Casablanca Film Review

Film Study Guide Completion: Casablanca

Questions for Reflection and Discussion:

1.) In my opinion the film fulfilled all the criteria I think of when rating whether or not a story is good. The audience really cares about Rick and what decision he will make at the end. The characters are vibrant, interesting people that are dynamic and not easy to figure out. The story is driven by both romantic and political factors. I value when a narrative encapsulates the essence of both individual and national affairs in an artful way. It has an exposition and a really long rising action. I feel that the climax comes at the end of the film when Rick gives the papers away. I don’t think that the story needed a falling action or resolution. The audience sees that Rick and Louie are going to be friends so we know Rick isn’t alone. I think the actors and storyline keep this movie popular. The actors really convey dynamic characters. I usually don’t get into a film, or novel, if I cannot become connected to the characters. I think that the audience connects to Rick and that is a main reason that the film endures.
2.) In all honesty, I did not know anything about Morocco in the 1940’s. I knew about the tension between the Germans and the French. I also knew that Americans ended up fighting the Nazi Germany. I knew about the Holocaust and Hitler. There are many historical messages in the film. One night in Rick’s Café Americain people start singing a German military song and others, led by Victor Laszlo, sing “La Marseillaise” louder than the German supporters. This showed how these people were all sharing this place and spending time together but underneath it all they held opposing political beliefs and that there was tension. Another political reference is when Rick questions what time it is in New York if it is December 1941 in Casablanca. He also says “I bet they’re asleep all over America.” This line is linked to the shock that Pearl Harbor had on Americans. The fact that Rick fights for the ‘underdog’ and that Rick’s decisions model the decisions made by America— this film shows that America roots for the underdogs and that although we tried to stay neutral we ended up helping the French in the end.
3.) The French are represented as having fortune, money, and luck. Germans are represented as being extremely political beyond personal relations. Rick represents America’s politics and attitude. When asked his nationality Rick answers, “My nationality is a drunkard.” Sam is one of the few African-American or simply African characters. (His ethnic background is not explicitly stated in the film). He is represented as a step lower than Rick; they are friends but not quite equals. The group of people is noticeably, and almost completely, absent from the film is Moroccans. The only time that I saw any people that seemed to be natives was when Rick and Ilsa were in the market. The lack of the portrayal of native people shows how the concerns of the French, Germany, and America dominated Morocco and how the natives had no voice in their affairs.
4.) At first I saw Rick Blaine as being a cold, reserved, and bitter guy. I thought he was only concerned with his bar. Then when I saw his time in France with Ilsa, the source of his bitterness, I grew to understand him better. Rick is unable to easily be read. I also thought he was being selfish until he gave the letters of transit to Victor and Ilsa. This moment showed me that he was willing to put his personal feelings for Ilsa aside in order for Victor to be able to leave Casablanca and help the French. It was a selfless love that Rick showed for Ilsa. I think that element of Rick won me over completely and made me feel crushed that Ilsa couldn’t have stayed with him.
5.) I can reconstruct the fact that Rick and Ilsa were in love in Paris. Although they didn’t know a lot about each others background they saw how one another reacted to the world around them and they enjoyed one another’s company. The song As Time Goes By held a lot of significance between the two of them. I was also able to see that Ilsa was the one that didn’t follow him when he left France. The reason why wasn’t explained until later. The flashbacks of Paris show a time when Rick was happy and not so serious or heavy with burden. Although it happened fast, they really loved each other. This knowledge explains why Rick reacts to Ilsa like he does. This also explains more about Rick’s character and helps the audience connect with his life and his personal struggles.
6.) Ilsa and Laszlo have an ordinary marriage. I believe that although they care for one another, Ilsa isn’t really excited by Victor anymore. I believe that the only reason she fell in love with Rick was because she thought that Victor was dead in a concentration camp. I think that had Victor been around she would have been content with her marriage and her life with him. I think that Renault and Strasser don’t like sharing the power and that Renault has an edge over Strasser because he is more personable. I think that Rick sees Renault as a friend before anything that has to do with politics. Eventually he ends up joining politically with Renault anyway. Rick seems to be quite close to Sam even if he didn’t talk to him much. It is obvious that they are close from how they interact with one another and from the way that Sam talked to him after he had interacted with Ilsa for the first time in Morocco. It is obvious Sam really cared about Rick and wanted the best for him.
7.) I also noticed that there was a lot of cigar and cigarette smoking as well as alcohol drinking in the film. I think that because tobacco is the number one cause of death in the United States filmmakers don’t include heavy smoking in films because they don’t want to promote it. I hardly ever see a film where a person drinks as much as Rick does and is so down about life. This part of the film reminded me of It’s a Wonderful Life when George Bailey drinks himself into a stupor and wishes that he never existed. I think that older films could show these real problems in some American’s lives easier because there wasn’t as strict of laws regarding the media then. I know that alcohol advertisements on television cannot show anyone drinking the product. I think the main reason that these things aren’t as evident in modern films is because of research about tobacco and alcohol and laws put in place regarding media content.
8.) “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” I think this statement means that Rick is now freed from the burden he placed upon himself when he was bitter over Ilsa. I believe that Rick was starting over and that he was going to be more open to Louie than he had been in the past. I think he means that he has finally put his past behind him, he now has closure. I wouldn’t want to see a sequel to the movie because I think it ends on a brilliant note. The audience is left to think about what just happened. I think the sequel would reveal the separate lives of Rick and Louie in Morocco and Ilsa and Victor in America. I don’t think that they would interact but that they would be content where they are and who they are there with.

