Casablanca (1942)

Casablanca (1942)

Famed critic, Roger Ebert once held a mini debate about this 1942 classic, Casablanca. He compared this movie to a similar film, Citizen Kane. He claimed that Kane may be the better movie, but Casablanca is the more popular movie. I agree with Roger because Casablanca is one of the best movies ever made and it seems as if my opinion is a fact (although keep in mind all movies are subjective). There is just so much to admire about the film. The cast, the themes, the actual production of the movie, and the way the film influenced future movies just to name a few. We wouldn’t get star-studded romantic epics like 1997’s Titanic if this film bombed at the box office or was not even made. Fortunately, this movie was a giant success both financially and critically. It was nominated for ten Academy Awards, winning three of them including Best Picture which it is rightfully deserved.

Where to begin gushing about the movie! I loved the themes of the movie. On the surface, this is a story about long-lost love. The movie is not just about love though. It is mainly about redemption. Major characters and minor characters receive their redemption. The one guy who receives his redemption the most and most often considered a hero is the main character, Rick Blaine played masterfully by Humphrey Bogart. Blaine believed he was abandoned by a woman, but she comes back into his life stirring up old feelings as he realized she always loved him. The movie could have taken the easy way out and have the two lovers back together forever, but instead Rick goes for the moral cause of beating the Nazis instead of acting on his feelings. That for me, is what made this movie so emotionally impactful and way ahead of its time. This is an incredibly thematic movie and the themes are always up for interpretation each time.

During World War 2, anybody fleeing the scourge of the Nazis to the United States had to travel to Morocco where they needed to pick up exit visas. The place to go is a nightclub owned by Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) who happens to be a very cynical man. Blaine receives an enormous amount of pressure, but his club is still a safe haven for those searching for these exit visas. One day, his former lover Ilsa Kund (Ingrid Bergman) and her French Resistance husband, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid) shows up. The captain of the police, Captain Renault (Claude Rains) informs Rick that he has been ordered by Nazi officer Major Heinrich Strasser (Conrad Veidt) to keep Laszlo in Casablanca. However, Laszlo will do all it takes to escape from the Nazis.

One of the appeals to the movie is the A-cast. Bogart, Bergman, and Henreid were all stars at the time. They all happen to be magnificent actors, and each one of these actors might have given their best career performance. Apparently, this is Bogart’s first lead role in a romantic film and you would not have known based on his performance. He also plays a cynic very well. Take for instance-one of my favorite scenes of the movie. Rick’s nightclub musician, Sam is a mutual friend of both Rick and Ilsa. When Ilsa appears in the club for the first time, he plays “A Time Goes By.” A song that defined the previous relationship of Rick’s and Ilsa’s. He angrily storms out of his office….and lays eyes on Ilsa. The acting he displayed there is tremendously powerful. Then we have Ingrid Bergman’s strong performance as Ilsa. She tries to convince Rick she still loves him and still wants to be with him despite all the troubles going around in the world. The supporting cast is one of the better ones you will see in a movie of this time period. With the likes of Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre, this is truly an A-picture.

I mentioned much about the themes and the acting/characters, but I also really adore the craftsmanship that went into the movie. Michael Curtiz flawlessly directed the movie and got very strong performances from his actors, and the bold script was written by Julius Epstein and Philip Epstein. Their goal was to show us that our main characters lived during an incredibly complex time and well they certainly met their goal. They also created the rich characters of the supporting cast that led to the moral decisions made by our heroes. The black and white cinematography aged very well. I also liked the use of music with the film.

Casablanca is a very important film and is one of the greatest films of all time, in my opinion. I was blown away by the film’s majesty. The acting, the music, the direction, the themes, the cinematography…..it all screams perfection. What also moves me is that much of the cast and crew were affected by Hitler’s scourge of Europe. Many of these people escaped or have family suffering under his regime. I applaud the courage of the cast and crew who made this film that was released during the height of World War 2. If you are searching for a film that is a popular case study for critics and audiences alike or if you want to see a film that reminds you why you love movies, seek out Casablanca.

My Grade: A+