A film by Michael Curtiz
The American Film Institute ranked Casablanca as the second greatest movie of all time behind Citizen Kane . I would tend to agree with Casablanca as the #2 movie of all time (I just disagree on #1). This is a movie that is not only an excellent film, but also one which has entered the consciousness of a nation so much that many people only know that some lines are famous and that perhaps they came from Casablanca . Lines like Here s looking at you, kid , All the gin joints in all the towns in the world and she has to walk into mine , and I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship are legendary. So is the line that was not even said in the movie play it again, Sam (in this case there are a couple variations said in the movie, the closest being play it once more, Sam ). Besides the famous dialogue, though, this is simply a fine movie and is an example of excellence in filmmaking.
The story is set in Casablanca, in French Morocco. It is 1941 and the world is in the midst of World War II. With such a grand background, this is a very simple story. Much of the film take s place at Rick s, a caf that lets its patrons forget for a moment that the war is going on. The patrons can forget until the Nazis chase a runaway to Casablanca and execute him on the streets. Another runaway is traced to Rick s and while this could turn to a serious drama, it instead turns the film into a great romance and even a comedy with graceful touches. The success of this depends entirely on the characters and the actors playing the parts. Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) is the owner of Rick s, and he is completely (as far as we can tell) apolitical. He is just looking out for himself and his caf and he isn t too worried about what happens to anyone else. But Rick is smooth and likeable, so this does not bother us too much. In walks Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), the very man the Nazis are looking for. With Laszlo comes Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman). When Rick says the famous like about all the gins joints in all the towns in the world he is talking about Ilsa. To put it mildly, they have a past.
To say more would spoil the joy in this movie, but I fear that I have not said enough and it is nearly impossible to capture the heart and grace of this movie in words written more than 60 years after it was first released. I also have not mentioned Captain Renault (Claude Rains), one of the great characters in film history, even more so than Rick or Ilsa. I truly believe that this is one of the greatest movies of all time, and that being the case I am not sure how to adequately describe this great film. Suffice it to say that from the acting, to the script, to the actors, to the direction, and cinematography, I find it exceedingly difficult to find a flaw through this movie. It is just as vibrant a picture as it was 60 years ago when it was Oscar s Best Picture in 1942.
The American Film Institute ranked Casablanca as the second greatest movie of all time behind Citizen Kane . I would tend to agree with Casablanca as the #2 movie of all time (I just disagree on #1). This is a movie that is not only an excellent film, but also one which has entered the consciousness of a nation so much that many people only know that some lines are famous and that perhaps they came from Casablanca . Lines like Here s looking at you, kid , All the gin joints in all the towns in the world and she has to walk into mine , and I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship are legendary. So is the line that was not even said in the movie play it again, Sam (in this case there are a couple variations said in the movie, the closest being play it once more, Sam ). Besides the famous dialogue, though, this is simply a fine movie and is an example of excellence in filmmaking.
The story is set in Casablanca, in French Morocco. It is 1941 and the world is in the midst of World War II. With such a grand background, this is a very simple story. Much of the film take s place at Rick s, a caf that lets its patrons forget for a moment that the war is going on. The patrons can forget until the Nazis chase a runaway to Casablanca and execute him on the streets. Another runaway is traced to Rick s and while this could turn to a serious drama, it instead turns the film into a great romance and even a comedy with graceful touches. The success of this depends entirely on the characters and the actors playing the parts. Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) is the owner of Rick s, and he is completely (as far as we can tell) apolitical. He is just looking out for himself and his caf and he isn t too worried about what happens to anyone else. But Rick is smooth and likeable, so this does not bother us too much. In walks Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), the very man the Nazis are looking for. With Laszlo comes Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman). When Rick says the famous like about all the gins joints in all the towns in the world he is talking about Ilsa. To put it mildly, they have a past.
To say more would spoil the joy in this movie, but I fear that I have not said enough and it is nearly impossible to capture the heart and grace of this movie in words written more than 60 years after it was first released. I also have not mentioned Captain Renault (Claude Rains), one of the great characters in film history, even more so than Rick or Ilsa. I truly believe that this is one of the greatest movies of all time, and that being the case I am not sure how to adequately describe this great film. Suffice it to say that from the acting, to the script, to the actors, to the direction, and cinematography, I find it exceedingly difficult to find a flaw through this movie. It is just as vibrant a picture as it was 60 years ago when it was Oscar s Best Picture in 1942.
It is, IMHO, a fantastic movie. I could watch it over and over...
Of course if you like Bogie in this one, check out a double headed set of The Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep.
my :twocents: Thanks for the review!
Of course if you like Bogie in this one, check out a double headed set of The Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep.
my :twocents: Thanks for the review!