Shot-by-Shot Analysis:

A. Casablanca Scene—At the Airport [1:35:25]
B.
1.) Airport hanger
2.) Long shot
3.) High angle
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Voice-over
7.) Cut

1.) Airport worker reporting conditions on runway into phone, profile shot
2.) Medium shot
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Backlight from car approaching
6.) Dialogue reporting runway conditions on phone
7.) Pan

1.) Pan over to car approaching
2.) Long shot
3.) Eye level
4.) Pan
5.) Low key
6.) Rick tells Louie to get Mr. Laszlo’s luggage and put it on the plane.
7.) Cut

1.) Airport worker walks away and camera shows Victor Laszlo’s look at Ilsa.
2.) Medium shot
3.) Low angle
4.) Zoom
5.) Front lighting
6.) Sound of person walking
7.) Cut

1.) Camera pans to Ilsa with a concerned look on her face.
2.) Close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) Zoom, pan
5.) Front lighting
6.) Rick talking to Louie about filling in the names on the papers.
7.) Cut

1.) Rick handing Louie the papers with Ilsa standing behind while looking at Rick with a concerned expression.
2.) Medium shot
3.) Eye level
4.) Tracking
5.) Front lighting
6.) Rick explaining what he wants Louie to do with the papers.
7.) Cut

1.) Just as Rick says for Louie to write Mr. and Mrs. Laszlo on the papers it cuts to Rick and Ilsa.
2.) Medium shot
3.) Eye level
4.) Zoom
5.) Front lighting
6.) Background music begins abruptly as Rick shocks Ilsa (and the audience) with his decision. He also is talking to Ilsa in this shot.
7.) Cut

1.) Louie filling in the papers while looking over his shoulder with a pen in his hand.
2.) Medium shot
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Music continues, Louie responds to Rick’s question.
7.) Cut

1.) Rick standing closely to Ilsa. Louie is in the left foreground of the shot.
2.) Long shot
3.) Eye level
4.) Zooms to Rick and Ilsa
5.) Rick and Ilsa illuminated with light
6.) Music continues, Ilsa speaking
7.) Cut

1.) As Rick tells Ilsa she belongs with Victor, the camera is on her face.
2.) Close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Rick is talking, string music continues
7.) Cut

1.) As Rick continues to explain how Ilsa would regret staying in Casablanca with him the camera is tight on his face.
2.) Close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Rick is talking, Ilsa tries to interrupt but fails, string music continues
7.) Cut

1.) Ilsa asks, “but what about us?” The camera cuts back to a close-up of her face.
2.) Close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Ilsa is talking, strings continue
7.) Cut

1.) Rick delivers the famous line, “We’ll always have Paris.” The camera is back to a close-up his face.
2.) Close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Rick talking, string music softens
7.) Cut

1.) Camera cuts back to Ilsa’s face
2.) Close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Rick talking, string music, Ilsa speaks too
7.) Cut

1.) Back to Ilsa’s face
2.) Close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Rick talking, music
7.) Cut

1.) Camera cuts to Ilsa’s face, her face is the only thing in the whole shot
2.) Close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Rick talking, music
7.) Cut

1.) Rick delivers line, “Here’s looking at you, kid.” Camera is on his face, Ilsa in right corner of screen.
2.) Close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Rick talking, music
7.) Cut

1.) Camera cuts to Ilsa’s face with Rick’s hand on her chin and tears welling in her eyes.
2.) Close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Rick talking, music intensifies
7.) Cut

1.) Camera cuts to Rick’s face for only a second.
2.) Close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Only sound is background music
7.) Cut

1.) German official shows up in car. Camera is close-up on him driving and honking.
2.) Close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) Tracking
5.) Normal
6.) Music, car honking
7.) Cut

1.) Victor comes back into the scene.
2.) Long shot
3.) Eye level
4.) Pans to Rick grabbing papers from Louie.
5.) Normal
6.) Loud music fades out
7.) Cut

1.) Victor talks to Rick while Ilsa has her back to them trying to gather herself by wiping her face (all in frame).
2.) Medium-shot
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Rick and Victor talking
7.) Cut

1.) Camera cuts to Louie with a concerned expression
2.) Medium shot
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Rick talking
7.) Cut

