Thanks for the recap of a truly great film. I never realized when it was made—1941! All the more fascinating to realize what the film was doing to the audience at the time. I’ve always believed that art is crucial in any civilization for the many ways it inspires the good in us. Casablanca has done this for millions. It is an old film, but it never gets old. Long live democracy!
Oh, Greg, I have to stop crying to write and thank you for today’s post. Ingrid Bergman staring soulfully at Rick during the “battle of the bands” (or singers anyway) blew me away. And, like you, I have seen the movie quite a few times. Always loved it. And your connection of the time period to our present debacle is priceless.
I too have watched Casablanca dozens of times, but your analyses brought eye-opening perspectives and satisfying pains. Not only have you gifted a far deeper (and funnier) understanding of an all-time great film, but also you have written an engrossing essay with an ending which is lyrical, heartfelt, and brought me to tears. Thank you so much for this piece - it’s a keeper.
Okay, Greg. Now you've gone and written about THE best film of all time. Yes, Casablanca is perfection. I first saw it in 1977 in a crowded university theater. Since then, I've easily seen it 50 times. My wife and I watch it at least once a year. I even filmed my own spoof version of it complete with a Swedish beauty and whether I would leave the ashram to go with her - "but I have a job to do, too" (wrong choice in this case). For a time, I was so into it that I collected versions of the screenplay until I finally found the real shooting script (this was pre-internet).
Casablanca is everything you say - romance, politics, comedy, tragedy, loyalty, and about seizing the moment to put aside personal pain and interests to take action for a bigger cause. I love the way you write about this moment now, today. This is what we must all do now. I only wish that the hearts of those who are not seeing this moment for what it is can be stirred...
Great review. Sadly, when reading about Conrad Veidt's flight from Nazi Germany, my first thought was about when it would be time to do so here. If Trump wins, before he takes office, I guess.
Wowie. Other than the fact that you inserted 10 spoilers, you wrote up the best movie review ever. Thanks. Can’t wait to see it again one soon day. You made my morning.
And you pointed out the relevance to our current situation. Long live your new brand of journalism! Billserle.com
This is just brilliant, Greg. I think Casablanca is the most perfect movie ever made. You've expressed my observations and opinions perfectly. I might add, however, that it is also the most romantic movie ever made and Rick never takes his suit coat off. Thank you for this essay.
One of the rare perfect films ever made. I first saw "Casablanca" in Italy when I was 16 on a trip with my grandfather to the "old country," and I watched it because during one of our very few downtimes, it was the only thing I could find on TV that was in English. I admit to not really getting it at the time, and because of that, waited 20 years or so to watch it again. Since then, I've seen it many times, but not recently, so I'm thinking it's going to be Sunday afternoon viewing. When I woke up this morning, I was convinced it was Monday, I don't know why, so to celebrate it NOT being Monday, a gift like "Casablanca" seems in order. Great essay, Greg, I love your insight into films, books, and even poetry. Sundays wouldn't be the same without you!
Thank you for this, Greg. Today is the day of my Mother's wake. It will be a gathering of all of my aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, neighbors - we will gather and remember my Mother and the wonderful impact she had on us all. It will be a day of celebration. I cried as I read your words. Not for my Mother but for my Father. My Father was named Laszlo. He was born in Hungary in 1943 during WWII. I try to imagine what it was like for my Grandmother to be pregnant and have two infants (my uncle was born in 1941) during this absolutely dark time. Your description of Casablanca brought me back to that time and reminded me of all of the sacrifices people made to survive. Just to survive and try to live for another day.
In 1993, I interviewed Julius Epstein (took several months for him to find the time, he was so busy writing, at age 94; an example to all of us). He told me a very funny story about how he and his brother Philip came up with the most famous line in the movie.
It was a Sunday and Monday would see the beginning of the last week of production. As usual, the writers were a day ahead of what was happening. The Epstein brothers were driving down Sunset Blvd, arguing about how to end the movie. They got stopped by the traffic light on Cherokee, a block east of Highland, right before the Hollywood Athletic Club, where they were headed to "lubricate" the argument. Philip looked around the street, at the people there (the only difference between then and now being hair styles and clothing styles), and got a mile on his face. He turned to Julius and said...
"Round up the usual suspects!" (They had used the line earlier, so it was known to the audience to mean the authorities would do nothing)
One minor squabble with your timeline, Greg. the movie came out in 1943 - they hung the title on the fact the Casablanca Conference (big news then) had just been held, also that the name was known to American audiences due to the North African invasion in November 1942.
The main reason why the scene with "La Marseillaise" is so powerful is that every one of the actors in the scene - including "Major Strasser" - was a European refugee from the Nazis.
