A Classic Film! CASABLANCA - Couple First Time Watching | Reaction
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- čas přidán 25. 06. 2024
- After you guys voted in our Classic Movies Poll, we finally check out this great film!
A first for both of us, this is our reaction to "Casablanca".
FIRST TIME WATCHING | REACTION
00:00 Intro
03:00 Guessing
05:43 Reaction
38:34 Review / Final Thoughts
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This video is for commentary and criticism only and is not a replacement for watching "Casablanca".
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I believe you’ll understand that this film is gold. The dialogue alone was worthy of an Oscar.
We definitely understand why it's such a highly quoted film!
The dialogue is next level.
Winner of 3 Oscars including Best Picture.
Not surprised!
The film wasn't considered anything more than product -- one of 50 made by Warners' during that year.
It won Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Director.
Many consider it the best film ever made. It deserves more than one viewing.
Another film by the same director for the same year was "Yankee Doddle Dandy," which won Best Actor for James Cagney.
Here is a blurb to help today’s younger viewers better understand this movie: “Casablanca is in French Morocco. When France surrendered in WW2, it was divided in half. The Northern half under the direct control of the Germans the other half "nominally" independent under the French in Vichy. French Morocco was also under the control of the Vichy government and thus was technically independent so that the Germans had to operate with French consent. It was all a formality, of course, as the French consent was usually rubber stamped.”
As for the timing of this movie, Germany had quickly defeated France and on June 14, 1940, the German troops entered and occupied Paris. This movie Casablanca is set a year and a half later on December 1, 1941. This was a week before America is attacked at Pearl Harbor and entered the war against Japan. Germany declared war against the US a few days later.
I first saw this during WW2 and believe the reason that it became such an instant classic was that the theme and story truly hit a nerve with the audience members back then. Everyone there identified with the story because, in 1942, the war in Europe and the Pacific was going full blast with the outcome of both was still in doubt. Suddenly husbands and wives, young men and their lovers were being forcibly separated by the war and the draft. If your immediate family was not affected, then many of your neighbors had people either at war, killed or wounded.
An element of this film that made it so suspenseful was the love triangle between Rick, Ilsa and Victor. Normally in a Hollywood movie two of the people, the leading man and the girl are obviously meant to end up together. The third character is always shown with some flaw or attitude that makes them an unsuitable mate. In Casablanca, all three leading characters are shown to be equally heroic and desirable choices. Thus making it more difficult for the theater audience to decide who should end up flying off together and who should be the one left behind. Writing a suitable script ending that would satisfy both the Hays Office (the U.S. film studio Self-censorship Organization) and the theater audience must have been very difficult.
Cortiz got an Oscar for directing this picture. The flowing movement of the Camera, with its closeups and tracking, and the constant motion of the Actors are like a carefully rehearsed Ballet. Notice how the Actors and the movie Extras are always moving around and how the scenes smoothly flow from one event to another with few cuts and fadeouts.
Watch how the movie literally starts with a ‘Bang’ and the Camera keeps you glued to the screen leading up to the Flashback with Rick and Ilsa. The first 10 or 15 minutes seems like one long shot. It is rarely mentioned, but the Editing of the movie was excellent.
It was a good thing this was filmed in black and white. It allowed dramatic lighting, contrasting darks and shadows to help portray the ‘Film Noir’ moody effect. Filming in color during the 1940s was harder due to the extra heat generated from the lighting required. Because of the bulker cameras, the added lighting, the triple amount of film, and the expense of producing dye transfer projection prints, Technicolor demanded higher film budgets.
In 1942, this movie was well received by the Black Community. It was praised by being one of the first films that portrayed a black man not as a stereotype but as an important character in the story.
In the comments on the ‘quotable’ lines from this movie, I wonder if there is one more that is overlooked. When Ugarte is accosted by the French Moroccan police at the Roulette table, he asks them if he could ‘Cash in his Chips’. I wonder if this line is meant to forecast his inevitable fate with the police. Was this film dialogue the origin of this phrase or was this already a cliché at the time?
the most impressive thing really is the fact that the outcome of the war was still unknown!
