Movie Review On Casablanca

Casablanca was released in 1942 and was directed by Michael Curtiz. The film takes place in Casablanca in World War 2 and follows Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), an American owner of a swanky nightclub. Rick’s club acts as a neutral zone for several European nationals. Most of these people are seeking refuge in the United States or are on the run from the Nazis. Rick deals with several criminal types, jostles with the local police captain Louis Renault (Claude Rains), and gets involved with his former lover Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) and her husband Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid). Lazlo and Ilsa are resistance fighters trying to flee the country to the United States. Rick doesn’t want to help them at first but decides to do so anyway. The movie stands as a symbol between the forces of Democracy and the forces of Tyranny.
Rick is a very aloof character. He will never go the extra mile to save someone. The film makes it a point to say that he is an international man of mystery. While he may not care about what is going on with the war, he tends to show otherwise. For instance, take a scene at the beginning of the film. He refuses entry to the private back room to a very prominent member of the Deutsche Bank. At the same time, he is allowing people with less influence to use the room at their own convenience. This also means that he prefers the allies to the Nazis. This also means that his aloof nature is more a means to protect himself from those who would do him harm. He hinds behind it like a cloak to give himself the nature of an international man of mystery. From an audience prospective, the initial shots also establish his character. When the camera enters the first frame, there are several other characters talking about Rick but the audience never sees his face. There is a Point of View shot of Rick signing a piece of paper. The camera slowly pans upwards to reveal Rick’s face. It is only here that the audience finally sees his face. Another argument could be made that Rick’s neutral status is perhaps inductivity of America’s role in the war before they finally entered it.
Rick is a passive observer until the arrival of his former lover Ilsa and her husband Lazlo. They are freedom fighters who are on the run from the Nazis. Like Rick, Ilsa is a person of mystery as well. She claims to be still in love with Rick and also in love with her husband at the same time. This shrouds her motivations in mystery. The director probably made this choice to keep the audience on her toes so as to follow her actions towards the end of the film. For instance, Rick has the letters of transit in his possession. This could act as a motivator for Ilsa to tell that she loves him. Some might perceive her actions as cold and detached from the situation. It is also possible that she changes her mood and actions as a survival mechanism. Like Rick, She has an ability to hide her true self. This allusive nature remains so till the end of the film. Rick doesn’t want to help her or her husband out of spite. Ilsa reveals to him that she taught her husband when they were together. Rick agrees to help her. It might be because he under the delusion that she will stay with him and let her husband as the authorities is really after him. This proves to be false as Ilsa and her husband leave with the transit papers. This interesting rapport between the main characters also acts as a mirror to the ongoing conflict of World War 2. For Instance, America was helping the allies but from afar with ammunition, food, money etc. They did not get active until bombed by the Japanese in 1941. Assuming Rick is America, the resemblance is symbolic with Rick’s unwillingness to help Ilsa and her husband.
Another instance where the film acts as a mirror image to the war is the scene between Lazlo and Strasser (Conrad Veidt). Strasser is a German officer who is actually making sure that Lazlo and Ilza do not succeed in their endeavors. Strasser leads several people to sing a German song "Die Wacht am Rhein.” Lazlo decides to make his present felt by singing a rendition of a French song “"La Marseillaise.” It should be taken into account that these are national anthems for both men. Strasser represents the Nazis while Lazlo represents the allies. Like the war, they are dueling over the fate of Europe. In this case, they are dueling for bragging rights as Strasser is trying to impose his version of German superiority. Lazlo’s public defiance in inductive of the Allies opposition to the Nazis.
The film is considered a classic. It has several classic lines like ‘Play it Again, Sam’ and ‘Here’s looking at you, kid.’ These lines have been quoted over the years over and over again and perhaps show the long standing impact of the film. It also stands as a long standing tribute to the acting prowess of Humphrey Boghart. The film builds on the tension between the three main characters keeping the audience on their toes till the very end. Considering the film is actually a romantic drama set in the confines of a chaotic world makes the anti-Nazi themes in the film that much more remarkable. There are several themes which make its presence felt like love lost and the dueling nature of honor and discipline. The film will continue to stand the test of the sands of time and will be forever remembered as a classic.