Movie #22: Casablanca. Or really, the one that got away.

Title: Casablanca

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman

Directed by: Michael Curtiz

Year: 1942

Number on the AFI list: 3 

"We'll always have Paris."

Casablanca. What a beautiful, tragic movie. Casablanca houses many refugees from war hoping to travel to Lisbon and then to America to escape raging WWII. It is a representation of lives on hold. Many people have been stuck here for months, including Rick Blaine, played by Humphrey Bogart. Rick is an embittered man, closed off to friendship and love, occupying his time with running his nightclub in the middle of the city. When Ilsa Lund, played by Ingrid Bergman, enters the club, we find out that she is the love of his life, even though they only had a brief time together in Paris. She was and is married to Victor Lazlo, played by Paul Henreid. Loyalties and morality are frequently challenged for both Ilsa and Rick, with their relationship hanging in the balance by the end of the movie. Should they run off together, or should Ilsa remain loyal to her husband? I won't spoil the ending, but the transformation in Rick by the end of the film is wonderful. 

The whole ensemble cast in this film is fantastic; I especially loved Sam played by Dooley Wilson and Captain Renault played by Claude Rains. Beyond the love story, the question of who to be loyal to, the Nazi's or France, left me guessing throughout the film, especially with Captain Renault. His transformation by the end of the film is fantastic as well. Overall, this movie is beautifully directed, well acted (even Humphrey Bogart toned down his film-noirness), and an overall entertaining and satisfying story. 

"Here's looking at you, kid."

Favorite moment: What can I say, I'm a typical girl. The love story in Paris. There aren't any good videos of this on YouTube. :(

Will I watch it again: Absolutely!