“He’s looking at you kid.” – Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine.
In 1940, Warner Bros. or WB for short purchased the film rights to an unproduced dramatic play titled, “Everybody Come to Rick’s.” Set in Morocco during World War II, American nightclub owner, Rick Blaine unexpectedly reunites with an old flame, Ilsa and her husband. They’re being followed by Nazis due to Ilsa’s husband who’s affiliated with the Allies. Conflict ensues as Rick’s given a difficult decision. Either reconcile with Ilsa or let her and the allied soldier flee. The plot I’m taking about is “Casablanca.”
Released in 1942, (same year Superglue and Duct Tape were invented) it received critical acclaim from critics and movie goers alike. It was also a box office hit. Casablanca won two Oscars for “Best Director” & “Best Picture.” Anyway, I have one reason why I wanna review this classic film. Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated fantasy adventure epic, “The Odyssey” will be released on July 17, 2026. Which is around my birth month. Mr. Nolan confirmed Casablanca’s one of his favorite films. He’s also a Humphrey Bogart fan.
This review contains no SPOILERS. I know Casablanca was referenced and spoofed an other works, but I’m giving y’all a chance to see this gem.
Yay & Nay Qualities
Yay: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains & Peter Lorre all did a terrific job for their respective performances.
Michael Curtiz (The Adventures of Robin Hood) did a decent job directing.
Max Steiner (King Kong 1933, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Searchers) orchestrated the soundtrack.
Howard Koch and twin brothers,Julius & Philip Epstein (no relation to diabolical pervert, Jeffrey) co-wrote the script.
Cinematography’s shot in good condition.
Pacing felt stable for an hour-and forty-minute film. Don’t expect it to be a guns-a-blazing war flick, This is based on a dialogue driven dramatic play.
Rick’s chemistry with Ilsa serves as the main highlight.
Character Development involving Rick. As the film progresses, he must make a drastic decision.
We learn the real reason why Ilsa left Rick in the first place.
Primary Themes are Sacrifice, Loyalty, Patriotism & Duty. Each one’s handled maturely.
Fun Facts
- In 1989, Casablanca was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry.
- American Film Institute or AFI for short selected the film in a a few lists.
- Famous people such as Tom Hanks, George Clooney & Kate Hudson stated Casablanca is one of their favorite films.
- The line,”I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship” was later referenced in “Tenet.” You can tell Christopher Nolan has good taste.
- Contrary to popular belief, nobody uttered out “Play it again, Sam.” It’s actually, Play it, Sam. Play As Time Goes By.”
Random Thoughts
- Okay I admit, prior to rewriting this review, I watched Casablanca for the first time. I deeply regret not watching it early. Now that I’ve watched it, I can cross it off my bucket list.
- To be honest, I didn’t cry. It’s not a drawback. Some films made me cry including “Logan,” “Interstellar” & “Now Is Good.”
Nay: Given that the film was made during World War II, it’s quite dated. We all know the Allies won and the Axis Powers were defeated.
The Final Verdict: A-
Despite one drawback, Casablanca’s a near-perfect classic. Some of the pros really hold up. If you’re prepping up for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey or have a soft spot for films from the Golden Age of Hollywood, check this one out. Which Humphrey Bogart movie should I review next? Please leave a comment.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 