Casablanca

   
   
   
   

   

The classic romantic melodrama Casablanca (1942), is a story of a love triangle during the conflict between democracy and Nazi totalitarianism.

Casablanca on the coast of neutral French Morocco, where desperate refugees escaping the Nazi terror in war-torn Europe, are victimized by predatory, corrupt Vichy bureaucrats, pickpockets, Shady dealers, by greedy black marketeers, smugglers, thieves, spies, double agents and sleeze bags of all descriptions. Life is cheap, death is often quick and violent. The scum of Europe has gravitated to Casablanca: Predator and prey, victor and victim.


   

Amidst this turmoil is Moorish atmosphere of Rick's Cafe Americain, a prosperous cafe/casino fashionable, upscale club, owned by Richard Blaine, an American opportunist, age 37, he cannot return to his country. Rick has learned how to survive in the hostile environment. Rick ran guns to Ethiopia, was a mercenary soldier in Spain. Once an idealistic revolutionary, now a tough and cynical hardened American expatriate, who wont stick his neck out for nobody.


   

Rick's place is frequented by the well off low lives. The Vichy puppet Chief (PrTfet de Police), Capitaine Louis Renault (corrupt official) Guillermo Ugarte (a slimy black market dealer) and Major Strasser (the Nazi Gestapo official) are regulars.
On hearing that Victor Laszlo, A well-known Czechoslovakian Resistance leader (his great reputation of escape from Nazis all over Europe succeeded in impressing half the world.), is arriving at Casablanca. Renault makes a 10,000 francs [about $1,000] bet with Rick that Laszlo will never get out of Casablanca.


   

Laszlo arrives with Ilsa, Major Strasser, the Nazi Gestapo official can not do anything because this is French soil, but intimidated them anyway. Rick encounters a former lover (Ilsa Lund Laszlo) - now married to a French Resistance leader. the black pianist, Sam jauntily, Loyal and dedicated to Rick, knows that she can bring hurt and heartache again - he politely admonishes her to leave Rick alone ("You're bad luck to him").


   
    Ilsa: Play it once, Sam, for old times' sake.
Sam: I don't know what you mean, Miss Ilsa.
Ilsa: (whispered) Play it, Sam.
Play 'As Time Goes By.'
Sam: Why, I can't remember it, Miss Ilsa.
I'm a little rusty on it.
Ilsa: I'll hum it for you.
(Ilsa hums two bars.
Sam starts to play - without singing the lyrics.
She presses him to sing.) Sing it, Sam. After remaining deferential, Sam is finally
disarmed by her alluring charm and gives into her persistent requests.
He sings the chorus, as the breath-taking Ilsa listens
- and remembers a past love affair
- with tears welling up in her eyes:
Ilsa is transformed by the passion of the moment.
The song unlocks a nostalgic flood of joyful memories
of the longings she had for a past love
- she is perhaps fearful of her own reactions
and of seeing Rick again.

You must remember this
A kiss is just a kiss
A sigh is just a sigh
The fundamental things apply
As Time Goes By.
And when two lovers woo
They still say, 'I love you'
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As Time Goes By.
Ilsa: Play it once Sam.. for Old time Sake....!

Rick hears Sam playing the forbidden song, strides over the music pauses - and Rick is startled and dumbfounded by the sight of Ilsa - they exchange a long, shocked look, the first time they have seen each other after many years.
He is still in love with her, feeling rejection after she abandoned him in Paris without explanation. In the fog of war Ilsa thought Rick had died during the Germans devastating advance on Paris. Ilsa: I love you so much. And I hate this war so much. Oh, it's a crazy world. Anything can happen.
Ilsa: Kiss me.         Kiss me as if it were the last time.         An emotionally-intoxicated Ilsa moving up to meet Rick's lips abandoning herself to him in a kiss - They express their passionate feelings, during their times together, each wishing it would never end, but they both know it can never be.


   


Rick make arrangements for Ilsa and her husband to escape on the plane.
Rick: If that plane leaves the ground and you're not with him, you'll regret it.                 Ilsa: No.                 Rick: Maybe not today, and maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.

  • CLICK HERE FOR THE SOUND BYTE
       
       

    Major Strasser, the Nazi Gestapo official breathlessly rushes into the airport hangar and is informed that Victor Laszlo is on the departing airplane. He said: "I was willing to shoot Captain Renault, and I'm willing to shoot you,"
    Strasser attempts to halt the plane on the runway, than phone the radio tower. Rick orders him to put the phone down as Strasser grabs the receiver. The Nazi leader pulls out a gun and fires a shot at Rick - who must in self defense shoot him.
    Strasser crumples to the hangar floor - dead.
    The plane takes off.
    Five policemen run up to the amoral Capitaine Renault who announces climactically: Major Strasser has been shot.
    (There is tension in the air, long pause) Renault, delivering a command to his men: Round up the usual suspects.
    Rick looks back at his French friend with a half-smile. "La Marseillaise" begins to play slowly.

  • CLICK HERE FOR THE SOUND BYTE

    They watch the plane ascend into the air for neutral Lisbon. Renault suggests to Rick a way out of Casablanca - join the Free French at Brazzaville. There's a Free French garrison over at Brazzaville [in French Equatorial Africa].
    I could be induced to arrange a passage.         Rick: My letter of transit?         I could use a trip.         But it doesn't make any difference about our bet.         You still owe me ten thousand francs.         Renault: And that ten thousand francs should pay our expenses.         Rick (quizzically) Our expenses?         [Will Renault join Rick in the resistance movement as a fellow patriot, accompanying Rick to Brazzaville?]         Rick walks off with Capitaine Renault across the wet runway into the mist, as they discuss what they might do together with the 10,000 francs [$300] - the payment due on their earlier bet over whether or not Laszlo would get out of Casablanca.
    Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
    Their new partnership is underscored with the triumphant sounds of La Marseillaise.

  • CLICK HERE FOR THE SOUND BYTE

    •    
       
       
        
    I've got a job to do too.

Where I'm going, you can't follow.

What I've got to do, you can't be any part of.

For Rick, no sacrifice (political or romantic) is too noble or great for
their idealized Parisian love - and where he must go (to jail or into 
exile again?) she cannot "follow":

Ilsa, I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that 
the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in 
this crazy world.

Someday you'll understand that.

(She drops her head tearfully.

He touches her chin and raises it to gently bolster her up.)

Now, now.

Here's looking at you, kid.
  • CLICK HERE FOR THE SOUND BYTE


    •    
       
       
       
    My HomePage

    Last Modified on: