3. Casablanca (1942)

Play It Once, Sam, for Old Times' Sake

Casablanca has long held the honor of being one of the greatest films ever made. Since it's release in 1942 it has become legendary. The film is the highest quoted on AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes with six (The Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind are second and third place with only three each). Being held in such high esteem, the film frequently appears near the top of many must-see lists. For decades critics and audiences have adored this timeless film for its humor, romance and humanity. Casablanca focuses on the city of the same name in unoccupied France during 1941. Europe is struggling with the grip of the Nazi war machine and many hope to flee to America to safety and freedom. Casablanca is the last stop before Lisbon, the gateway to America. Everyone is desperate for rare transit papers. They all wait for a chance to fly out of Casablanca to freedom and anybody worth anything seems to wait at Rick's Café Américain, owned by Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart). French and Nazi officials, refugees all drink at this upscale nightclub run by a multinational band of misfits, like the rest that end up in town. Rick never drinks with his customers and "never sticks his neck out for anybody." He can't go back to America, we never know why, and his unwillingness to trust anyone indicates a past that broke his trust. Rick's cynical, impersonal shell starts to cracks when a former lover returns. As Rick puts it, "Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine." Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) walks into the bar back into Rick's life.

The tone of drudgery and uncertainty is felt throughout the film, in every laugh and in every spin of the roulette wheel. Characters long for home and better times before the war. They drink and wait with forced smiles and conversation. The dialog is often very funny and aware of the wartime situation it is in. It is written perfectly for Bogart and Bergman and they deliver it with great sincerity. The Nazis, French Officials, and the stranded refugees all drink in the same bar which gives off the feeling of oppression in nearly every scene. In fact, "in the famous scene where the 'Marseillaise' is sung over the German song 'Watch on the Rhine', many of the extras had real tears in their eyes; a large number of them were actual refugees from Nazi persecution in Germany and elsewhere in Europe and were overcome by the emotions the scene brought out. (IMDB)" The film is very anti-Nazi and filled with the sorrows of war and occupation. Shadows play a large part in maintaining a feeling of opression and uncertainty. There was even a rumor that some shadows were painted on the set. Some shadows highlight character movement in silhouette, and others fill in the walls and surfaces like wallpaper or a decorative vase. They help maintain a dark atmosphere while still allowing light to creep in. Music is another powerful element in the film. It is somber and reminiscent of an innocent past. Rick and Ilsa's song, "As Time Goes By" seems to float in the smoke filled bar. It is sung by Sam (Dooley Wilson) with a strong feeling of nostalgia and sorrow. The song sums up the story of two lovers having to choose between what is best for their love and what is best for the world. The themes of the film are explained in these lyrics:

Well, it's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by

At its core Casablanca is both about the failure and true power of love, war, and hope.

I found this while looking at IMDB's interesting facts: "In the 1980s, this film's script was sent to readers at a number of major studios and production companies under its original title, "Everybody Comes To Rick's". Some readers recognized the script but most did not. Many complained that the script was "not good enough" to make a decent movie. Others gave such complaints as 'too dated', 'too much dialog' and 'not enough sex'." Perhaps a good reputation is part of what makes this movie so timeless, but I'd like to think not.