Casablanca

For the month of August, I decided to watch classic films that have been strongly cemented in the movie industry. Casablanca is one of the most notorious classic films I know of, yet I've never actually watched it. It's told as the epitome of a love story and it's quoted still to this day. ("Here's looking at you, kid.") I don't know much about the story, or anything really. Humphrey Bogart falls in love with a woman, which is about all I know about this movie. It was and is still critically acclaimed. Many movie makers refer back to this movie as being near perfection in its creation. I can't even try to count all the times I've heard this movie mentioned. From directors referring to techniques used and inspiration drawn from this movie, to actors commenting on the performances of the cast, to people discussing the story's depth and heart. Since it lives so deeply in so many hearts and memories, I felt it was high-time that I finally watched it myself. So, here we go! I found it on HBOMax, if you want to watch it with me.

I feel like I've seen this movie before, but it wasn't this one. A movie that came out in the early 2000s called Out Cold used the basic concept of this movie as a guide for one of the subplots of the story. The girl and guy are on vacation, they meet and have a wonderful week together, she has to leave him and he's bitter about it for years after. There's a song that he never wants to hear, but she asks it to be played in his bar and he comes storming out saying he told him it should never be played again. They reconnect, but not in the same way, and he has to make peace with their lives and let her go a second time. I couldn't believe how many Casablanca references they had in that movie! I would have never known! I'm also willing to bet that there are a lot of people who have seen Casablanca who have never seen Out Cold (hilarious film, by the way) and would have never had the chance to recognize the references. Even the way they did the memory montage! It's so funny how movies can use the storyline from another movie and too many people won't even know it's a reference if the inspiring movie is older. I enjoyed this film. It was beautifully shot, well thought out and flowed nicely.

Humphrey Bogart played the jilted man like the pro he is. You could definitely tell that he was the man who lost the woman he loved and he would never trust another woman with his heart again. He doesn't put his neck out for anyone, so he says. He runs his bar, stays neutral in politics and through the start of WWII. The bar is a place of refuge for anyone wanting to step away from the chaos and just relax a little. Rick Blaine has lived a crazy life and has wound up on the losing side a few times, so he's done with taking sides. He shows signs of caring for some when they need help, but he mainly keeps his distance from everyone. He refuses to drink with any of the patrons, he doesn't show favoritism to any regime and he keeps his bar clean of chaos as best as he can. You get hints from his past as told by others and he likes to keep a tight lid on his history. I loved the scene when the German officer was telling him about the dossier they had on Rick, allows him to look at the book and Rick's only response was, "Are my eyes really brown?" He says it with such seriousness, like it was an offense to have brown eyes. Like nothing else in that book mattered. It also shows how good he is at controlling his emotions in front of others. Even though someone is digging into his past, he doesn't let it show that it's something he doesn't want to happen. He just keeps calm and carries on with his day.

Ingrid Bergman is graceful, poised and elegant. She comes into the movie with an air of mystery surrounding her. You're not sure who she is, but you find that out quickly as soon as Rick enters the bar and hears his piano man playing a song he is averse to. The look on his face says everything and you realize that the two have a history together. That she's the reason for his entire persona to be shut down from everyone else. Throughout the film, Ilsa shows signs of caring for both her husband and Rick. I understand her reason for her relationship with Rick and for breaking it off with him, but she should have explained her reasoning to him. It's completely reasonable for her to be lonely in her grief for the loss of her husband, but once she found out that he survived the concentration camp and was still alive, she should have told Rick the truth. Instead, she leaves him hanging and he bitterly holds onto his anger for the following years until he finds out the truth. She loves her husband, but she also still loves Rick. She tried to ignore it, but in the end, she chooses Rick. He, on the other hand, actually gives up the woman he loves for what's best for her, knowing how much she means to her husband, Victor Laszlo, and how much he's going to change the war. This shows incredible growth for him, putting his own needs aside for the needs of another. He was willing to go to jail for her to get her and her husband out of the country. If that's not true love, then I don't know what is. Then there's Victor. When he asks Ilsa if she was lonely in Paris when he was in the concentration camp, it was without judgement. It was said with complete understanding. Ilsa still doesn't admit the affair with Rick to Victor, but he knows and understands. He is truly amazing and she doesn't deserve him with her dishonesty. She is who he wants, though, so he should at least be allowed happiness. He's like the Harvey Dent of this movie. The truly honest and heroic man, the man the world needed, just without the sad ending.

