Widely seen as one of the great masterpiece of the seventh art, Casablanca is also unanimously hailed as one of the greatest romantic movie of all time (IMDb: 8.8/10 and #13 Top 250). Originally destined to be a propaganda movie for the Allies during World War II, the film was met with relatively solid success at the box office but no one at the time expected it to eventually become synonym with being one of the crowning achievement of American cinema.

World War II has engulfed Europe and is knocking on the gates of the French-Moroccan city of Casablanca. Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) is a cynical American loner who has settled in the North African city where he owns an upscale bar after fleeing Paris earlier in the war. He secretly comes into the possession of two extremely valuable letters of transit which allow the bearers to travel freely to Lisbon, Portugal from where one can get to America safely. Soon after, the object of Rick’s bitterness, former lover Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman), shows up at his nightclub. She is accompanied by her husband Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), a fugitive Czech resistance leader who just escaped from a concentration camp. The two urgently need letters of transit so they can escape capture from the German controlled local law enforcement lead by Captain Louis Renault (Claude Rains). Memories of a long lost love flood Rick who had wanted all along to sit on the sidelines of the war and is now confronted with life and deaths decisions.

One of the most striking qualities of Casablanca is how timeless the movie is. Even nearly 70 years later, the film doesn’t feel like it is outdated or lost any of its charm. It is a prime example of everything coming together to achieve a great movie. The direction by Michael Curtiz merits a mention if only for the fact that production was somewhat chaotic and no one had any idea how the movie would end until it came time to shoot the scenes. Surprisingly, the script itself doesn’t look like it was put together day-to-day and the plot unfolds naturally and without any hiccups. The dialogue remains clever and witty to this day and innumerable lines have become part of  our everyday lexicon such as “Round up the usual suspects” or “Play it again, Sam” (misquotation by the way). The story itself puts heavy emphasis on the values of honor, courage and sacrifice over personal desires such as love. These were and remain so important at a time of national war mobilization and we have to remember that this was a propaganda movie after all.  There is no doubt that Ilsa and Rick still love each other even after all these years but the two know perfectly that the world is at war and needs its heroes such as Victor Laszlo. As Rick said: “The problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world” and the melancholic ending only highlights what has been sorely missing in Hollywood for quite some time.

The character are fully-fleshed out thanks in part to outstanding performance from the ensemble cast as well as the tightly woven script. Humphrey Bogart takes on his first romantic lead role and his instantly recognizable voice lends credence to the cynical nature of his character. However, hiding behind his tough facade is a man of principle, yearning for the  long-gone great love of his life. This multifaceted aspect of Rick’s character requires Bogart to use a fairly wide range of emotions which he does convincingly as shown in the flashback to Paris where he is a completely different person from the cynical lone-wolf roaming a nightclub. The luminous Ingrid Bergman gives her most memorable performance of her career. Technically, it’s not a great part but the beautiful Bergman gives the brave Ilsa a steely resolve and vulnerability that is enough for us to be convinced of why Rick would be in love with her. Together, Rick and Ilsa ooze of true romantic tension and desire and there is never any doubt that they are made for each other. Claude Reins is fantastic as Captain Renault and comes close to stealing the scene from Bogie every single time he appears on screen. That’s talent! Finally, Paul Henreid is solid as Laszlo, the third part of our love triangle. He is so heroic and selfless that even Rick himself can’t hide his admiration.

The cinematography is effective albeit unspectacular. Curtiz manages to give the film interior scenes a smoky and convivial atmosphere, while the exterior scenes have a cosmopolitan exoticism that has been copied repeatedly ever since. The soundtrack for the film is excellent and the song “As time goes by” from Herman Hupfeld has become associated with the very fabric of the movie. After all, one of the most romantic scene of the movie is the one where Sam sings the song late at night as Rick is drowning himself in alcohol after seeing Ilsa again.

An accidental masterpiece that has withstood the test of time, Casablanca is a simple but bittersweet love story set in the backdrop of World War II. It has mesmerized viewers for decades and will continue to do so for a long time to come. Bogart, Bergman, a doomed romance, what’s more to ask?

A

Notes: Rated PG for mild violence. 102 minutes.