Excellent comment. Thanks!
The reverse: the "Vichy" gov't was collaborationist with the Nazis under puppet Phillipe Petain. At the beginning of the film the man shot is directly in front of the wall mural depicting Petain. The papers that man who was shot had revealed that he was underground resistance.
One sees the same symbol -- "code" -- in the ring "offered for sale" by another in the underground resistance. That character, and "Ilsa," are both ostensibly from Norway, which was under Nazi occupation, "lead" by puppet Quisling. There is a video biography on youtube about Quisling and what happened to him after the war.
@@malimal9191 The comment is backward: "VICHY" was collaborationist with the Nazi occupation, which is OBVIOUSLY why Renault drops the bottle of "VICHY" water -- READ THE LABEL on the bottle -- into the trash at the end.
It was so refreshing to see someone that knew their history and geography. The truly sad thing, is most Americans that watch this movie have no clue what they are talking about when they refer to Nazis, Vichy, Free French, or even where Casablanca and Lisbon are. They are so ill-informed about the history of WWII that much of it is beyond their capacity to understand it.
PS: I am an American so I can ridicule my own country for the poor education system.
It's crazy that they made this during the war with no idea who would win.
That is amazing to me, especially because now we know how it all turned out in the end. At the same time, even in recent days we have movies about conflicts that are still going on. But this one must have been REALLY POWERFUL in those days for sure!
when they were making it in 1941, usa was not in war . usa entered the war in december 1942. rick with his neutral noncommittal attitude was like an analogy for usa.
* added later not december 42 but december 41.
@@sitting_nut I don't know if it is just a typo, but the US entered the war in December 1941. This movie was made before that and released after that (I believe that they made a couple of very minor additions/changes after the US entered the war, but mostly just left it alone).
@@CFWhitman it is a typo . thanks.
That's what added to the anxiety and chaos. It is both embedded in the current events during its making -- the war -- and imbued with that uncertainty and tension.
This "old out-of-touch" movie consistently ranks in the top three movies ever (out of 150 movies listed), regardless of genre, color/B&W, or date it was made by AFI (American Film Institute). What makes it timeless is the photography, storyline, dialogue, music score, setting, casting, and superlative acting. And that's why. every generation since it was made continues to quote dialogue and talk about it to one and all.
I can't really imagine who would actively dislike this movie 🤷♂ I mean, I think you must hate movies to not like this one! 😂
Fantastic film 👌🏻
This was a mainstream Hollywood film with a script being written and rewritten on a daily basis, and yet it still packs such a punch more than 80 years on. Amazing.
I can't imagine this being an "accidental" script let's say, it's way too tight!
@@ptthatswhatshesaid No, according to Ingrid Bergman they were rewriting it every day. And she didn't even know which man she would be leaving with on the plane until they actually shot the scene! It does indeed seem wonderfully tight but it really is a wonderful accidental work of art.
@@ptthatswhatshesaid czcams.com/video/SBtO7MHJFoY/video.htmlsi=NTQ5_cXmNNeyhHp_
@@matthewzuckerman6267 Impressive yeah!
@@ptthatswhatshesaid Get a copy of the book Casablanca (1973) by Howard Koch, one of the 3 scriptwriters. You'll see exactly how the script..particularly the final scene...was written.
One of the most interesting things, for me, is that some of the actors, had only recently fled from Nazi occupied Europe to America, and so the appearance in Casablanca is most poignient.
yea. like the ' drunk lady ' Yvonne - and Her real life husband, the casino boss.... refugees thru Lisbon as mentioned in film. also to me, the contrast - the daughter of Warners studio boss was the ' Romanian girl' with Her husband playing roulette. ' daddy, can I be in a movie ?'. the contrast, desperation and mega rich.
