In search of elusive travel papers to get out
of the grasp of the German Nazis, a woman, Ilsa Lund Laszlo (Ingrid
Bergman) and her husband, Czech underground leader, Victor Laszlo
(Paul Henreid), both end up looking for the one man in Morocco
who can help them get out; expatriate and freedom fighter, Rick
Blaine (Humphrey Bogart). Rick runs a popular nightclub in Morocco,
during World War 2. In the course of the film we learn lessons
about love, betrayal, friendship, and patriotism.
Ilsa had met Rick years before in Paris, where
they had fallen in love. He, at first, is very bitter about the
fact that she had run out on him there, but when he found out
she had a good reason, they toy with the idea of running away
together using the travel papers, as her husband was soon detained
by the town constable, Captain Renault (Claud Rains), trying to
please the visiting Nazi Major (Conrad Veidt). However, Rick rises
to the occasion and makes the right thing happen, "putting
his personal life second to the cause."
This film is a classic because of great cast,
fine script, and memorable music, particularly "As Time Goes
By." The film won three Oscars: Best Picture, Director, and
Screenplay (by Julius & Philip Epstein, and Howard Koch, based
on the play, "Everybody Comes To Ricks").
The involving screenplay was written by Julius
& Philip Epstein and Howard Koch, and is based on the play,
"Everybody Comes to Rick's," by Murray Burnett and Joan
Alison. The dialogue and the suspense of the story are both elements
in this story that makes it truly special.
The marvelous direction was by the prolific Michael
Curtiz, an originally European filmmaker, who did every kind of
film genre for the Hollywood studio Warner Brothers, mostly during
the 1930's and '40's. "Casablanca" and "Mildred
Pierce" are considered his best masterpieces. The
pacing and the performances in this film reflect on Curtiz's skill
in working with his actors and actresses, putting the spirit of
the screenplay into the scenes of this marvelous film.
My favorite scene takes place late at night at Rick's bar. Bogart
drinks and smokes alone. Bogart's expression is one of doom. When
the door opens, Bergman appears, as if in a dream, bathed in light.
It's a fine example of 1940's atmospheric film making.
Humphrey Bogart is very convincing as Rick Blaine, an ex American
patriot who owns a night Club in Morocco, and is called on to
help an underground leader and his wife escape the clutches of
the Nazis. This is the movie that, improbably enough, made the
short, lisping, unhandsome Bogart a romantic figure. Interestingly
enough, Ronald Reagan and Ann Sheridan were seriously considered
for the roles that Bogart and Bergman eventually played.
Claude Rains was wonderful in his portrayal of
Captain Louis Renault, Prefect of Police, who finds himself between
a rock and a hard pace when the Nazi's take over the town, and
he must decide whether to do the right thing or succumb to pressure.
Ingrid Bergman gives a heartfelt performance as Ilsa, whose past
relationship with Rick clouds her thinking, makes her situation
more difficult, and gives her a new dilemma to deal with.
Luckily for the filmmakers, the film was released
shortly before a highly publicized war conference that took place
in Casablanca. "Casablanca" benefited greatly from the
fortuitous publicity.
"Casablanca" is famous for generating a famous non-quote.
"Play it again, Sam" is never said during the movie,
despite the Woody Allen film with that title. The line is, "
If you played it for her you can play it for me. Play it Sam.
Play, "As Time Goes By."
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