Conrad Veidt (Major Strasser) had been Genmany's leading movie actor before he was forced to flee in 1934 because his wife was Jewish. Throughout the war, he only played Nazi "scum" as his contribution to the war effort.
S.Z. Sakall (Carl) had been the leading comedic actor in Hungary, until he was forced to flee when the Hungarian government - allied with Germany - enacted anti-Jewish laws.
Madeleine Lebeau (Yvonne) had fled France in 1940 in an event very close to her story in the movie (the writers used her story).
Leonid Kinskey (Sascha) had been a leading comedian in German film in the 20s and early 30s before the Race Laws forced him to flee, first to France, then the US.
None of them had to dig particularly deep to find their "motivation" for the scene.
So far as Warner's was concerned, "Casablanca" was a "B movie," a "programmer" (It was based on a semi-successful play, "Everybody Goes To Rick's") and they were always under pressure from Jack Warner to save money and speed production. The Epstein brothers had an epic argument with Curtiz over how to shoot the ending - he was willing to listen to Warner and save time by shooting the scene in three wide shots. The Epsteins won by telling him the actors had all read the script they had done of the ending, and promised it could be done from first takes of each shot, probably faster than wht Cutiz was willing to do to please the studio.
Consider watching the movie with Ronald Reagan as Rick and Ann Southern as Ilsa. They were the studio's original choices. Bogart was a "typecast" character actor, not even close to a star so far as the studio was concerned. Ingrid Bergman was an "unknown" just arrived from Sweden. They got the roles when the agents for Reagan and Southern demanded more money than Jack would offer.
Of course all that changed, since huge success - the film won Best Picture of 1943 - does that in Hollywood.
I grew up with this film, having first seen it at the age of ten, old enough to be thrilled by it but too young to grasp it. Even then, however, I was aware of the menacing thrust of fascism, and as a Jewish kid conscious of grandparents lost to the holocaust, aware of a certain inborn vulnerability. Since then I've seen it again a dozen or so times, and like Greg have taken still more away each time, maturing thereby with it. Also like Greg, I find it more applicable today than before the MAGA outbreak which threatens us now. As with him, so with me does Rick's emergent humanism touch me as well, with Rick's emerging as an individual responsible for more than his own narrow well-being when the broader human community is at stake.
Thanks for the recap of a truly great film. I never realized when it was made—1941! All the more fascinating to realize what the film was doing to the audience at the time. I’ve always believed that art is crucial in any civilization for the many ways it inspires the good in us. Casablanca has done this for millions. It is an old film, but it never gets old. Long live democracy!
Oh, Greg, I have to stop crying to write and thank you for today’s post. Ingrid Bergman staring soulfully at Rick during the “battle of the bands” (or singers anyway) blew me away. And, like you, I have seen the movie quite a few times. Always loved it. And your connection of the time period to our present debacle is priceless.
Saw the movie so long ago when I was too young to "get it". Now I must find it and watch it again.
A wonderful post and the last line says it all.
I too have watched Casablanca dozens of times, but your analyses brought eye-opening perspectives and satisfying pains. Not only have you gifted a far deeper (and funnier) understanding of an all-time great film, but also you have written an engrossing essay with an ending which is lyrical, heartfelt, and brought me to tears. Thank you so much for this piece - it’s a keeper.
Okay, Greg. Now you've gone and written about THE best film of all time. Yes, Casablanca is perfection. I first saw it in 1977 in a crowded university theater. Since then, I've easily seen it 50 times. My wife and I watch it at least once a year. I even filmed my own spoof version of it complete with a Swedish beauty and whether I would leave the ashram to go with her - "but I have a job to do, too" (wrong choice in this case). For a time, I was so into it that I collected versions of the screenplay until I finally found the real shooting script (this was pre-internet).
Casablanca is everything you say - romance, politics, comedy, tragedy, loyalty, and about seizing the moment to put aside personal pain and interests to take action for a bigger cause. I love the way you write about this moment now, today. This is what we must all do now. I only wish that the hearts of those who are not seeing this moment for what it is can be stirred...
BTW - great great last line.
Great review. Sadly, when reading about Conrad Veidt's flight from Nazi Germany, my first thought was about when it would be time to do so here. If Trump wins, before he takes office, I guess.
Wowie. Other than the fact that you inserted 10 spoilers, you wrote up the best movie review ever. Thanks. Can’t wait to see it again one soon day. You made my morning.
And you pointed out the relevance to our current situation. Long live your new brand of journalism! Billserle.com
Animals, human or not, always have to fight the bullies ✌🏻 The good news is that bullies are losers.
Brilliant take on one of my favorite films. As you say, there is so much depth that reveals itself as you settle into another viewing.
I think I will watch it again today.
This is just brilliant, Greg. I think Casablanca is the most perfect movie ever made. You've expressed my observations and opinions perfectly. I might add, however, that it is also the most romantic movie ever made and Rick never takes his suit coat off. Thank you for this essay.