So, so interesting to think that this was made at the beginning of the war. People didn't knew how it would all turn out in the end 😬 I bet those people were eager to work on this project and showcase all the things that were happening in Europe!
@@rickc661 the young couple were supposed to be Bulgarian, not Romanian.
@@Dej24601 oops. not sure I would correctly choose either on a map.
@@rickc661 They do share a border and many cultural similarities . Romania is larger and is south of the Ukraine. Bulgaria is north of Greece. Both have coastlines on the Black Sea. Both had complicated conditions after WW2 during the era of Soviet domination in Eastern Europe. The physical/environmental region is often referred to as “Balkan” as well as the ethnic background of many of its people. 👍
Some of those 1940's twin engine aircraft are still out there flying all the time in second and third world countries. In the 40's they were state of the art.
LOL I was going to say that. It is those rickety 20-year-old Fokker Triplanes you need to steer clear of.
Keep in mind that this movie was made in 1942...that is only 39 years after Kitty Hawk where the Wright Flyer managed to fly a couple of hundred feet. Which is the first time man successfully managed a heavier than air flight, after hundreds of years of thinking and dreaming what if a man could fly.
It is true that there was a different style of acting in the 1940's but ordinary people living their lives also behaved and spoke differently than today. Take a look at some documentary footage from the time and you will find that people spoke differently, walked differently, and had a different inner attitude. So, the acting was a slightly heightened reflection of how people actually behaved and what you considered artificial would have been considered quite natural by the original audiences.
These are the films, classic studio films, that I like to see reactions to. Keep up the good work!
Thus illustrating civilizational decline.
First of all, thank you very much ☺
Yes, I'm sure nothing would seem odd for early 40's audience members. One thing that we both kinda agree is how less annoying young people talk in older movies xD and also act to be honest
I was about to say exactly this. Before roughly the late 1960s, people not only dressed and expressed themselves differently than now in public and even in private, but one can see a difference just by looking at faces in old vs new photos. It wasn't only changes in theatrical fashion, but in real life. Most find this difficult to accept if they didn't live through the changes themselves. For instance, one of the "tropes" in older films that I often hear criticized is a relatively short courtship before marriage aka "love at first sight", but there were reasons for many people to actually behave this way in earlier times.
While it certainly was different times, I would attribute the "over acting" more to the evolution of stage acting transitioning to films rather than a general societal shift. To this day, whether you are at a play or an opera, the over emphasis exists. I believe there is even a name for it, which I'm sure one of the performance art geeks would be happy to provide.
@@lcln1 Stage and silent movies. In silent movies all you had was visual reactions to get an emotion across. Also, in any case, my parents are of the same generation as Ilse, and I remember some of their female friends being more expressive than you might find today. It might have been slightly exaggerated on film, and certainly not all women, but it isn't as far out for that era as this couple is suggesting.
It is important to understand that Ilsa was a part of the Underground movement during the war years and those people were absolutely committed to maintaining their secrets. Her loyalty was to Victor, and to the cause, and abiding by his decision to keep their marriage secret, in order to protect everyone involved, so she could not tell Rick even if she wanted to. During the war, what was considered most important - dedication towards larger causes - was changed from the explicit personal honesty which today is often regarded as more important, but it was different during the war. Obviously she was torn during the scene in the Belle Aurore cafe, which we find out later, was just after she discovered that Victor was alive. She wanted to tell Rick, but it was complex; no one was supposed to know that Victor had escaped, plus as she explains, she was afraid Rick might not leave Paris and then be arrested by the Gestapo. This was truly a triangle - all 3 of them sincerely cared for the other two, and wanted what was best for the other two. None of the 3 were being selfish but also all 3 realized that their personal lives were secondary to larger causes and all 3 were able to make a sacrifice. People today are less likely to make sacrifices but during the war years, everyone made sacrifices of one kind or another.
