Casablanca (Snap Case)
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Movie Reviews of Casablanca (Snap Case)
Movie Review: A Tale of Do or Die!
Summary: 5 Stars
You cannot go wrong with Casablanca!
The story is well-known: The beginning of World War II, many immigrated to North Africa and points on the African coast, in advance of the German push into France. From Casablanca, one could, with the right persuasion, hop to Lisbon (Portugal, of course) and from there, escape to America.
The film defies definition. It's not a drama, yet there are dramatic scenes. It is not truly a love story, yet there are elements of that. It's not a statement about immigration, yet many wish to escape.
An escapee of a concentration camp and freedom fighter, Victor Laslo (Paul Henreid) finds his way into Casablanca, hoping to get a plane out and back to the USA and help the Americans (this part of the story was vague). He brings with him his wife, Ilsa, played adoringly and smartly by Ingrid Bergman.
Ilsa walks into Rick's Cafe Americane and who does she see -- the guy who she had a fling with and dumped in Paris -- and Rick (Bogart) is not over it!
Intrigue: Black marketeer and competitor, played devilishly by Sydney Greenstreet (Maltese Falcon), wants Rick's for himself. He also wants what Rick has -- letters of passage to America, which he could sell for a handsome profit.
Rick is torn -- he does not want to get involved with the Nazis that have invaded his bar; he does not want to help Laslo, and most of all he wants to forget Ilsa -- and can't understand why she abandoned him in Paris -- he didn't know she was married -- oops!
Peter Lorre (also with The Maltese Falcon) plays a slimy gangster who bumped off a couple of German couriers and passes their letters of transit to Rick -- who keeps them for himself!
Many famous lines and music have come from this one film: Play it Sam (no one ever said "Play it again Sam" as is rumored); "This could be the start of a beautiful friendship"; "Here's looking at you, kid;" and "We'll always have Paris."
The DVD set is great. Not only is the gorgeous black & white cleaned up and theater quality, but the second disk has film critics and film historians in the commentary, including our pal Roger Ebert, who calls this the second greatest film he's ever watched (the first is Citizen Kane).
Lauren Bacall, Bogart's son, Ingrid Bergman's daughter, everyone has a say. A thorough overview of Bogie's films up to his death in the Fifties is gone over. The Bugs Bunny cartoon "Carrotblanca" is not to be missed.
See this film!
Movie Review: A romantic amazement
Summary: 5 Stars
CasablancaScore: 89/100
If you're heart is racing because you think Casablanca is going to be the best film ever made, slow down and keep on the tracks. Casablanca is far from the best film of all time, but it is one of the best romantic films ever made, an intriguing classic that grabs you within the first minute of the theme and doesn't let go.
In World War II Casablanca, Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), exiled American and former freedom fighter, runs the most popular night spot in town. The cynical lone wolf Blaine comes into the possession of two valuable letters of transit. When Nazi Major Strasser (Conrad Viedt) arrives in Casablanca, the sycophantic police Captain Renault (Claude Rains) does what he can to please him, including detaining Czech underground leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid). Much to Rick's surprise, Lazslo arrives with Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), Rick's one time love. Rick is very bitter towards Ilsa, who ran out on him in Paris, but when he learns she had good reason to, they plan to run off together again using the letters of transit. Well, that was their original plan....
I think this film is a little overrated. It comes in many people's top 5 films of all time, sometimes deservedly, but for me, it probably wouldn't make my top 30. Sometimes the film just loses it's entertainment value and occasionally left me uninterested. But, that was only occasionally, and in my book, that means very little. The film strings itself together amazingly, bringing the characters together with a vivid spark. The three screenwriters do a brilliant job of showing off their marvellous skills, each have added their special part in Casablanca, and they all make it a memorable and intriguing idea, one of the most praised scripts ever put to film. The performances truly burn in memory, Humphrey Bogart is fascinating, this may very well be his best performance. He is remarkably moving as Rick Blaine, and makes the film's watchability boost to 100. Ingrid Bergman is stunning as well, she strides onto the screen with stunning beauty and power, and is a mezmerising romantic touch. You never know whether to love or hate each character, because each of them have a certain originality about them. This `love-them-or-hate-them' thought is a brilliantly done aspect of the film, and it sustains right to the very end, when we know the characters true self.
Casablanca is a great explosion of a film, not to be missed. Without this movie, romance films may of never been so powerful. Thank you, Mr. Curtiz, you've bought true love to our screens.
Movie Review: "You must remember this, a kiss is just a kiss ..."
Summary: 5 Stars
a sigh is just a sigh, as time goes by ..." is the song that summarizes this classic romantic film of the 1940s. The film has everything that makes a hit: a handsome leading man, Rick (Humphrey Bogart) and a beautiful leading lady, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) and exotic locations for filming, Paris and Casablanca. They meet and fall in love in Paris, just before the Nazi invasion. Ilsa is secretive about her past ... making her *even* more alluring and desirable ... She and Rick agree to meet at the railroad station and leave Paris due to the German occupation. Rick waits for her until the last minute but she does not show up ... He leaves without her.
