Casablanca

- a timeless cinematic masterpiece-

Context
Release year:
1942
Director:
 Michael Curtiz
Writers:
 Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein
Stars:
 Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid etc.
Genres:
 Drama | Romance | War
 Summary
In Casablanca, Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) is an American expatriate who runs an upscale
nightclub/gambling den in Casablanca, Morocco in 1941. “Rick’s Café Américain” attracts a mixed clientele, but
mostly it attracts refugees desperate to reach the still neutral United States; and those who are willing to prey on
those who have little hope. Petty crook Ugarte (Peter Lorre) is one such predator. Ugarte shows up to the Cafe
and asks Rick to hide two letters of transit they took from two murdered German couriers.
The papers, the magufin in the film, allow the bearer to travel around German-controlled Europe and to neutral
Portugal. The letters of transit are priceless, and men, obviously, will kill for them. Rick agrees to temporarily
hide the letters, but before Ugarte can sell them. That night, the local police, under the command of Vichy
Captain Louis Renault (Claude Rains), arrest him. We ultimately find out that Ugarte dies in custody without
revealing that he had entrusted the letters to Rick.
Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), a renowned fugitive Czech Resistance leader, and his wife Ilsa Lund (Ingrid
Bergman) soon arrive at Rick’s, looking for Ugarte. Ilsa is the source of Rick’s bitterness and disillusionment;
having broken his heart in Paris a few years before. Victor and Ilsa are fleeing the Germans and hope to leave the
territory via the letters. German Major Strasser (Conrad Veidt) follows Victor into Casablanca to see that Laszlo
does not succeed.
With Ugarte’s death, Laszlo makes inquiries about the location of the letters of transit. Signor Ferrari (Sydney
Greenstreet) is a major underworld figure and Rick’s friendly business rival. He suggests to Laszlo that Rick has
the letters. When Laszlo confronts Rick, he refuses to sell at any price, telling Laszlo to ask his wife the reason.
Strasser leads a group of officers in the German anthem, interrupting Laszlo. Laszlo pokes the bear with a rousing
rendition of the French national anthem to drown out the Germans. In retaliation, Strasser orders Renault to
close Rick’s club.
That night, Ilsa confronts Rick in the deserted café. When he refuses to give her the letters, she threatens him
with a gun. She can’t shoot because she still loves him. She explains that she believed her husband was dead
when they first met in Paris; killed in a concentration camp. It was only when preparing to flee Paris with that
she learned that Laszlo was alive and in hiding. She left Rick without explanation to tend her ill husband.
Reunited as lovers, Rick agrees to help Ilsa. She leads him to believe that she will stay behind with him once
Laszlo leaves.

Aware of Ilsa’s feelings for Rick, Laszlo also arrives at his Café. He tries to persuade Rick to use the letters to take
Ilsa to safety. The police arrest Laszlo on a minor, trumped-up charge, and Rick convinces Renault to release him.
Rick promises to set Laslo for a much more serious crime, possession of the letters of transit. To allay Renault’s
suspicions, Rick explains he and Ilsa will be leaving for America.

When Renault tries to arrest Laszlo as arranged, Rick forces him at gunpoint to assist in their escape. At the last
moment, Rick makes Ilsa board the plane to Lisbon with her husband. She would regret it if she stayed. “Maybe
not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life.”

Major Strasser, whom Renault tipped off, drives up alone. Rick shoots Strasser when he tries to intervene. When
the police arrive, Renault pauses, then tells them to round up the usual suspects. As they walk off into the fog
together, Renault suggests to Rick that they join the Free French at Brazzaville—the sequel that the studio never
made for Casablanca.

Fun Facts

Originally the
Nobody expected
story was set in
it to be a hit.
Lisbon.

Many of the actors

were themselves The release of the
victims of the war. film was rushed.

Final Impressions
Casablanca was an incredible film. I now see why it is so high-ranked in the history of cinema. Humphrey
Bogart’s portrayal of Rick was captivating. His character was complex and yet a man anyone could relate to.
Anyone who has ever been in a difficult situation, lost a lover or has felt alone in the world can relate to Rick. His
altruism at the end of the film does not seem contrived; that is simply the nature of Rick’s character. His
attachment to Ilsa is unlike any other I have seen in a film. The tension between the two characters made the film
suspenseful. This tension kept rising as we meet Victor and learn the circumstances that led Ilsa to her husband,
Victor. I wanted to dislike Victor, but I could not. His dedication to his country and his cause were clear
throughout the film, and so was his love for Ilsa. I cannot say I liked or disliked Ilsa; she was just sort of there. I
felt sorry for the situation she was put in, both as a refugee and as a woman torn between two men. I loved the
end of the movie. Rick acts as a true selfless hero when he lets both Ilsa and Victor get on the plane. Even though
she was married to another man, Rick was so desperate to have her safe he encouraged them both to get on the
plane. He knew life would not be good for her if she stayed with him.