In 1969, a French director made a film about the French Underground (incorporating some of his personal experiences from those years, as well as the author of the book on which it is based) which is exceptional and very emotionally moving. The title is “Army of Shadows” and helps paint a picture of what was involved for those people as they tried to outwit the Nazi occupation forces in France. Keeping secrets even from your colleagues was essential to the work. Highly recommended!
Yeah, I do get it, and I have to say that I do love these characters! Ilsa is one that we only fully get near the end tbh but they were all extremely well written. This is a movie that I will definitely rewatch 👌
To add to your excellent post, I would note that Ilsa says she loves Rick, but never once says she loves Victor Lazlo.
Many people consider this one of the greatest movies of all time, perfect in every aspect. It was delightful to see both of you so engaged right from the start. My favorite scene is rarely talked about: the Bulgarian woman's story. It is superbly written by cleverly avoiding the Hays Office censors, while remaining convincingly natural. It's put across magnificently by Joy Page, whose acting career was stunted, rather than helped, by her stepfather, studio head Jack Warner.
That was one of our favourite bits as well. I agree that it is very cleverly written, we understand what she is talking about even if they never directly say it 👌🏻 and its a Key moment for us to understand Rick and see his progression
As one of the most celebrated movies of all time, there are endless Casablanca quotes that have stood the test of time and contributed to its great, long-lasting legacy.
By the way, many of the French extras singing "La Marseillaise” were real life refugees from Europe.
They were crying genuine tears for their lost homeland.
Always find it so interesting that actual refugees took part in this movie 👌🏻
The symbol on the ring - and also on the papers that were found on the man who was shot in the back at the beginning - was the cross of Lorraine. It was a symbol of the French resistance to the Nazis.
Ah ok! Lucy did recognized that it was the same symbol on both occasions, but we didn't knew what it represented. Thank you for letting us know ☺
Just a candidate for Best Ever.
The dialogue in this movie -- the script is just so tight . . . .
Both the dialogues and the actors delivering them were just top notch 👌
So much humor in a movie that has such a life-and-death core!
Probably the best movie ever.
Objectively speaking, it is a very, very strong candidate to that position 👌🏻 and subjectively speaking it is definitely also one of the best movies I've seen!
This movie works, because every scene works, every actor so perfectly casted. Another like that is "From here to Eternity".
Heard that name referenced a lot, and have seen spoofs of it, but I've never seen the actual movie though
@@ptthatswhatshesaid I can definitely recommend it. It has a stellar cast, Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift (one of my favorite actors) Frank Sinatra, Donna Reed and Deborah Kerr. It is set in Hawaii in the week before Pearl Harbor.
Just came across you two for the first time. Loved your reactions. Looking forward to more.
Thank you so much! ☺ Welcome! Hope you enjoy, we still have a lot of movies to see xD
Among my all time favorite 3 or 4 movies. And probably the most quotable movie ever made-- every line is perfect and impossible to remove from the movie.
It is now one of my favourite scripts 😋😋
You two have become one of my favorite channels!
Thank you ! Your comment made us really happy! Thank you for being on that side & supporting us ☺️
We are really glad you enjoyed our reactions! 🤗
I love the reactions to the classics. Great job.
Try some of these amazing movies. Not many reactors have taken these on, but they are some of the best movies ever made.
Treasure of the Sierra Madre - Bogie
Maltese Falcon - Bogie
On the Waterfront - Brando (w Karl Malden)
Streetcar Named Desire - Brando (w Karl Malden)
Arsenic and Old Lace - Cary Grant
Cabaret - Liza Minnelli
Patton - George C Scott (w Karl Malden)
Fiddler on the Roof - Great musical
Bonnie and Clyde - This movie broke the Hays code, and change cinema forever
Rebel Without a Cause - James Dean
Thank you so much ☺☺
Will definitely had a few of those titles to our classic movie polls in the future!