Ilsa and her husband, Viktor Laszlo end up in Casablanca at "Rick's Cafe Americain" where Ilsa sees Sam, the piano player from Paris. She asks him to play her favorite song, but he declines ... she asks again -- he succumbs. Rick enters and chides Sam, "I told you never to play that song again," then he sees Ilsa ... He is introduced to her husband. That night after closing the cafe, Rick drinks himself into a stupor, remembering their days in Paris together. The Nazis visit the cafe and sing their national anthem, after which the French patriots stand up and sing their national song. The Chief of Police is forced to close the cafe as the plot thickens ... Rick is believed to possess secret documents that Ilsa and her husband need to leave Casablanca legally. Viktor is engaging in espionage against the Nazis and could be discovered at any time. Ilsa has an unexpected rendevous with Rick in the middle of the night, trying to extract the necessary documents from Rick ... In order to discover how it ends, to fully appreciate the intrigues, plot developments, wonderful acting, and mystique of the film ... one must view it.
There are numerous phrases and statements that are well known which originated in this film, for example, "Here's looking at you kid", "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in the world, you had to come to this one", and "Line up the usual suspects". This film is a classic due to the complex story line that unfolds within a love triangle. It contains mysteries that are gradually revealed, explaining the intertwining emotion of the characters and their behavior. Another interesting fact is, many of the characters hope is to emigrate to the USA, to start new lives ... This film will remain a classic for all time because so many unique elements come together to create an artistic masterpiece. Erika Borsos (erikab93)
Movie Review: Casablanca
Summary: 5 Stars
"Casablanca" is a landmark film. It's 64 years old and yet most of the dialogue is still quoted today, it's #2 on The American Film Institute's Top 100 (just directly below "Citizen Kane"), and is a true masterpiece of film.
I typically don't watch films from this era, I've never seen a film with Humphrey Bogart or Ingrid Bergman; This is not the most entertaining of several of my favorite movies that are on AFI's list below this film, nor is this the second most entertaining film ever made...But it is an important one; But that's not why I'm giving it 5 stars. The biggest thing I look for when reviewing a film in the quality of entertainment; I don't care how important the movie is, if it's kind of dull I won't rank it that high. This film is a beautiful and entertaining film; The cinematography/lighting is beautiful, the dialogue is beautiful, the acting is wonderful, the film is incredibly influential. Anyway; The movie is set against the backdrop of World War II in Casablanca and takes place mostly in a gambling/gin joint owned by Rick Blaine (Bogart), a distant kind of guy who "doesn't stick his neck out for anybody" and seems to find no enjoyment in life. He runs his gin joint and that's it. After some transfer papers are stolen (and are subsequently being looked for by the Germans) and are given to Rick, the man who gives them to him is arrested shortly after and Rick awaits the gentlemen who will pick them up. That man is Victor Laszlo, who is famous for having spent a year in a concentration camp and escaping; Also along with Laszlo is his beautiful wife Isla Lund (Bergman), who is tied to Rick's past. Back in 1942, the film won 3 Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. How it lost (although I'm not sure if it was even nominated) Best Cinematography and Best Actor is beyond me. As I said, I've never seen a film with Humphrey Bogart before but the man is an amazing actor. He has this way of speaking and a way of moving that really sucks you in. Some of the dialogue (although it is great) wouldn't work coming out of other actors mouths; Here, it's perfectly fine. "Here's looking at you kid" and "I believe this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" is classic movie dialogue that we will no doubt here for a much longer time. This isn't a movie the whole family can rent for a night of Saturday night entertainment; But for film buffs and classic film mongers, this is a film you can't miss.
GRADE: A
Movie Review: Excellent movie, excellent presentation and special features
Summary: 5 Stars
At 55 years of age, you'd think a movie lover such as myself would have seen Casablanca... but I hadn't until I bought this disc in July of 2007. If you understand what makes a finely crafted film that you can watch repeatedly and still continue to find things out about it that you love, this is one you'll enjoy immensely.
Start with the script - it is filled with tasty classic lines you'll really delight in hearing in the context of the film. "Here's looking at you, Kid..." for example. Part of what makes all of it work is the vocal treatment by the actors in their delivery. The cast seems very comfortable with the characters they each play, and so maybe that relaxed feel carries over to the degree of realism you sense when you watch it. Their dialogue does NOT seem scripted and that's hard to achieve on a consistent basis in a film. I suppose that's a big part of what's made Casablanca such a classic to all who have reviewed the work over the years.
The acting is superb across the board regardless of how small the part. Ingrid Bergman is luminescent to put it mildly. Bogie is really a powerhouse in this one, and Paul Henreid as well as Claude Rains deliver the kind of intimately detailed performances that just make you smile while you watch. Peter Lorre has a smaller part but exquisitely crafted in its execution. He makes it easy for you to hate him, let's put it that way. Sydney Greenstreet gives a solid presentation as well to round out the core ensemble performances given here.
The special features on this disc include a very nice introduction by Lauren Bacall, Bogart's widow. I watched it AFTER viewing the film as I wanted to get the same feel as audiences who originally viewed it in the theater, but I wish I had watched it first. Enlightening to say the least.
Another little gem is a series of trailers for Bogie's other movies. Great slices of the period as far as movie promotion goes! They serve as great reminders of a simpler time in America.
This particular film is a MUST HAVE for anyone's movie collection. I feel that repeated viewings year on year will only make you love it more than you did the first time. Not many films are able to do that.
I can safely say that if you, too, love truly great movies and you decide to purchase this one, it will be the start of a beautiful friendship.