rating:
(out of
4 stars)United States; 1942
Directed by Michael Curtiz; produced by Hal B. Wallis; screenplay by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Howard Koch
Starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre
Below you will find a temporary review for this film. The real (better, more complete) review will be online very soon.
'Casablanca' is considered as one of the greatest American movies ever made
I and totally agree. The story about Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) and his
American bar in Casablanca, which belongs to unoccupied France during World
War II, and how he meets a girl again is perfect. They met in Paris and had
the most wonderful time but they had to escape for the Gestapo. The morning
they had to leave the girl, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), is not there.
Now back in Casablanca she is married to a guy named Victor Laszlo (Paul
Henreid). He is a great man in the French Resistance and they need letters
of transit to get out of Casablanca, where a German major (Conrad Veidt)
tries to keep Laszlo in Casablanca. He tries to do this with Capt. Louis
Renault (Claude Rains), a French officer who does anything as long as it is
good for him. He becomes quite important for the story. The letters of
transit are hided by Rick, after a guy named Ugarte (Peter Lorre) gave them
to him. He doesn't want to give them to Laszlo because his past with Ilsa;
he feels betrayed by her. You probably know how it is going to end but if
you don't I will not spoil it here.
What is so great about 'Casablanca'? I am not really sure. It is well made
but not extraordinary so it must have something to do with the story and the
characters. And of course the use of the song "As Time Goes By". Whenever I
hear it I have to think about this movie.
Back to the story and the characters. One of the things that makes this
movie so great is the ending. It doesn't end very predictable. It also makes
sure we like the characters. Rick had to make a choice and probably makes
the right one, and with the help of Louis he gets away with his choice.
Humphrey Bogart and Claude Rains have some strange chemistry in their scenes
and that makes it the more interesting. Of course there is also chemistry in
the scenes with Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. I don't know how this movie would
have been with other actors but I think these are the perfect actors to play
their character.