Casablanca [PG]

With World War II looming like a dark thundercloud over Europe, many people are determined to leave their homelands and go to America, the New World. Tiptoeing through Europe and settling in Casablanca where money, influence, and luck are the only ways to get exit visas, some people find themselves spending years waiting for their chance of escape. Cynical and apathetic café owner, Rick, has been in Casablanca too long and is ready to leave, but he faces a moral dilemma when his former flame and her husband come to Casablanca in desperate need of help. 

A timeless black and white classic and winner of 3 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Casablanca is a wonderful film filled with drama, romance, betrayal, and sacrifice. 

With World War II looming over Europe like a dark thundercloud, many people are determined to leave their homelands and travel to America, the New World. Tiptoeing through Europe, they settle in Casablanca where, only through money, influence, and luck can they get exit visas and get on the plane bound for Lisbon. Cynical and apathetic café owner, Rick, has been in Casablanca too long and is ready leave, but he faces a moral dilemma when his former flame and her husband, who is wanted throughout Europe for conspiring against the Germans, come to Casablanca and are in desperate need of help. Will Rick help or will he leave? 

With its original story, enchanting script, and wonderful performances, Casablanca is an iconic film that gave us those famous lines “play it again Sam” and “here’s looking at you, kid.” With its romantic soundtrack, which includes that gorgeous song As Time Goes By (one of my personal favsourites), it’s absolutely breathtaking. 

Humphrey Bogart stars as Rick and he was absolutely wonderful. Beginning the film as apathetic, cynical, and a right prick, the emotional change that his character goes through could not have been more beautifully conveyed. By the end of the film, he was charming, romantic, and exceedingly debonair. Loved him.

 Ingrid Bergman stars as Ilsa, Rick’s former Paris flame, and she was just beautiful. She turned in a performance that was romantic, confused, torn, and sometimes very melancholy. She brought all the light that can be brought to a black and white film. 

Starring Paul Henreid, Claude Rains. Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre, Casablanca was a wonderfully charming film filled with romance, action, suspense, betrayal, murder, apathy, moral and emotional dilemmas, and sacrifice. It was thoroughly romantic and simply beautiful, well worth the 3 Academy Awards. A must-see before you die. I loved it!