Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Michael Curtiz, Warner Bros, PG 102 Minutes.
This timeless classic was released in 1942 by Hungarian filmmaker Michael Curtiz, it followed a string of successful films that finally led to his memorable romantic war drama ‘Casablanca’ which won Curtiz the Best Director and Best Picture Oscars in 1943.
Set in French-controlled Casablanca during the onset of WWII legendary actor Humphrey Bogart plays the cynical American Rick Blaine, a tough-talking nightclub owner involved in covertly helping refugees with transit letters to leave Morocco and escape the Nazis.
Besides catering to a diverse clientele of French and German customers Rick has a personal relationship with French Police Captain Louis Renault (Claude Rains – ‘Notorious’) through whom he is introduced to several Nazi officers charged with administering the French enclave.
Amongst them is the arrogant Nazi officer Major Strasser (Conrad Veidt – ‘Blackout’) who is suspicions about Rick’s legitimate business operation, his suspicions are soon borne out following the sudden arrival of Rick’s former lover Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman – ‘Spellbound’) and her husband.
It turns out that Ilsa’s husband is none other than Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid – ‘Now, Voyager’) a Czech resistance leader recently escaped from a Nazi concentration camp who’s committed to seeking Rick’s assistance to get he and his wife to America.
As Rick reflects on whether to help Victor out of his desperate situation, he recalls the time he spent with Ilsa prior to the outbreak of the war but finally agrees to arrange the necessary papers.
After dealing effectively with Strasser’s airport intervention Rick is still able to to get Victor and Ilsa out of Casablanca, due mainly to Renault’s unexpected involvement prompting Rick to say the famous line “Louis I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship”.
Owing to Cutriz’s magnificent direction ‘Casablanca’ is lauded as one of the best movies ever made, incorporating a stand-out storyline set against a WWII background with the most charismatic lovers in screen history – Bogart and Bergman.
Moreover, Curtis has assembled a superb cast that includes Henreid as Laslo, Rains as Renault and Veidt as Strasser with Peter Lorre portraying a corrupt character, and the great Sydney Greenstreet as boss of the underground.
The most memorable highlights are definitely the brilliant performances of Bogart and Bergman as well as the iconic sayings which sprung from the movie.
Of all the movies ever made ‘Casablanca’ is one movie not to be missed.
Casablanca is televised on 7FLIX at 4.45pm Saturday 26 December.
Vic’s Verdict: 5 Stars
