Casablanca Review

8/7/2019 Casablanca Review

1/5

CASABLANCA

Film Brief:Year of release: 1942

Directed by: Michael Curtiz

Screenplay by: Julius J. EpsteinPhilip G. Epstein

Howard Koch

Starring: Humphrey Bogart

Ingrid Bergman

Paul Henreid

Synopsis:During World War II,

Europeans who were fleeing

from the Germans, soughtrefuge in America. But to get

there they would first have to

go Casablanca and once they get there, they have to obtain exit visas which are not very easy

to come by. Now the hottest spot in all of Casablanca is Rick's Cafe which is operated by Rick

Blaine, an American expatriate, who for some reason can't return there, and he is also

extremely cynical. One of Rick's regulars, entrusts to him some letters of transit, but is

arrested before he can take them back. Captain Renault, the Chief of Police, neutral in his

political views, informs Rick that Victor Laszlo, the European Resistance leader, is in

Casablanca and will do anything to get an exit visa but Renault has been "told" by Major

Strasser of the Gestapo, to keep Laszlo in Casablanca. Laszlo has come looking for thoseletters of transit. Accompanying him is Ilsa Lund, who knew Rick when he was in Paris, and

when they meet some of Rick's old wounds reopen. It is obvious that Rick's stone heart was

because of her leaving him. And when they learn that Rick has the letters, at first he refuses

to give them to Laszlo, but later relents and leads to a very interesting conclusion.


2/5

Theme:The film is set in early December, 1941 in Casablanca, Morocco, as part of the erstwhile

unoccupied France. So, one of the underlying themes of course is World War II and the tensionbetween Nazi Germany and its occupied Countries. It shows the great difficulty characters like

Rick and Renault face in staying politically neutral in face of German oppression. And

throughout the film theyve been shown to lean more towards the oppressed in small acts and

finally they give in and take side of the Allies and allow Laszlo to escape to America to continue

his work.

Along with being a war drama the film is also a love story of sorts, one without a happy ending.

Its a story of a man with broken heart trying to forget his past and yet it comes back to him in

the form of Ilsa Lund, the one who broke his heart in the first place, as Laszlos wife. The film

follows Ricks dilemma and pain in this situation as he tries to find a way out. In the end he

sacrifices his own love in favor of helping the resistance to German oppression and letting

Laszlo escape.

The film also explores the idea of America as a symbol to oppressed Europeans and Africans as

the land of ultimate freedom and realization of all their dreams.

The film also emphasizes on the double sided and vague nature of people by showing

characters like Renault and Rick who appear to be very different through the film than how

they turn out to be in the film. Even the motives and desires of Ilsa Lund are not clear through

the film. This element has been also shown in a humorous fashion using the pickpocket who

warns people of thieves and cheats while robbing them that very instance.

Script/Structure:The 1942 Casablancais said to have one of the most perfect script of all times. Its unique story

of a love triangle set against terribly high stakes in the war. Despite being a classic Hollywood

film, it has an ending most unhollywood-like in nature and is touted as one of the best endings

ever. In a typical Hollywood film the political and the personal would never conflict and everyissue would be sorted out in the end. But in Casablanca, it is not so and the feelings of both Rick

and Ilsa are left open to the audience to interpret for themselves as political interests take

precedence over the personal, which more often than not is closer to reality.

The script is more dialogue driven than action. Each and every character, no matter how small

the role in the film is has been made memorable because of the colorful one-liners each has to


3/5

say, which reflect upon the nature of each character and thus make an imprint on the

audiences mind.

In terms of structure it is a classic example of a three act structure script with a definite

beginning, middle and end.

Sets/Lighting:Though it was an A-list film, no one involved with its production expected Casablanca to be

anything out of the ordinary; it was just one of dozens of pictures produced by Hollywood every

year. It didnt have a very big budget. The entire film was shot in the studio, except for the

sequence showing Major Strasser's arrival, which was filmed at Van Nuys Airport and a few

short clips of stock footage views of Paris. The film had just 6-7 locations throughout its length.

The lighting used was a very low key lighting and a lot of shadows were used to set a dark tone

to the film in a very film noir style. Also this saved the cost of having to light each and every

element in the background. The sets created were not very detailed, thus low lighting was used

to conceal that aspect. There are a lot of scenes there shadows of character on the wall have

been used. Also when showing close ups of Ilsa, the camera has been soft focused and the light

shines off her eyes and jewelry, to give a sad, lost as well as an angelic look.

Use of music:Music had a major role to play at various instances throughout the film. The most important is

As time goes by sung by Sam at the bar. It is used as a leitmotif associated with Ricks

heartbreaking past and Rick and Ilsas lost romance in Paris years ago. Next in line is the French

National Anthem, La Marseillaise, symbolic of defiance of the Allies. In one scene it is shown

to win in a duel of songs at the bar against the Nazi Anthem, . These 2 songs, La Marseillaise

and As time goes by have been usedthroughout the film with slight variations to fit the mood.

Another song, Knock on wood, sung by Sam at the bar is used to set the jovial and festive

mood of the bar despite the problems each person in their might be facing. Thus the song sets

the spirit of the people who come to Ricks Caf.

Casting:Humphrey Bogart plays the allegedly apolitical cynical club owner of Ricks Caf. He was

typecast as a gangster in films and did tough guy routines, thus playing the Cynical club owner


4/5

at beginning of the film suited him, when he shows a soft heart in the end, it was all the more

endearing to see a tough guy soften up. Ingrid Bergman plays the lover who mysteriously

deserted him in Paris. Paul Heinreid is her heroic, slightly bewildered husband, though

throughout the film he seemed a bit stiff. Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and

Conrad Veidt are some of the best supporting actors in the history of Hollywood films.

Visual Communication Assignment 2

By

ShashwataDatta

078

MMC(AV)-2011


5/5

Submitted to

Mr. Cyrus Barucha

Casablanca Review

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