In January 2023, “Casablanca” marked eight decades since it was first shown to a large audience in the United States in 1943. The film that tells one of Hollywood’s most memorable love tales opened a few months earlier, on Thanksgiving Day in November 1942, at the Hollywood Theatre (now the Mark Hellinger Theatre) in Midtown Manhattan.
Yet, director Michael Curtiz’s cinematic black-and-white masterwork envisioned as a romantic drama, has not aged a day. Even now, the film continues to astound audiences with its sparse, sardonic, and fascinating dialogue, intriguing story, and captivating characters.
A-List Cast
The movie starred some of the most talented and well–established actors of its time, including American cultural icon Humphrey Bogart, Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman, one of the most influential screen figures in cinematic history, and Austrian actor, producer, writer, and director Paul Henreid. The movie that had its action set in a French-speaking casino was never expected to become an iconic movie. On the contrary. Warner Bros. thought it would be just another one of their fairly successful releases. However, “Casablanca” immediately turned into an “A list” movie thanks to its amazing distribution and an excellent cast of supporting actors that included Claude Rains, Peter Lorre, Dooley Wilson, and Sidney Greenstreet.
In spite of its tight budget estimated somewhere between $878,000 and $1,000,000, “Casablanca” turned into a box office success, scooping up an estimated $ 3.7 million.
“Shocked, Shocked to Find that Gambling Is Going on in Here”
The action takes place at Rick’s Café Américain during World War II. The bar is Rick Blaine’s (Humphrey Bogart) upscale gambling den and nightclub in Casablanca, Morocco. The gin-joint is presented as a hub for refugees looking for ways to flee Europe through the city that is controlled by Vichy France (the French State after the invasion of the Nazis).
Rick, who is an American expatriate, is seen doing his best to serve his versatile clientele while catering to their different interests, including gambling. When Captain Louis Renault (Claude Rains) attempts to close Rick’s bar on grounds of illegal gambling taking place there, Rick asks “How can you close me up? On what grounds?” as the croupier is seen handing Renault his winnings right before he tells Rick that he is “shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here”. After thanking the croupier, the Captain continues to order everyone to leave the cafe at once.
“Of All the Gin Joints in All the Towns in All the World, She Walks into Mine.”
One night, his ex-lover Ilsa Lund played by Ingrid Bergman comes to his bar, making Rick utter one of the most iconic lines in movie history: “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.”
The movie is sprinkled with other memorable lines like “Here’s looking at you, kid.”, said by Rick during the flashback scenes of the two ex-lovers falling in love, “We’ll always have Paris.” signaling an ode to Rick’s and Ilsa’s love in Paris, and “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” said at the time when Ilsa was fleeing Casablanca to portray the unlikely friendship sparked between Rick and Captain Louis Renault, representing the puppet government that the Nazis had set up in France.
Getting back to the storyline, Ilsa is accompanied by her husband Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), who is a renowned fugitive and leader of the Czechoslovak Resistance. The couple is looking for the necessary letters needed to run to America where Laszlo can continue the cause. To add to the suspense, they need the letters urgently as German Major Strasser made it to Casablanca with the purpose of arresting Laszlo.
Ilsa and Victor reach out to Rick, asking for his help to get the escape papers. However, Rick, who is still in love with Ilsa, is faced with a difficult choice: should he help Lazlo’s cause and lose Ilsa forever or refuse to help them and keep her by his side? This intriguing plot in itself was not based on a true story. Nonetheless, the overall premise of the movie is well-rooted in the events that took place while the movie was shot.
When Ilsa confronts Rick in the deserted bar, following his refusal to give her the much-needed letters, she is seen threatening him with a gun while confessing that she still loved him. She goes on to tell him that when they first met and fell in love in Paris in 1940, she was under the impression that Lazlo had been killed while trying to run from a concentration camp. As she was getting ready to escape Paris alongside Rick during the Battle of France, Ilsa found out that her husband was actually alive, hiding near the city. She then decided to go take care of her injured husband and leave Rick without giving him an explanation. This is the time when we see Rick’s cynical bitterness slowly dissolving. He ultimately decides to help her, letting Ilsa think she will stay with him when Laszlo leaves.
Finally, we see Rick convincing Ilsa to board the plane that would take her and Lazlo to Portugal. He tells her that she would regret her stay in Casablanca while uttering another iconic line: “Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.”
The movie, which was inspired by “Everybody Comes to Rick’s”, a play that was co-written by Murray Bennett and Joan Alison, continues to be watched and re-watched by many thanks to its emotional effect on the viewer.
Final Thoughts
Casablanca remains one of Hollywood’s most iconic romantic dramas, 80 years after its first showing in 1943. Starring some of the most talented and established actors of its time the film surpassed all expectations to become an “A-list” movie, despite its tight budget. The movie’s intriguing plot, captivating characters, and memorable lines s have ensured its timeless appeal. The film’s success is rooted in the events of the time when it was shot, making it a window into a significant era of history. Casablanca remains a must-watch for cinephiles and a cultural treasure that continues to captivate new generations.
