Production Company: Warner Brothers
"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine" - Rick Blaine
Setting
Casablanca, Morocco, World War II
The Plot
During World War II, many refugees flee to Casablanca and await the rare and highly-prized exit visas to get them to Portugal as the gateway to the United States. Here we meet Rick Blaine the revered and hard-hearted owner of the aptly named night spot Rick’s, and Ilsa the woman who made him that way.
The Review
Rick Blaine [Bogart] is rarely impressed by anyone… until the name of Victor Laszlo [Henreid] is mentioned, the multi escapee and concentration camp survivor wanted on all sides. He must not, under any circumstances, be allowed to leave Casablanca. Unfortunately for Rick, who insists he sticks his neck out for nobody, Laszlo has Rick’s old flame Ilsa [Bergman] with him. Oh. Dear.
Rick is the ultimate man’s man; cool calm and collected, always in control and revered by all who know him. He moves seamlessly to maintain relationships on both sides of the law, from the criminal on the run to the Chief of Police. There is something about Humphrey Bogart that just commands respect and a little awe, maybe it’s the nonchalant expression or the deep voice…I'm sure he wore Old Spice as well to drive it home.
Ingrid Bergman was equally compelling as Ilsa with her radiant beauty and seductive voice…the chemistry between her and Bogart leaves us guessing just who was fooling who.
The wonderful supporting cast told us of a time of fear and manipulation masked by joy and party-going. They steered clear of a strong political slant and didn't take as many pot-shots at Germany as they could have gotten away with, though snaps for hiring genuine Jewish refugees amid the cast. They did put together an impressive choral anthem coalition of the German ‘Die Wacht am Rhein’ and French ‘La Marseillaise’. The French won that round…not surprising given most of the audience hated Germany at the time. It was not without its comic relief, with Curt Bois playing the Italian pickpocket who warned people about pickpockets and Claude Rains playing the "poor corrupt official" Captain Renault who we're never completely sure about but Rick describes him as "just like any other man, only more so".
Then there was our lounge singer Sam (yes we knew there was a Sam didn't we?), played by Dooley Wilson, a true master of those rich Southern Black vocals as he leads the punters through catchy renditions of “Knock On Wood” [below] and the now-famous “As Time Goes By”. Sam provided entertainment as well as a link between the present and past Rick-Ilsa relationship, a character who is hard to not to love. And nobody said the famous line “play it again Sam”…though Ilsa came close.
The film, I must say, was close to perfect. The plot was relevant, engaging and yet not too predictable; it kept me guessing and surprised me several times. I am adding this to my list of favourites; this could be the start of a beautiful friendship…
Rick is the ultimate man’s man; cool calm and collected, always in control and revered by all who know him. He moves seamlessly to maintain relationships on both sides of the law, from the criminal on the run to the Chief of Police. There is something about Humphrey Bogart that just commands respect and a little awe, maybe it’s the nonchalant expression or the deep voice…I'm sure he wore Old Spice as well to drive it home.
Ingrid Bergman was equally compelling as Ilsa with her radiant beauty and seductive voice…the chemistry between her and Bogart leaves us guessing just who was fooling who.
The wonderful supporting cast told us of a time of fear and manipulation masked by joy and party-going. They steered clear of a strong political slant and didn't take as many pot-shots at Germany as they could have gotten away with, though snaps for hiring genuine Jewish refugees amid the cast. They did put together an impressive choral anthem coalition of the German ‘Die Wacht am Rhein’ and French ‘La Marseillaise’. The French won that round…not surprising given most of the audience hated Germany at the time. It was not without its comic relief, with Curt Bois playing the Italian pickpocket who warned people about pickpockets and Claude Rains playing the "poor corrupt official" Captain Renault who we're never completely sure about but Rick describes him as "just like any other man, only more so".
Then there was our lounge singer Sam (yes we knew there was a Sam didn't we?), played by Dooley Wilson, a true master of those rich Southern Black vocals as he leads the punters through catchy renditions of “Knock On Wood” [below] and the now-famous “As Time Goes By”. Sam provided entertainment as well as a link between the present and past Rick-Ilsa relationship, a character who is hard to not to love. And nobody said the famous line “play it again Sam”…though Ilsa came close.
The film, I must say, was close to perfect. The plot was relevant, engaging and yet not too predictable; it kept me guessing and surprised me several times. I am adding this to my list of favourites; this could be the start of a beautiful friendship…
The Slap
After rounding up the usual suspects, I award this to Major Strasser (well it was always going to go to a German wasn't it?). Some characters had two sides, Strasser had only one: bastard.
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