Casablanca

Gregory Lopez
Film History Journal
1) Casablanca is a classic film, directed by Michael Curtiz that made its debut in 1942 and is thought to be one of the best movies of all time. There are many themes centered on Casablanca but the most notable ones are lust and love. Ilsa, one of the main characters, is married to Victor but had an affair with Rick in Paris, who is played by Bogart. The main summary of the film is that Rick runs a restaurant called Rick’s Café in Casablanca, Morocco. There was a girl named Ilsa who Rick met and fell in love with almost instantaneously when they first met in Paris. They both embraced each other’s company and couldn't get enough of each other. In this point in time, the Germans were going to invade and occupy France so they had to evacuate immediately. Ilsa kept a secret from Rick and chose not to meet Rick at the train station when they were supposed to leave together. The secret that she was keeping from Rick was that she was married to a man named Victor, who was a respected man who spent a year in a concentration camp and was a powerful leader in France. Later on in the movie, Ilsa walks into Rick’s Café and Rick and Ilsa see each other for the first time since their encounter in Paris. Towards the conclusion of the film, Rick and Ilsa reproduce the love that they always had for each other but Rick decides to let her go.

2) http://www.pictureshowman.com/articles_films_casablanca.cfm

3) The article basically talks about the film and its overall success. After giving a brief synopsis, a plot and cast overview, and a behind the scenes view, it states that "Casablanca" was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won three, including the Oscar for Best Picture. The American Society of Cinematographers ranked "Casablanca" number 7 on their list of "Best Shot Films: 1894-1949". In 1998, the American Film Institute rated "Casablanca" second on their list of the "Top 100 American Movies of the Last 100 Years", using as part of their criteria: critical recognition; historical significance; and cultural impact. In 1989, "Casablanca" was among the first twenty-five films named to the National Film Registry.
4) The first time I saw Casablanca, I remembered how up-to-date it seemed. The themes of sacrifice and heroism stood out with emphasis and made the movie intriguing, as well as the witty dialogue. The characters played amazing roles and kept me interested throughout the movie. Although this movie was way before my time, I was able to appreciate its true value due to its classic, genuine nature and compelling storyline.