Directed by: Michael Curtiz
Written by: Julius J. Epstein and Phillip G. Epstein
Stars: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid
Reviewed by: Joe Sikes (Guest Reviewer and friend of 3guys)
“Play it again Sam”.
“We’ll always have Paris”.
“Here’s lookin’ at you kid”.
“Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world she walks into mine”.
These famous lines are just a few amongst the many memorable lines in the 1942 blockbuster Casablanca that was re-released Wednesday, March 21st to commemorate the monster classic’s 70th anniversary. I was not about to wait for Casablanca’s 100th Anniversary screening to see the hit movie on the big screen so I purchased a ticket to enter a silver screen time portal to view the film the way it was meant to be seen…….on the big screen.
Unfortunately, the prices of the ticket, the popcorn and the soda did not go back in time but if there is a movie that is worth every cent of admission and snacks it is Casablanca.
For the very few of you who are not familiar with the plot of Casablanca here is a very brief synopsis of the classic. It is WWII and Casablanca is a haven for refugees who are escaping the stronghold of the Nazi military in eastern Europe. Escapees are willing to do whatever it takes to Get from Eastern Europe to Casablanca, Morocco to Lisbon, Portugal and finally, to absolute freedom in America. Rick’s Americain Cafe is a hotbed of political corruption and refugee deal making in the tumultuous city of Casablanca. As interesting and complex the goings ons at Rick’s may be it really just serves as a sub-plot to one of the most famous love affairs in movie history between the beautiful Ilsa Lund played by Ingrid Bergman and the timeless, cool, calm and collected Rick Blaine who owns Rick’s Americain Cafe played by, of course, Humphrey Bogart.
I am not going to waste your time by going any further with the plot summary of this movie but I will say that with each time I see this phenomenon of a movie I am more and more amazed by the screenwriting of Philip and Julius Epstein with Howard Koch. Incredible as the performances that are given by Peter Lorre(Ugarte), Claude Rains (Capt. Renault), Paul Henried (Victor Laszlo), Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman the ingenious screenwriting of the Epsteins and Koch cannot be overlooked. To write a screenplay that embodies the beautiful complexities of love and
the heinous complexities of WW2 politics is truly a feat of artistic genius displayed by the Epstein’s and Koch. As the old saying goes, they don’t make movies like this anymore.
Unfortunately time portals are not yet a reality but a movie theater is a great place to escape to another time, especially if you are seeing a classic like Casablanca. For those of you who have not seen Casablanca on the big screen please do not miss the next chance you have to do so. Here’s to Casablanca being played again Sam.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Great film indeed. The first time I watched it, I wasn’t entirely convinced that what I just saw was one of the greatest film of all time but it really grew on me over the years and it gets better and better the more you see it. I guess that’s why it is such a beloved classic
I love the scene in the cafe with Sam’s playing the piano, so lively and warm atmosphere. One of the beautiful classic, and stylish too. Bogart was fabulous.
One of my favorite movies! Bogart is the original PIMP! His last scene with Bergman was AH-mazing. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one yelling at the screen, “stay, stay,” but that wasn’t the right thing to do. *sigh* Now I want to watch this movie again.
Awesome review!
I saw this movie at the Bijou in Worcester. It is my favorite movie of all time. Nice review.
Ian where is that Bijou theater located? I moved out of Worcester over 10 years ago and I don’t recall that theater.
For those of you not as fanatical as I am about this movie here is a little bit of trivia… “Play it again Sam” is never said in the movie. The actual lines go something like this… “Play it”, “If she can stand it I can, now play it!”. That’s off the top of my head so don’t shoot me if I got it wrong.
I have been lucky enough to have seen this twice in the theater throughout the years. It’s on my top ten and is one of the best movies ever made.
Here is a little more free trivia off the top of my head… Ronald Reagan was originally considered for the lead, The scene with the plane at the end of the movie they actually used midgets to try and keep the plane in scale.