I know of the Boggart film noirs let's say, but I've never fully seen any of them. Guess I need to change that!
The only movie on this list I have seen before i Patton really, which I liked, but then again George C. Scott is always great :p
Arsenic and Old Lace is a must watch !
The movie is based on a play “Everybody comes to Rick's”, which is why most of it happens in one location. In the play the final scene happened in the bar as well, not at the airport.
This film was shot completely on sets in Hollywood studio backlots. The set design and lighting are part of the genius and legend of this film. Everything down to the blinds and drapes were detailed to serve the brilliant lighting. These details were part of the amazing work done by the craftsman who worked in the old studio system of the classic Hollywood era.
As to acting styles, in 1941-42, it's only 12 or 15 years since sound was introduced to cinema. The only acting style was a theatrical style that was prevalent before the invention of the microphone. It's a matter of evolution of acting style over a short period of time since sound was introduced to cinema. The only way to appreciate these differences of style is to immerse yourselves in older films. I am not of the generation that experienced these films on release. But growing up in America in the 1970s we were thoroughly exposed to the films of this era. There were only 3 broadcast TV stations and older films were a major part of programming. We obtained an education in film by deep exposure to them. We also had the luxury of seeing many of the classic actors and directors still alive, interviewed and honored on talk shows.
The current crop of films that rely so much on technology and quick cut editing will be looked on in the future as very dated and lacking in authenticity. The best of the classic era films will survive with their own integrity due to the devotion that went into making them.
Very much enjoyed your reaction.
Thank you very much 😊 The lighting and the directing in this film is absolutely top notch imho
In the end I think it's the fact that it has a lot of quality all around a perfect script that makes it a classic that will always be considered an absolutely superior movie. Any nitpick we might have had discussing the movie are exactly that: personal nitpicks 😅 can't wait to discover more gems like this one!
The Van Nuys airport in CA (during daytime because of wartime curfews) is used in an early scene.
Classic film. Great reaction. So many great lines in this screenplay.
Agree! Exceptional screenplay 👌 (and actors delivering it :p)
One of the things I like is Laszlo is not a jerk. He is a good man. It would have been easy to make him a jerk.
Exactly, you end up not hating anyone from the love triangle let's say
This film was based on a play, which explains why almost the whole thing takes place in one location.
The inspector (Claude Raines) was a very much liked actor in Hollywood, known for his charm and wit, among his fellow actors. A master of conversation which was much appreciated in the days before TV...
He was amazing in this one for sure!
Also don't forget Claude Rains was from a working class background and had a pronounced stutter as a child.
He was also a British WWI veteran, and while fighting at Vimy he was hit by a gas attack and lost 90% of his vision in his right eye and suffered damage to his vocal cords. He couldn't speak for an extended period, and when his voice returned it gave him the husky warm timbre he became famous for.
After the War he became a teacher at RADA, where his students included Sir John Gielgud and Charles Laughton. He was very popular among his fellow actors, and even Bette Davis, who had very few good words to say about anyone, adored him and described him as her "favorite co-star" and they enjoyed a lifelong friendship.
Because so many of the actors were really refugees from the Nazis (even the ones playing Nazis) they reflected the many nationalities of the patrons at Rick's. Careful listening to the background conversations reveals that people are speaking (at least) Spanish, French, German, Cantonese, Russian, Italian . . .and all of their conversations are appropriate to who they are and what they are doing.
Love those details! 👌🏻
‘Casablanca’ is renowned and is justly acknowledged as one of the most romantic films of all time but it is much more than the tale of a love triangle. Of course, it shows that the power of love can affect the human psyche, as demonstrated by Rick’s metamorphosis, but, actually, the film is one of the most subtle pieces of propaganda ever made.
Made in the bleakest times of WW2, this film has so many levels to it that it takes many viewings to appreciate them. The main theme is not romance but self-sacrifice as its message to the world at war is to give up the personal agenda for the common cause. It reminds wartime audiences, many of whom have loved ones fighting abroad, that their situation is the same as that of Rick, Ilsa and Victor.
