"Casablanca"

The exhaustion of dog paddling through the shiny sewage of most modern American films often makes you wonder why you should keep going.  Then you return to a classic like “Casablanca” and everything comes rushing back.  You realize all over again why you first fell in love with the movies.  It is quite a surprise then to discover that “Casablanca” was just one of many films on the Warner Brothers docket.  It was not consciously constructed for greatness, but through a haphazard fusion of factors and chance, “Casablanca” went on to become a Hollywood hallmark, winning several Oscars including Best Picture.  Though the story is very firmly rooted in a specific point in history, the film has lasted because the emotional struggles of the characters are timeless.

Adapted from an unproduced stage play called “Everybody Comes To Rick's”, the script went through many revisions, especially during shooting.  A lot of myth and rumor has since swirled around the history of the troubled production, most being totally unfounded.  Although Humphrey Bogart was not the first choice for the lead, Ronald Reagan was never seriously considered.  It's true that Anne Sheridan was momentarily slotted for the role that Ingrid Bergman would become best know for, but it is hard to imagine an American successfully playing such a European character.

“Casablanca” gave Humphrey Bogart the attractive opportunity to add some softness and dimension to his tough guy persona.  On the surface Rick appears to be a man’s man, but his steely exterior shields a badly broken heart.  Convinced that Ingrid Bergman’s Ilsa loved him and left him, Rick drowns his sorrows in liquor and loose women.  Bitter and resigned as he seems, when Ilsa suddenly reappears, Rick cannot deny the part of himself that still loves her more deeply than he may have realized.  When the cracks in his armor begin to show, we are glad because it means that Rick still has a chance to come to peace with his long nursed pain.

Ingrid Bergman’s performance is luminous.  As Ilsa, Ingrid radiates both innocence and mature sexuality with equal power and allure, and the combination is beautifully devastating.  She appears at first to be the good girl next door, but later scenes suggest that underneath that prim façade lurks a boudoir tigress.  It is easy to see why Rick has been so wound up over Ilsa for all these years, and even though Ilsa tries to use her wiles against Rick to get the letters of transit, there is nothing malicious about her intentions.  Perhaps it is because we know Rick is too smart to really fall for it, and he loves Ilsa too much to blame her for trying.

The specifics of the plot do not matter much, as it is the words and actions of the entire cast that make “Casablanca” so memorable.  Even the smallest roles shine due to the veteran character actors who make even the briefest of appearances moments to be savored.  “Casablanca” is a terrific example of a final product far greater than the sum of its individual parts.  Repeated viewings only enhance the pleasure of the experience as we anticipate our favorite scenes.  Revisiting “Casablanca” is like spending time with family, and it is a beautiful friendship that only gets better as time goes by.