Casablanca (1942) starring Humphrey Bogart

Oh—THAT “Casablanca”

Lulling pace, very interior. Good acting. It was the most broadcast film on TV, of any kind, until the 80s. It is one of the few B&W "classics" that almost everyone has seen or if not seen, knows of. It is a good movie, works on different levels, so everyone can enjoy it. And as they have "seen" it, they can say, "That's a great movie, a classic!" How many of the hoi-polloi have seen

M (1931)

La Grande Illusion (1937)

Seven Samurai (1954)

Pather Panchali (1955)

Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

Woman in the Dunes (1964)

etc etc etc?

OP is under 50 yo.

I'm not one of those people who are usually impressed with the "classic" films-the performances are wooden, the scenery fake and the dialogue over dramatic. But I could watch Casablanca once a week for the rest of my life. I have also fallen in love with Bergman every time I see the movie-and I am about as gay as they come.

I had the opportunity to see it in the theatre a few years back. One of the best movies I have ever seen. Bogart oozes charisma.

I'm a huge old movie fan, but I'm not a fan of Humphrey Bogart while Ingrid Bergman I can take or leave. I do like Claude Rains and Paul Henreid but not enough to watch a movie either is in if I'm not a fan of the main star. But my partner loved Casablanca when he saw it for the first time recently so I decided to watch it the next time TCM showed it. To my surprise, I ended up enjoying the movie very much and I even enjoyed the actors I don't normally make a habit of watching. I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it, so I'll just say I found the ending very satisfying.

R6, you don’t need to worry about spoilers for a 79-year-old movie.

Great film. One of my very favorites.

In honor of r6’s gallantry, I pledge not to spoil the endings of Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, or Titanic.

It’s the greatest film of all time. The music is perfect. The script is perfect. The acting and directing are perfect. It’s moving, funny, and romantic. Bogie is the greatest male star of all time, bar none. It is the perfect movie.

It is one of a slew of movies I loved with a similar theme of secret agents, Nazi spies and clandestine plots, often from Eric Ambler or Graham Greene novels. Confidential Agent, Mask of Dimitrios, The Conspirators, Journey Into Fear, Background to Danger

So you made the same assumption I did, R1.

Glad I’m not alone here!

OP - I tried watching it twice and fell asleep both times. On my 3rd attempt, I finally made it all the way thru, but it made little impression on me. And I do love a lot of the other classics including Gone With the Wind, Citizen Kane, All About Eve, Sunset Boulevard, etc.

The remake is far superior.

I felt like an adult when I finally understood why Else gets on the plane with Lazlow.

Well, R7 & R8, I'm sure some younger people have never seen it, but, since they aren't here, I guess spoiler alerts aren't necessary.

R15, yes, those millions of whippersnappers hanging around on Datalounge, reading threads about old movies. 😀

Overrated.

I've seen it twice and agree with r2: it's one of those classic movies everyone has seen and is good enough to be considered "Great" by people who haven't seen much else.

The dialogue is witty ,the acting superb and it makes you think about war,love,sacrifice for the greater good. Its considered a classic becaus it is a classic. There are tons of old movies I used to "love" ,but as I got older they just seem like schmaltz fests.this one never has.

Yes, OP. "Casablanca" is so hard to enjoy on first viewing. Melodramatic yarn with all those trimmings of romantic conflict, compassion, love in its purest form, commitment to a cause, humor, violence, great writing, great performances, great directing and editing, superb pacing.

It's just sooooo boring without special effects or an appearance by Thor.

R7 Yes, you do. Not everyone on earth is 80 years old. R14 Please take note.

I always thought Ilse was so elegant and dignified, but I realized recently that she really she was a bit of a dumb broad and the role was pretty degrading to women.

The Cheap Detective

I first saw it as a teenager. I stumbled upon it I'm guessing about 15 minutes into it and just could not look away.

I've seen it three times since, and each time I noticed just how funny some of the dialogue is. I'm sure I will watch it again at some point, it's a good lazy Sunday movie.

It was not a hit upon initial release. But, over time, it's now considered one of the greatest of all time. So many quotable lines.

If you have even a passing interest in "Casablanca," then you must read the critically acclaimed book about the making of the movie, "Round Up the Usual Suspects," by Aljean Harmetz. The research is first-rate and the book includes reminiscences from several people with intimate knowledge of the production. The fact that it got made at all is the biggest takeaway.

It represents the best use of the assets of the studio system. The screenplay, direction, production design and acting allowed people at the top of their game to produce a classic.

[quote] Yes, OP. "Casablanca" is so hard to enjoy on first viewing. Melodramatic yarn with all those trimmings of romantic conflict, compassion, love in its purest form, commitment to a cause, humor, violence, great writing, great performances, great directing and editing, superb pacing.

It's just sooooo boring without special effects or an appearance by Thor.

I didn't say I didn't enjoy it, you fucking cunt. I said that it didn't stick with me. No need to start with the tired "sooo boring. no special effects" BS like I've never seen a black and white movie.

I'd do Peter Lorre.

I love it.

[quote]It was not a hit upon initial release. But, over time, it's now considered one of the greatest of all time. So many quotable lines.

Wrong, it was one of the highest grossing films of 1943.

The scene where the young bride asks Rick if Louie (Louis?) will make good on his word -- one fuck in exchange for tickets out of Casblanca -- is my favorite.

RIck's next move showed that he was human, capable of change.

Get Mr. Snob at R17!