One of the rare perfect films ever made. I first saw "Casablanca" in Italy when I was 16 on a trip with my grandfather to the "old country," and I watched it because during one of our very few downtimes, it was the only thing I could find on TV that was in English. I admit to not really getting it at the time, and because of that, waited 20 years or so to watch it again. Since then, I've seen it many times, but not recently, so I'm thinking it's going to be Sunday afternoon viewing. When I woke up this morning, I was convinced it was Monday, I don't know why, so to celebrate it NOT being Monday, a gift like "Casablanca" seems in order. Great essay, Greg, I love your insight into films, books, and even poetry. Sundays wouldn't be the same without you!
Thank you for this, Greg. Today is the day of my Mother's wake. It will be a gathering of all of my aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, neighbors - we will gather and remember my Mother and the wonderful impact she had on us all. It will be a day of celebration. I cried as I read your words. Not for my Mother but for my Father. My Father was named Laszlo. He was born in Hungary in 1943 during WWII. I try to imagine what it was like for my Grandmother to be pregnant and have two infants (my uncle was born in 1941) during this absolutely dark time. Your description of Casablanca brought me back to that time and reminded me of all of the sacrifices people made to survive. Just to survive and try to live for another day.
In 1993, I interviewed Julius Epstein (took several months for him to find the time, he was so busy writing, at age 94; an example to all of us). He told me a very funny story about how he and his brother Philip came up with the most famous line in the movie.
It was a Sunday and Monday would see the beginning of the last week of production. As usual, the writers were a day ahead of what was happening. The Epstein brothers were driving down Sunset Blvd, arguing about how to end the movie. They got stopped by the traffic light on Cherokee, a block east of Highland, right before the Hollywood Athletic Club, where they were headed to "lubricate" the argument. Philip looked around the street, at the people there (the only difference between then and now being hair styles and clothing styles), and got a mile on his face. He turned to Julius and said...
"Round up the usual suspects!" (They had used the line earlier, so it was known to the audience to mean the authorities would do nothing)
And they had the ending.
One minor squabble with your timeline, Greg. the movie came out in 1943 - they hung the title on the fact the Casablanca Conference (big news then) had just been held, also that the name was known to American audiences due to the North African invasion in November 1942.
The main reason why the scene with "La Marseillaise" is so powerful is that every one of the actors in the scene - including "Major Strasser" - was a European refugee from the Nazis.
Conrad Veidt (Major Strasser) had been Genmany's leading movie actor before he was forced to flee in 1934 because his wife was Jewish. Throughout the war, he only played Nazi "scum" as his contribution to the war effort.
S.Z. Sakall (Carl) had been the leading comedic actor in Hungary, until he was forced to flee when the Hungarian government - allied with Germany - enacted anti-Jewish laws.
Madeleine Lebeau (Yvonne) had fled France in 1940 in an event very close to her story in the movie (the writers used her story).
Leonid Kinskey (Sascha) had been a leading comedian in German film in the 20s and early 30s before the Race Laws forced him to flee, first to France, then the US.
None of them had to dig particularly deep to find their "motivation" for the scene.
So far as Warner's was concerned, "Casablanca" was a "B movie," a "programmer" (It was based on a semi-successful play, "Everybody Goes To Rick's") and they were always under pressure from Jack Warner to save money and speed production. The Epstein brothers had an epic argument with Curtiz over how to shoot the ending - he was willing to listen to Warner and save time by shooting the scene in three wide shots. The Epsteins won by telling him the actors had all read the script they had done of the ending, and promised it could be done from first takes of each shot, probably faster than wht Cutiz was willing to do to please the studio.
Consider watching the movie with Ronald Reagan as Rick and Ann Southern as Ilsa. They were the studio's original choices. Bogart was a "typecast" character actor, not even close to a star so far as the studio was concerned. Ingrid Bergman was an "unknown" just arrived from Sweden. They got the roles when the agents for Reagan and Southern demanded more money than Jack would offer.
Of course all that changed, since huge success - the film won Best Picture of 1943 - does that in Hollywood.
Bravo
I grew up with this film, having first seen it at the age of ten, old enough to be thrilled by it but too young to grasp it. Even then, however, I was aware of the menacing thrust of fascism, and as a Jewish kid conscious of grandparents lost to the holocaust, aware of a certain inborn vulnerability. Since then I've seen it again a dozen or so times, and like Greg have taken still more away each time, maturing thereby with it. Also like Greg, I find it more applicable today than before the MAGA outbreak which threatens us now. As with him, so with me does Rick's emergent humanism touch me as well, with Rick's emerging as an individual responsible for more than his own narrow well-being when the broader human community is at stake.