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Movie Reviews, & Film Industry Commentary
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 1943 – PG – 103 min.
Director: Michael Curtiz
Primary Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Dooley Wilson, Marel Dalio, S.Z. Sakall, Joy Page, Helmut Dantine, Curt Bois
Stars ***** (of 5)
Popcorn ***** (of 5)
Film Type(s): Drama, World War II, Romance, Old Relationships
Synopsis: Romance and heartbreak set against the backdrop of World War II war torn Morocco. That is the crux of this film. American entrepreneur Rick Blaine (Bogart) runs his café and wheels and deals his way around, including paying off the local (and opportunistic) Police Chief (Rains). Things change, though, when the Nazis go after Casablanca’s newest arrival: Czech Resistance leader Victor Lazlo (Henreid) and his wife (Ilsa). Known only to a few, Ilsa and Rick were former lovers when she thought Victor dead in Paris. But Rick looks out for no one but himself, even when she offers herself in exchange for papers that could give Lazlo safe passage out of the country. Rick is then forced by circumstances to choose between his happiness or the deaths of others.
Review: Here it is, the crown jewel of film-dom. One of the most analyzed, as well as the most famous, films of all time: Casablanca. Even to a modern audience, this film rings true and fresh in its dialogue, the excitement of its action, and longing in its romance. Originally considered a “B” film by the movie studio, it took the world by storm, becoming one of the most popular and widely seen films that year and in years to come and went on to win Oscars for Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay. The casting is excellent and classic, even for Stock casting done by the studio. Many of the cast members had worked together on other films, including 1940’s The Maltese Falcon and 1944’s Passage to Marseille. Though many believe Bogart’s performance in this film to be his best, he lost Best Actor Oscar to Paul Lukas for Watch on the Rhine. Bogart eventually did win Best Actor for 1951’s The African Queen. Beware computer colored prints. This is one of those films that you just don’t touch with the color. Light and shadow play just as much a part in this film as the music, dialogue, and Bogart do. Just because Rick says, “The Nazis wore gray, you wore blue.” Doesn’t mean that we need to see her wearing a blue dress. Often misquoted as “Play it again, Sam.”, Bergman’s Ilsa actually says, “Play it, Sam. Play ‘As Time Goes By’”. No one will ever sing ‘As Time Goes By’ like Dooley Wilson did here. One of the more under appreciated sequences is when the first plane flies over Casablanca and Rick’s Café and all people stop to watch. Though all of the characters have sharp tongues, Rains’ ironic Police Chief is the most fun to see on-screen (“I’m shocked! Shocked to find gambling in this establishment!”). Star Wars fans take note: Sydney Greenstreet’s character here was the model for Jabba the Hut.
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