[quote]Overrated.

You type like you consider the Friday series superior and Ice Cube wothy of an Oscar.

I wouldn't reflexively say that you have to be older to enjoy it. I do think, however, that those of us whose parents lived through or fought in World War II understand on some level the very dangerous actions and the astounding bravery of many of the film's characters. The film really does have everything and the audience could respond to almost every facet of war as depicted here: the selflessness, the little acts of nobility, the sly actions to outwit Nazis, and the overarching pain of knowing that you may never see a loved one again. Maybe younger people do not plumb the depths of Nazi depravity and cruelty; they see them as the "bad guys" but maybe not the evil incarnate that their system represented.

Take for instance Victor demanding that the orchestra play Le Marseillaise -- in many parts of France he could have been (would have been?) taken out and summarily shot. Or the shooting of Major Strasser which will no doubt have dire consequences for all of the usual suspects. As for me, I don't watch it every time it's on but I do think of it as a perfect movie that is thoroughly representative of its time. Not many movies can say that, even taking "The Hurt Locker," "Black Hawk Down," or "Three Kings" into account.

Claude Rains was always fascinating in every role he played. He alone is sufficient reason to watch this movie (over and over), but it's also worthwhile on its own. All of the other stars almost live up to him, which is saying a lot.

It's good, but probably the most overrated movie of all time. It's not *that* good.

pre-Internet, message boards, and social media, the only ones who had voices were critics ...

now, everyone's opinion is equal; celebs, who cried out for privacy, tweet news of their breakups and what they ate for breakfast

R9 Don’t forget the costumes

And it’s also a bromance...

"I always thought Ilse was so elegant and dignified, but I realized recently that she really she was a bit of a dumb broad and the role was pretty degrading to women."

Degrading how, R21?

No, Ilsa isn't portrayed as a perfect human, she's married to an older man who's gotten her into a life that varies between being uncomfortable and being as dangerous as hell, and if she isn't totally happy with being a fugitive who's in the sights of the local Nazi officials then who can blame her for letting other options cross their minds! That's one of the good things about this movie, Rick and Ilsa are complex people who are selfish at some times and noble at others. Okay, Victor is kind of portrayed as being perfect and beyond approach, but you know the old Catholic school joke... "What's the definition of a martyr?" "Someone who's married to a Saint!". And that's Ilsa's life with Victor, no wonder Rick looked so good to her.

A lot of women love Casablanca and the love story in it, so I guess they missed the degrading part.

[quote]Take for instance Victor demanding that the orchestra play Le Marseillaise

That's the turning point of the movie. Rick realizes he can never compete with Laszlo and stops snarking about him. Ilse's expression clearly shows who she really loves. For Victor, it's just another day being perfect. Add it to his tab.

When Ilse tries to get the Letters of Transit, Rick knows she's pretending to be in love with him, even if she's lying to herself. After you've seen it a few times, enjoyed all the great lines, the pacing, the plot, the casting, you realize the characters made their final decisions during the Marseillaise scene. I'd go so far as to include Renault.

I love anything with Humphrey Bogart in it.

That white suit Ilse is wearing during her first entrance into Rick's is my all time favorite movie costume.

behind the scenes shot

The real romantic couple walk off together at the end. You can tell from lots of little moments in Claud Rains' performance that his character is in love with Rick.

R46 Not only that, but he actually declares his love for Rick to Ilsa...

[quote]Rick is the kind of man that… if I were a woman, and I were not around, I should be in love with Rick.

One of the best lines in the movie.

when Rick says to Ilsa (I'm paraphrasing) "I'll tell Sam to play As Time Goes By' I know it's your favorite, the audience is screaming "he LOVES YOU still!"

R42 She can love both men for different reasons.

I believe the turning point is in Rick's apartment when Ilsa tells him...

[quote]Ilsa: I can't fight it anymore. I ran away from you once. I can't do it again. Oh, I don't know what's right any longer. You have to think for both of us. For all of us.

[quote]Rick: All right, I will. Here's looking at you, kid.

It is probably my favorite movie behind GWTW. Anytime it is on, I watch it. There is sly humor, love and Nazi's! Everything just comes together in the movie.

There is also something I just like about Humphrey Bogart. He also apparently was the person everyone wanted to be friends with/hang with in Hollywood.

R49 And when he says, "Go ahead and shoot. You'll be doing me a favor."

*GASP*

I’m over 50 and the old movies just don’t do anything for me, with a few exceptions. I think Casablanca is fine but I don’t see what all the fuss is about. The melodramatic music and scenery chewing acting styles are just not my thing.

Same goes for classic horror/suspense movies, genres I especially love. I find The Night of the Hunter a turgid bore and the same goes for Nosferatu, two classic films I was told I simply MUST SEE and then I did and, oh dear.

I love Bogart. I have read a lot about him and he was not universally beloved. One person who knew him summed it up as half the people who knew Bogie adored him, the other half couldn't stand him. He was a needler, liked to annoy people, and liked to start fights between them, then stand back and watch them get mad at each other. Not that he was like this 24 hours a day. He seemed like a cool guy overall.

I think it would have been more accurate if r24 had said although it was a hit when it was first released, it was not regarded as anything particularly special for the next 25 years, until it was re-discovered across college campuses during the Humphrey Bogart revival in the 1960s, when the movie finally reached its place at the top of the heap and has stayed there ever since.

and he was the inspiration for one of the quintessential 60s dope songs.