorite scenes is when Victor leads all of  Rick's Cafe' Americain in singing the Marseillais to drown out the Germans who are singing De Fatherland, especially Yvonne crying.

And Rick -- Richard Blaine, who "sticks his neck out for nobody," who at the start of the film does nothing to help poor Ugarte (Lorre), despite his pleas, and despite him saying Rick's the only one he trusts - an action which later results in Ugarte's death.  This is the man who is the noble one at the end of  the picture -- he's the one who gives up love for something greater, and because he knows the woman he loves - loves someone else.  I just love this movie and could watch it again and again and again.  Which is often the best compliment a work of  art can have - to make you want to experience it over and over again.

All in all - just about a perfect movie.

Recommendation:  See it!  Own it!
Rating:  5 (out of 5) Stars
Next Film:  Charade