There are a few other side characters that I loved. Captain Louis is at the top of that list. He was fun, light hearted and clever. He enjoyed Rick's company because he is an intriguing man and he saw him as an equal. Louis is a charming man and I enjoyed his presence on the screen. The way he interacts with everyone is light and pleasant, leaving you feeling happy and charmed. He explains that he has no opinion on the politics at the time, just goes with the change fluidly, like the wind. Although, in the end, he finally chooses a side and decides that being on Rick's side would be worthwhile, even if it's not the easy path. Sounds like Dumbledore gave him some advice. Louis was just a pure joy to see on the screen. Even when he was shutting down Rick's bar at the request of the German Major, telling Rick that it was because he was shocked to see there was gambling happening, all while someone came to pay him his winnings, it was quite amusing in it's obvious nature that he was just making it up to appease the Major. Rick didn't begrudge him that, either. He took it in stride and just hoped that there would be a better time to reopen.

Another man, Ugarte, was played by Peter Lorre. I recognize the man's face and voice from something else, though I can't figure out what. I swear I remember his voice saying, "Yes, Master," like he was Igor, Frankenstein's assistant, but it's not in his filmography. Who knows? He has a unique and unforgettable look and I've never watched any of his other films, though Maltese Falcon is probably the only one he's been in that I've actually heard of. He's a man who needs help, but more that Rick is willing to offer. He gets Rick to hide some papers, but Rick won't put his neck on the line to hide the man, himself. He isn't in the movie long, but his face sticks with you and you're reminded of him throughout the rest of the movie. I can't say a lot about the character, but he seems clever and resourceful. Then there's Sam, the piano man. He's been a long time friend of Rick's and even left Paris with him. Had stuck by his side ever since. It's Sam that Ilsa sees first and she asks him to play a song he is hesitant to play. He knows it will upset his friend, but he does so to not let her get hurt by his not playing it. He sees everything that happens in that bar, being in the center of the room to entertain the crowd, so he notices when something is awry. I'm sure he's overlooked by the patrons of the bar, but he stands out to me with his bright smile and cheery disposition. He enjoys what he does and it shows.

This is definitely a movie that sticks with you. I'm left thinking of different moments and quotes that I recognize from other movies that have paid homage to this film and ones that just linger in my mind. I have a tendency to quote movies in daily life, thanks to my dad, and many people have heard me mention a movie because something someone says reminds me of a movie quote. This movie will have many quotes added to that list. "There are vultures! Vultures everywhere!" Movies tend to linger in your mind days after you watch them and this one is no different. Rick's calm indifference is something you don't see often. Usually someone is hot headed and ready to jump at any insult. Not Rick, though. He just calmly reroutes the conversation, deflects anything he doesn't want to respond to. I think there are many who can learn a thing or two from these old movies. The gentlemanly manners of this era long past is something of value from that generation that could be reinstated. I'm not just talking about men, but women, too. Just being thoughtful and courteous would be something worth reviving. I love that we're moving in that direction, but we still have a long way to go.

If you've never seen this movie before, I highly recommend a watch, especially if you're into movies as much as I am. It's a fantastic experience and you can't help but get involved in the story. You become invested in what happens to these characters. I know I was hoping for a happy ending for everyone involved. Well, maybe not the Major, but he was too deep into believing that the Germans should run the world. No one should have that much power. In the end, he gets his comeuppance, though, so all is well. I hope you'll join me for my next classic movie next week, Singing in the Rain. It is also available on HBOMax with a subscription. You would have to pay to rent it from other streaming services, though. Until then, stay tuned!

For more movie love, check out my other blog, "You're Watching That Again?!"