Review of Casablanca (1943) by David A — 12 Oct 2013

My second favorite film of all time would be the 1942 classic, Casablanca. Made at a time when hundreds of Hollywood movies were put out every year, Casablanca didn't seem like anything out of the ordinary. And yet, Casablanca is anything but ordinary. There are the times when you watch a classic movie, and you can just tell that it is better. Casablanca is just such a movie.

The story revolves around World War 2 in Casablanca. Rick Blaine is an American who runs a successful café in Casablanca. Rick is now a bitter and cynical man with a broken heart. When Victor Laszlo (a Czech resistance leader) and his wife Ilsa, the woman who broke Rick's heart year's earlier in Paris, walk into Rick's café; Rick's must choose between his happiness and doing the right thing.

The script (collaborated on by four different writers) just crackles with romance, humor, and drama. Even my favorite movie of all time, Charade, isn't as perfectly scripted as this movie. The story is very weighty with plenty of drama, but the movie never loses its sarcastic sense of humor. When I saw this movie at a younger age, the comedy was completely lost on me. I just enjoyed the movie because I knew it was better than your average fare. But when I saw this movie in my earlier teenage years, I grew to really appreciate the sophisticated wit.

Humphrey Bogart is unmatched as Rick Blaine. He provides one of the best performances in cinema history. At the beginning of the movie, Rick isn't unlike Bogie's usual, rough around the edges characters. But as the movie progresses, he becomes so much more. The performance is iconic, but then again, so is the rest of the movie.

Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains head up the supporting cast. You can have Humphrey Bogart give the best performance of his career, but if the pieces around him don't work; then the movie won't either. But of course, the supporting cast of Casablanca is flawless. Bergman has brilliant chemistry with Bogart, and they make for one of the most memorable couples in cinematic history. She embodies the character and portrays her not only with words, but also with something as simple as a look. And giving the best supporting performance of his career is the unrivaled Claude Rains as Captain Renault. I find Rains to be one of the best and most underrated actors of the 30s, 40s, and 50s. He is a credit to every movie he appears in. Renault provides many laughs in the villain/hero role.

There are other truly excellent performances throughout the movie. Sydney Greenstreet, Dooley Wilson, and Cuddles Sakall are all fantastic.

An interesting theme that runs all through the movie is sacrifice. Each of the main characters has to sacrifice something at some point in the movie. Laszlo sacrifices his own personal safety to fight for the Czech cause. Captain Renault sacrifices his high-ranking job to save Rick. And most memorably, Rick and Ilsa sacrifice their happiness together. When Rick says the famous lines, "You're part of his work, the thing that keeps him going. If that plane leaves the ground and you're not with him, you'll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life." we see that Rick gave up his chance for happiness to promote the greater good.

The movie is directed by the incredibly versatile Michael Curtiz. The man could simply turn out quality, no matter what genre he was directing in. Whether it was swashbuckling, high seas adventures like Captain Blood or the Sea Hawk, an amazing musical in Yankee Doodle Dandy, or dramas like Mildred Pierce and Casablanca; Curtiz never disappointed. His direction here is stunning. He balances every aspect of the story, and creates a palpable atmosphere with every shot.

The music by Max Steiner and songs sung by Dooley Wilson add immensely to the movie. "As Time Goes By" really cannot be beat. The music is just one of the many perfect elements that add up to this perfect movie.

Casablanca is timeless. It is iconic. It is worthy of every ounce of praise it receives. It functions on every level it has. With a crisp sense of humor that is sometimes blink-and-you-missed-it, outstanding performances, wonderful atmosphere, superbly done romance, and an impeccable script; Casablanca completely succeeds.

"Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine." 10/10.