Many films throughout the history of Hollywood are considered classics but none have endured like Casablanca. Released in 1942, the picture was directed by Michael Curtiz and stars Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. It has long defined the very pinnacle of filmmaking and currently holds a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 99%. In 2012, renowned film critic Leonard Maltin referred to “Casablanca” as “the best Hollywood movie of all time”. Winner of three Academy Awards, including Best Motion Picture, the film is an undisputed cinematic masterpiece. More importantly, it continues to attract virgin audiences and fresh appreciation, despite it being 80 years since its release.
Set in Morocco during World War II, the movie tells the gripping story of an American expat nightclub owner named Rick (Bogart). The cynical Rick must appease a list of nefarious characters to survive; the list includes the local underworld, crooked cops, and the Nazi party. He’s good at it, and he’s making lots of money playing both sides against the middle. But when Rick’s former lover Ilsa (Bergman) suddenly walks through his door, his whole world is upended. Rick walks a dangerous tightrope as he navigates the sensitive politics of war to save Ilsa and her notorious rebel husband.
There was no reason to expect great things when production began. On the surface it seems rather improbable that Casablanca would be a success at all. It was a romance story with the backdrop of war, filmed and released deep in the heart of World War II. The script was regarded as unremarkable, adapted from an unproduced stage play and unfinished on the first day of filming. Casablanca was considered just another topical melodrama.
The stars of the picture were certainly no guarantee of greatness. Humphrey Bogart, cast in the lead role, was known primarily for his tough hoodlum characters. Not classically handsome and rough around the edges, Bogie was seemingly unsuited to star as the sympathetic leading man. At the time, the Swedish born Bergman was under contract to a rival studio and had only made a handful of Hollywood pictures. She was also at best the third choice for the role behind Ann Sheridan and Hedy Lamarr. The Austrian actor Paul Henreid plays Bergman’s husband, Czech resistance leader Victor Laszlo.
The tense love triangle between Rick, Ilsa, and Victor worked beautifully on screen, but did not translate off set. Henreid described Bogart as “a mediocre actor” while Bergman referred to Henreid as “a prima donna”. Yet, despite considerable obstacles, Casablanca is one of the most celebrated films of all time.
Casablanca stands the test of time for a myriad of reasons, but perhaps the greatest are the film’s common relatable elements, that allows it to strike a chord with every audience. This is a love story, a war movie, a thriller, and a spy flick rife with action, suspense, mystery, and intrigue. The film integrates themes such as sacrifice, selflessness and working together for the greater good and as a result, Casablanca appeals to the best version of ourselves. As cinema scholar Mark James Miller states, the film “reminds its audiences that they can always choose the right path in life.” However, these central themes would not have been nearly as effective had they not been executed with such an exceptional combination of production, screenplay, direction and acting.
The performances of the stars are rather obvious in their excellence. From Bogart’s iconic Rick Blaine to Claude Rains’ morally corrupt Capt. Renault, each actor puts tremendous skill on display. The relatively inexperienced Bergman is captivating as both courageous heroine and devoted wife. Bogart and Rains were each nominated for acting Oscars while Bergman’s role remains her best known. Bogie’s role actually established a new character archetype; Rick was Hollywood’s first rebel hero. The character of Rick Blaine forever influenced the way Hollywood leading men would be portrayed and written for.
With such a dynamic and talented cast, it’s no wonder that the outstanding screenplay is conveyed so richly. However, as often is the case with such star power, the contributions of the director are often overlooked. In the case of Casablanca, that was a deliberate decision. Director Michael Curtiz recognized that he had a thrilling script and that the biggest mistake he could make would be to get in the way of the narrative. Several clever filmmaking techniques were employed to achieve this, including the brilliant use of low-key lighting. The immense style of the film never gets in the way of the story.
Script responsibilities fell to Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, and Howard Koch. They created the screenplay which is perhaps the greatest element of Casablanca. This is especially impressive considering the chaotic writing process. In a 2014 interview, co-writer Howard Koch revealed, “When we began [filming], we didn’t have a finished script”. When Ingrid Bergman came to Koch asking which male character she should love more, he was stumped. The screenwriter replied, “I don’t know. Play them both evenly.” Koch continued, “You see we didn’t have an ending, so we didn’t know what was going to happen”. The unorthodox approach must have worked as Casablanca won the Academy Award for Best Screenplay.
Iconic lines can keep a film forever relevant, and Casablanca may have more than any other film in history. Lines such as “Here’s looking at you, kid” and “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship” have become ensconced in popular nomenclature. Many people do not even recognize the fact that the origins of these phrases reside in a movie filmed in 1942.
Theme songs can add greatly to a film’s longevity and Casablanca has a great one. “As Time Goes By” was recorded and performed by Dooley Wilson for the film. It was originally written for a 1931 Broadway musical called “Everybody’s Welcome” by Herman Hupfeld. The song has become more popular as time goes by and has become a timeless classic in its own right. “As Time Goes By” is one of the most popular standards of all time and has been recorded by artists ranging from Francis Albert Sinatra to ZZ Top. It will always be identified with Casablanca, which only adds to the film’s immortality.
Years after its release, Ingrid Bergman was asked her thoughts regarding the iconic film. She answered, “I feel about ‘Casablanca’ that it has a life of its own. There is something mystical about it. It seems to have filled a need.” That’s a fair assessment, but at its core, Casablanca is an endorsement for being a good person. It advocates selflessness and doing the right thing. These are sentiments that will always resonate with audiences. Acting justly, courageously, and honorably transcend any era, which is why Casablanca has continued to be relevant till today.
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