"If she can stand it, I can"

Casablanca, a film noir released in 1942, is said to be one of the greatest love stories ever released. This classic takes place in Casablanca, Morocco, a city filled with political turmoil shedding from World War II. Straying away from the ‘wounded hero’ roles, Humphrey Bogart plays the leading male romantic, Rick Blaine, while Ingrid Bergman stars as the leading lady, Ilsa Lund. Casablanca begins with a chaotic scene regarding letters of transit which people must retain to leave the country. This pandemonium draws attention to the unusually calm and cynical attitude of Rick, the owner of Rick’s Café Americain. The audience first falls for this personality, but soon changes their mind. His love from long ago, Ilsa Lund, arrives at Rick’s high-class café with her husband, Victor Laszlo. We then realize that Rick is a truly sentimental man carrying a loving heart that had been shattered several years earlier. As Captain Renault (Claude Rains) tells Rick while drinking at a table joined by Laszlo and Ilsa, “Ricky, you’re becoming quite human, I suppose we have you (Ilsa) to thank for that!” Once he is reminded of his previous romance with Ilsa, Rick must choose how he will deal with his heart’s desire to return to her, as well as the need to defeat the Nazis.

The script of Casablanca as well as the chemistry between Ingrid and Bogart added to the complexity of the film. The lines were extremely well written, being witty and to the point but not too blunt, nor poetic to cause a cheesy feeling.

Music is a large part of the film, as well as an account of the conflict within their individual character lives. Diegetic, as well as non-diegetic sound are used to emphasize relationships. For instance, Sam (the pianist at Rick’s Café) is playing “As Time Goes By” upon request of Ilsa. This tune sticks out to Rick because it has been their song since they first met in Paris. Unaware that Ilsa had shown up at his café, Rick stormed into the room and demanded that Sam stop playing that song. Once Rick and Ilsa’s gazes meet, a dramatic chord is struck and tears are on the brim of Ilsa’s eyes. Another important scene incorporates diegetic sound. The German soldiers begin singing their national anthem and after some unease, Laszlo starts up “La Marseillaise”. Eventually everyone in Rick’s café is wholeheartedly playing or singing one of the national anthems (except for perhaps Rick who instead of defining his nationality, only says he’s “a drunkard”).

The Mise-en-Scene was executed incredibly well. The Moroccan climate is believable with the dusty streets and palm trees and Rick’s café seems like one of the classiest joints in town. Captain Renault suavely tells Ilsa that he was informed she was “the most beautiful woman ever to visit Casablanca”. And that the title “was a gross understatement”. He is correct in saying this, for she portrays a stunning woman of her period with her long, elegant dresses, delicate skin, glowing eyes, and perfect hair. The men are also just as seemingly wealthy and distinguished, most of them with a neatly trimmed mustache and a well pressed suit.

Even though Casablanca was said to be thrown together quickly, the cinematic elements only add to the quality the film already had. Although the film was mostly done in low-key lighting, shadows were sometimes important, as they could add eeriness to the mood. Close-ups were often used to emphasize that everything worth noting can be seen through watching the characters’ faces. For instance, the cinematographer, Arthur Edeson, specifically used catch lighting when filming Ingrid Bergman. This technique created the glow in her eyes, making it seem like she was almost always on the brim of tears.

A point worth noting is how the acting in Casablanca seems so fresh and real. In fact, nobody on the set knew how the story would end until the moment it had to be filmed, upon which the final decisions were made. This, as well as the ageless black and white filming, makes the viewer want to see the movie time after time, as it is practically impossible to grow tired of the emotions felt from this timeless classic.