1942, the year of the creation of one of the most historical movies known to date. That movie, Casablanca, based on the play “Everybody Wants to go to Rick’s”, still captivates audiences around the world. The setting of the movie is Casablanca, Morocco during the second . Casablanca is the jump off point to get to Spain and then to America, but refugees must obtain a fairly costly exit Visa to get onto the plane. In the middle of all this is Rick’s cafe. Rick’s former love Ilsa comes to Casablanca on her way to America and discovers Rick to be a resident there.
The love triangle between Ilsa, her husband Laszlo, and Rick keeps the viewer in suspense until the very last minutes of the movie. This movie contains all the factors that a make a movie a classic. It has great performances by a top cast, a flawless script story line and director, and superb production techniques. In addition, it blends a raging love story with tormenting schemes which makes it one of! the best Hollywood movies of all time. Casablanca was never expected to be a large scale movie. The script was written on a day to day basis even till the last few moments of the movie but despite all that, it made it bigger than any other movie in it’s time.
The movie took place in 1942 and was based around world war II which in reality was taking place as they filmed. It was because of the war that Rick and Ilsa were separated, and this was an idea that was not so far fetched and something that the audience could identify with. This was important because it captivated the audience and drew them in to see if Rick and Ilsa’s undying love would ever be reunited. There are many classical quotes that were used in Casablanca, some of which we still hear bein used today. The most famous of course would be ‘here’s looking at you kid”, and who could forget, “play it again Sam”, which later became a title for another film. “This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship”, “but we ” ll always have Paris”, “go ahead and shoot, you ” ll be doing me a favour”, these are yet another three quotes which stuck in the minds of audiences everywhere.
These quotes help keep the movie and the memories of the actors and actresses alive even fifty seven years after the original shooting. Let’s not forget the variety of great music the viewer is treated to while watching this movie. The wonderful sounds are unforgettable. Even if it may be old, it is still bound to catch the attention of any viewer young or old. The line-up of sounds not only features the original score by Max Steiner but also other great’s such as Perfidy, It Had to Be You, Shine, That’s what Noah Done, Muse’s Call, Knock On Wood, The Very Thought of You, and of course, As Time Goes By.
These songs made the movie more intriguing and helped to keep the movie alive all the way throughout every scene. Some of these songs are still as popular today as they were back when they were first heard. There are a few not so obvious occurrences of symbolism within the movie. It has been said that Rick (Humphry Bogart) and his night club represent America’s “neutral” position before the attack on Pearl Harbour, and before the US involvement in the second world war. Rick is a symbol for American isolationism, the guy who does not get involved until the last second and comes right into the middle of the action successfully overcomes it. Laszlo’s mention of his stay in concentration camps which was not a symbol, but rather a fictional tragedy that was taking place in Germany.
It was brave to use mention to this since many feared the thought. It is no wonder that Casablanca is rated as a Classical movie. It has all it takes to stand up to any movie of it’s time or even now. It may not have all the special effects that we are able to produce today thanks to the involvement in technology, but it has a story line and cast that are utterly incomparable to any movie since or before it’s time. It is quite doubtful that any movie will ever be able to take the place of such a great movie or to stand next to it even. There is not a boring minute from the first five minutes into the movie..