Rick’s initial selfishness, (‘I stick my neck out for nobody’ and ‘the problems of the world are not in my department…’), is a metaphor for USA indifference. It must be remembered that the events and politics are harder to comprehend and put into perspective for current audiences than for those living through WW2, not knowing who the victors would be.
The script can be considered as a 'State of the Union' address, both for home and foreign policies, in which there are references to Civil Rights, as embodied in Sam, and, of course, the debate about America’s involvement in the conflict. Basically, the film is politically motivated because it is a plea to America to join the war. Please note that the action takes place in pre-Pearl Harbour, December, 1941.
The screenplay is so intelligently written. It is a masterpiece of complexity, containing subliminal political opinions and messages all carried along on a thrilling plot with brilliant one-liners and memorable quotes, together with comedic elements and contemporary, social commentaries. Even the support actors make major contributions to the enjoyment.
Michael Curtiz’s direction is multi-faceted: Documentary, Film Noir, German Expressionism, Flashback etc. He is the master of creating the plot via seamlessly connecting a series of rapid-fire vignettes.
There is subtle direction and cinematography. For example, Ilsa wears black and white clothes and is cast in shadows and in a mirror which symbolise the ambiguity of her role.
POINTS OF INTEREST AND NOTES FOR SUBSEQUENT VIEWINGS.
This is the the first non-musical movie to use music almost as an another protagonist, (which Tarantino does now). For example, ‘As Time Goes By’ is a valuable recurring theme and, in Paris, Rick and Ilsa dance to ‘Perfidia’ which means untrustworthiness. Also, ‘Love for Sale’ is played during the dialogue when the Bulgarian girl tells Rick about her ‘offer’ from Renault.
Each character represents a country e.g. Two Japanese plotting; the Italian on the tail of the German; American indifference; French collaborators; the British robbed by foreign policy. Even the Balkan problem , (still ongoing), is mentioned via the Bulgarian couple. Quite evidently, Rick’s actions symbolise the USA in its change in policy from isolationism to participation and ‘….the beginning of a beautiful friendship…’ is the USA and Europe joining forces to fight Nazism.
The significance of Letters of Transit is a metaphor for the might of America’s power and resources and must be delivered to the right side.
Victor often tells Isla that he loves her but she never reciprocates, except for saying ‘ I know’. She tells Rick she loves him several times.
The ‘La Marseillaise’ scene is the pivotal moment in which both Ilsa and Rick realise that saving Victor is more important than their own personal relationship. It also comes in just as Rick and Victor are about to argue over Ilsa but both drop the issue when they hear the music. This scene is rousing now but imagine how it must have felt for audiences right in the middle of the war when Germany seemed invincible and modern viewers need to put it in perspective in terms of world events full of Nazi and Japanese domination and when the outcome looked very bleak.
The facial close-ups used throughout the film speak a thousand words: but particularly note Ilsa during ‘La Marseillaise’ when her expressions eventually show her admiration of Victor’s power and her realisation that this must be preserved at all costs.
There are also many ‘adult’ themes which escaped the censors: one example is the scene between Rick and the Bulgarian bride in which Rick suggests that Renault’s ‘broadmindedness’ hints at underagesex/ménage a trois. Another is Rick’s and Ilsa’s last tryst in which it is clearly implied that they have made love.
POINTS TO WATCH
‘It’s December, 1941 in Casablanca: what time is it in New York?...
I bet they are asleep all over America’. PEARL HARBOUR
‘Even Nazis can’t kill that fast’
CONCENTRATION CAMPS
‘I don’t buy or sell human beings..’
CIVIL RIGHTS
In any case... there is so much alcohol!!!! On this note, please watch out for glasses knocked over and glasses set upright…
The Bulgarian couple keeps appearing many times as a symbol of hope and determination.
