#43 Casablanca

In Summary

Casablanca is a boozy tale of love, war and doing the right thing.

Set in Morocco in World War II, Casablanca is about a group of people cast into a state of limbo waiting for either safe passage to America or to be caught by the Nazis. It is a setting of corruption and shady alliances, loyalty has a monetary price.

Within this world, the most sensible thing is to trust no-one, help no-one and only look out for yourself. That is the decision Rick Blaine has taken in running his bar/casino in the heart of Casablanca. He seems a cold and inscrutable man who has learned to dispassionately play the game.

It is a chance meeting with a former flame, Ilsa Lund, that cuts away at Rick's facade. The two had been lovers for a brief spell in Paris before the Nazi invasion, agreeing to escape with one another before Rick was jilted at the train platform.

With Ilsa a target for the Nazis due to her association with partner Victor Laszlo, a dissident Jew, Rick has the opportunity for revenge against his former lover in handing her and her partner over to the authorities.

Yet, it is perhaps because of that reminder of lost love that Rick allows his sentimental side to awaken. A key turning point in the film is the iconic 'Le Marseillaise' scene, where Rick leads his bar in a protest singing of the French national anthem against the Nazi officers who were occupying the bar through their own song. It remains an incredibly powerful and moving act of defiance.

The plot continues to overlap plots and double-crosses as Rick seeks a way to get Ilsa out of Casablanca - either with or without Laszlo - leading to a dramatic and iconic closing scene on an airport runway.

A Memorable Quote

Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine.

Things You May Not Know

• Many of the actors during the 'Le Marseillaise' scene are genuinely crying, having been refugees from the Nazi regime during World War II.
• Humphrey Bogart had to wear platform shoes in his scenes with Ingrid Bergman to account for the height disparity between the two.
• Madonna wanted to remake the film around the 2000's with herself in the role of Ilsa Lund and Ashton Kutcher as Rick Blaine. Shockingly, that proposal was rejected.

One of the Greatest of All Time?
Casablanca is an iconic film for the reason. The combination of love and espionage creates a narrative intrigue with genuine emotional power. It is a film capable of appealing to both the sentimental and the rational.

This is one of those films that anyone should watch at least once in their lifetime.