1.) Victor tells Rick he doesn’t need to explain anything.
2.) Medium/close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Victor talking
7.) Cut

1.) Camera shows Rick’s face while he explains to Victor his and Ilsa’s relationship.
2.) Close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Rick talking
7.) Cut

1.) Rick explains that Ilsa came to his place for the letters of transit the night before. Camera cuts to Ilsa.
2.) Medium-shot
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Rick is talking, music in background
7.) Cut

1.) Rick continues talking. Victor’s face is in background. The back of Rick’s head is blurred in the right foreground of the shot.
2.) Medium shot
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Rick talking, Victor quickly answers “Yes”. Rick talking. Music.
7.) Cut

1.) Rick hands papers of transit to Victor. Victor smiles, says “thanks”. Ilsa is in the right side of the frame still wiping her face.
2.) Medium shot
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Rick and Victor talking, music
7.) Cut

1.) Victor tells Rick, “Welcome back to the fight.” They shake hands.
2.) Close-up on Victor, Rick still partially in shot
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Victor speaking, music
7.) Cut

1.) Cuts to a propeller on the airplane beginning to spin
2.) Close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Music and airplane noises
7.) Cut

1.) Cuts to all three (Rick, Victor, Ilsa) looking in the direction of the plane
2.) Medium shot
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Music, airplane noises
7.) Cut

1.) Full airplane in shot with all propellers spinning.
2.) Long shot
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Music, airplane noises
7.) Cut

1.) Close-up of Ilsa turning to look at Rick with tears in her eyes
2.) Close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Music, airplane noises
7.) Cut

1.) Close-up of Rick still holding his composure
2.) Close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Music, airplane noises
7.) Cut

1.) Close-up of Victor asking Ilsa is she’s ready.
2.) Close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Music, airplane noises, Victor speaking
7.) Cut

1.) Medium shot of Ilsa walking toward Victor. Rick standing with his back to the camera.
2.) Medium shot
3.) Eye level
4.) Pan
5.) Normal
6.) Music loud
7.) Pan

1.) Victor and Ilsa stand side by side looking at Rick. Rick’s face is not looking at camera as Ilsa says goodbye.
2.) Medium shot
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Ilsa speaking, music
7.) Cut

1.) Close-up of Ilsa saying, “God bless you.”
2.) Close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Ilsa speaking, music
7.) Cut

1.) Cuts to Rick saying, “You better hurry, you’ll miss that plane.”
2.) Close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Rick speaking, music is loud
7.) Cut

1.) Medium shot of Victor and Ilsa walking away from Rick.
2.) Medium shot
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Music, airplane noises
7.) Cut

1.) Medium shot of Victor and Ilsa walking together. Ilsa half-smiles at Victor.
2.) Medium shot
3.) Eye level
4.) Pan
5.) Normal
6.) Music, airplane noises
7.) Cut

1.) Close-up of Ilsa with a tear hanging on her cheek.
2.) Close-up
3.) Eye level
4.) None
5.) Normal
6.) Music quite loud, airplane noises
7.) Cut

C. 1.) Plot This scene is the climax of the story. This pivotal moment is when Rick’s desire to be with Ilsa takes a backseat over political value. The film is about Rick and his transformation from a suffering, bitter individual to someone that puts others needs before his own. This scene shows a lot about Rick’s character.
2.) Point of view. This scene displays an objective view of the event because it displays the reaction of Rick, Ilsa, Victor, and Louie. There are many close-ups on Ilsa and Rick during the scene because they share the most emotional attachment in the scene but the other perspectives are represented by close-ups. Louie isn’t given really any dialogue of an opinion on the matter. Ilsa’s facial expressions show how she feels although she is forced to restrict how she feels outwardly so that Victor doesn’t know. I think this scene effectively displays an objective view of the event.
3.) Character. This scene shows that Rick is selfless. It shows Rick’s transformation. It shows that Rick was willing to do the right thing even though it wasn’t easy. It shows that Ilsa suppressed her feelings about the event. It shows that Victor was willing to put the love affair that happened between Ilsa and Rick, when he was in a concentration camp, behind him and start anew in a new place. It also shows how much Louie cared for Rick. The camera shows all of these things through dialogue and facial expression as well as body movement. I think Rick’s character is strongly displayed through dialogue and action in the plot because his expression is composed throughout the scene.
4.) Time. The mood is bittersweet. The audience is happy that the married couple stays together and gets to leave Casablanca to go to America but it is bitter because the audience feels for Rick’s heartache— and Ilsa’s hurt too. The mood is set by the action of the plot and the characters expressions. The lighting is fairly average although it is hard to tell because the film is in black and white. The camera cuts to many shots during the scene which creates an emotional effect. The many shots also speed up the moment to the audience and convey that there isn’t much time until the plane is going to leave despite the things that need to be said.