Year of Release: 1942Country of Origin: USA
Director: Michael Curtiz
Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains
Plot outline: Set in unoccupied Casablanca in western Morocco during the early days of World War II, an American expatriate meets a former lover, with unforeseen complications (IMDb).
The 1940s is the golden years of Hollywood and Casablanca is certainly the pinnacle of it and most likely of all time. What make this movie so great and timeless - it still captivates the audience even after more than six decades? I can see at least five elements that contribute to its greatness and timelessness: the story, the setting, the script, the characters and the performances. The story is multi-layered, people are always captivated by the story of hope and despair, which is perfectly set in exotic Casablanca and beautifully narrated at the beginning of the movie:
With the coming of the Second World War, many eyes in imprisoned Europe turned hopefully, or desperately, toward the freedom of the Americas. Lisbon became the great embarkation point. But, not everybody could get to Lisbon directly, and so a tortuous, roundabout refugee trail sprang up - Paris to Marseilles ... across the Mediterranean to Oran ... then by train, or auto, or foot across the rim of Africa, to Casablanca in French Morocco. Here, the fortunate ones through money, or influence, or luck, might obtain exit visas and scurry to Lisbon; and from Lisbon, to the New World. But the others wait in Casablanca ... and wait ... and wait ... and wait.
But not only that, Casablanca is also the story of love and sorrow, which is brilliantly performed by Humphrey Bogart as resilient, yet hurt and tough, yet sentimental Rick Blaine. The characters are also multi-layered, they real - not black and white, as mentioned before, Rick Blaine or Claude Rains as corrupt, yet independent Captain Renault, which is brilliantly performed and perfectly scripted in witty dialogue throughout the movie:
Rick: How can you close me up? On what grounds?
Captain Renault: I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!
Croupier [a croupier hands Renault a pile of money]: Your winnings, sir!
Captain Renault [sotto voce]: Oh, thank you very much.
Captain Renault [aloud]: Everybody out at once!
And who can forget the chemistry between Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa Lund? It's magic! Or Dooley Wilson with his classic songs: "As Time Goes By", "It Had to Be You" and "Knock On Wood". Or the legendary scene of "The Battle of the Anthems" when the German officers take over Rick's place and sing "Die Wacht am Rhein" and Paul Henreid as Victor Laszlo then goes to the orchestra leader and asks him to lead "La Marseillaise". It's mesmerizing! I found not even a thousand words can fully describe the greatness of this movie, from start to finish. It wins three Oscars and gets five nominations. It's one of my personal favourites.
My judgement: **** out of 4 stars
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