In Casablanca, isolated from war-torn Europe, political alliances and hatreds are bubbling, but no one can do anything about them, as it is a neutral country. In the midst of this hotbed, enigmatic Rick (Humphrey Bogart) owns the swankiest nightclub in town, the Cafe Americane. It is a place to meet, drink and gamble, and to listen to Sam's piano playing; but it's also a place to plot how to obtain one of the rare exit visas to leave Casablanca and fly to the New World.

One night, breathtakingly beautiful Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) and her stoic husband, Victor Laslo (Paul Henreid), show up in Rick's. Laslo is an international hero, fighting for the resistance against the Third Reich. They have come to Casablanca because he is being hunted by the Nazis, and Casablanca is about the only place to catch a flight out of occupied Europe.

Flashback: the story is a love triangle, but it is innocent enough. Rick and Ilsa were in love in pre-war, romantic Paris. The lovers made plans to leave Paris before the Germans marched in, but on the night they were supposed to leave, Ilsa's husband, whom she had thought was dead, resurfaced; so, she left Rick standing in the train station in the rain with no explanation.

Now in Casablanca, Victor and Ilsa need exit visas like everyone else, but the Germans are determined not to let them leave. It is rumored that Rick has letters of transit, which are even better, stolen off two dead German couriers. But no one knows where Rick's loyalties lie. Ilsa uses her old relationship with Rick to try and get them - not so much for herself as for Victor. But Rick is still nursing his wounds from Paris.

At the same time, Ilsa is torn between her old love for Rick and her continued love for Victor. Rick reveals that he is still in love with her; but makes a great show of not believing in causes or heroes. Is that really the way he is? Everything hinges on what Rick will do. Everyone thinks they know him, but no one is sure. As the tension mounts, his character is the key to everyone's future.

Casablanca is full of interesting and wonderful characters, played by some of the best character actors at the time. Claude Rains is the debonair but corrupt prefect of police and Rick's friend, Captain Renault. Conrad Veidt plays the despicable Nazi Major Strasser. Sydney Greenstreet is his usual mercenary and rotund self as Rick's business competition, Signor Ferrari. Peter Lorre is the pitifully underhanded Ugarte. S.Z. (Cuddles) Sakall is the wonderfully sentimental waiter Carl. Madeleine LeBeau plays the singer Yvonne. Dooley Wilson is Rick's man and pianist, the memorable Sam. The list goes on and on.

The ambiance of Casablanca, and of Rick's Cafe Americane in particular, is part of the wonder of the film. Warner Bros. created a world that, even though it was threatening and war-torn, continues to mesmerize audiences. We can't get enough of Rick's or the interesting characters who frequent it. As they say in the film, "Everyone comes to Rick's." We also can't seem to get enough of that classic 1940's style: the dinner jackets, the evening dresses - even the uniforms. The 40's were the apex of sartorial style.

There are so many memorable quotes from Casablanca that you could almost reproduce the script en mass recalling them. Here are a few:

Annina: Monsieur Rick, what kind of a man is Captain Renault?
Rick: Oh, he's just like any other man, only more so.

Major Strasser: You give him credit for too much cleverness. My impression was that he's just another blundering American.
Captain Renault: We musn't underestimate American blundering. I was with them when they blundered into Berlin in 1918.

Major Strasser: Are you one of those people who cannot imagine the Germans in their beloved Paris?
Rick: It's not particularly my beloved Paris.
Heinz: Can you imagine us in London?
Rick: When you get there, ask me!
Captain Renault: Hmmh! Diplomatist!
Major Strasser: How about New York?
Rick: Well there are certain sections of New York, Major, that I wouldn't advise you to try to invade.

Ugarte: You despise me, don't you?
Rick: If I gave you any thought I probably would.

Ugarte: Rick, think of all the poor devils who can't meet Renault's price. I get it for them for half. Is that so... parasitic?
Rick: I don't mind a parasite. I object to a cut-rate one.

Yvonne: Where were you last night?
Rick: That's so long ago, I don't remember.
Yvonne: Will I see you tonight?
Rick: I never make plans that far ahead.

Captain Renault: What in heaven's name brought you to Casablanca?
Rick: My health. I came to Casablanca for the waters.
Captain Renault: The waters? What waters? We're in the desert.
Rick: I was misinformed.

Captain Renault: I've often speculated why you don't return to America. Did you abscond with the church funds? Run off with a senator's wife? I like to think you killed a man. It's the Romantic in me.
Rick: It was a combination of all three.

Rick: [to Sam] Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine.

Captain Renault: [to Ilsa] I was informed you were the most beautiful woman ever to visit Casablanca. That was a gross understatement.

Rick: You know what I want to hear.
Sam: [lying] No, I don't.
Rick: You played it for her, you can play it for me!
Sam: [lying] Well, I don't think I can remember...
Rick: If she can stand it, I can! Play it!

(The famous line, "Play it again, Sam" never appears in the film.)

Rick: [to Ilsa] ...Here's looking at you, kid.

Senor Ferrari: Might as well be frank, monsieur. It would take a miracle to get you out of Casablanca, and the Germans have outlawed miracles.

Rick: And remember, this gun is pointed right at your heart.
Captain Renault: That is my least vulnerable spot.

Captain Renault: Round up the usual suspects.

Rick: [to Renault] Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Great lines. Great script. Great film.

Casablanca won three Oscars: Best Director (Michael Curtiz), Best Picture (Hal Wallis) and Best Screenplay (Julius Epstein, Philip Epstein and Howard Koch). It was also nominated for Best Actor (Bogart), Best Supporting Actor (Claude Rains), Best Cinematography (Arthur Edeson), Best Film Editing (Owen Marks) and Best Music Score (Max Steiner).

Waitsel Smith, March 26, 2006

Text © 2007 Waitsel Smith. Image © 1942 Warner Home Ent. All Rights Reserved.