In the bar room fight over Yvonne, Rick attacks the German only and not the Frenchman.
Captain Renault dumps the bottle of Vichy water to represent his rejection of the Nazi- collaborating French Government which was located in Vichy.
Just one example of the excellent and complex scriptwriting occurs immediately after the roulette scene. The girl thanks Rick for letting her husband win and Rick replies, ‘He’s just a lucky guy’, which, on the face of it, refers to the gambling, but, in Rick’s mind, means that the husband is ‘lucky’ because his partner truly loves him.
Please imagine what hope the dialogue must have projected when Ilsa states that she’ll wear the blue dress again when Paris is liberated. Nobody then knew when this would be.
The quotes from the film are now embedded in popular culture and are mostly said by Rick. However, Captain Renault has some of the best lines: e.g. when asking Rick why he had to leave America, he says, ‘I’d like to think you killed a man: it’s the romantic in me’ ; a gunshot to his heart would be his ‘..least vulnerable part..’; when told where the Letters of Transit were hidden in the piano, ‘’…it’s my fault for not being musical…’: on making the bet with Rick, …’make it 10,000 - I’m only a poor corrupt official…’
The end-product is a combination of superb screenwriting/ direction/acting and every other production aspect combined with a modicum of unpredictable luck. As I’ve said, ‘Casablanca’ requires multiple viewings and gets better with age and even its theme song, ‘As Time Goes By’ serendipitously reflects this!!
Thank you very much for all the details 😋 this is one film that I will definitely revisit for sure!
Great! It’s worth it.
It's not purely propaganda though. It's highly cynical regarding the false promise of America.
The "melodrama" in the performances is mostly a byproduct of microphone technology. Mics in those days had to be hidden where they could be on the set and the actors had to be very conscious of where they are and of speaking very clearly and loudly enough to be picked up properly and it colors the performances. That's why acting becomes more and more naturalistic over time because of advances in mic tech. It's also why in today's movies, some actors feel free to mumble their lines and expect us to either guess or put on the subtitles.
They had boom mics in the 30s and 40s. A form of boom was introduced in 1929, and eventually replaced the static mics.
Interesting, yeah it makes sense. I do agree that the lines in older movies are much easer to understand withouth subtitles!
The scene at the end with the line “Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship” with Rick (American) and Renault (French) was very representative of the collaboration between America and France (and the rest of Europe) to end the war as they walked away into the darkened foggy night representing the great unknown as the war was still going on with nobody sure how it would end.
Oh I love that, the fog representing the uncertainty! wonderfull
One of the most quoted movies. You have to watch a few times because there is some parts of this movie that are ahead of it's time.
Example: Rick tell Yvonne I don't make plans that far ahead. In the flash back Ilsa says it to him.
Example: You will see characters you think are throw away but they come back as part of the story or character building. The Bulgarian couple are talking about getting on the plane tomorrow and then show up at Rick's later when Rick helps them.
Oh yes, I noticed a lot of those things when I was editing the reaction! This was truly a pleasure to see
Bogart and piano player Dewey Wilson are the only Americans in this film. Renault is British actor Claude Raines. "Ugarte" is Peter Lorre -- he and virtually all others were refugees who had fled Nazi Europe. Bergman was from Sweden (her character "Ilsa" is from Nazi-occupied Norway.)
The waiter "Carl" was affectionately known offscreen as "Cuddles".
Carl was one of our favourites! So friendly and quick to answer ☺️
@@ptthatswhatshesaid And an obviously-warm personality.
In other comments you'll see my appreciation for your knowledge of the important subtext -- the distinction between "Vichy" and "unoccupied" France. I recommend the youtube channel "Escape to Rural France" for a major rebuilding project that has ties to WW II. Begin by looking at the latest six or so episodes -- you'll see a memorial with some history about that.
There is a theory that Rick is playing by post. He has an envelope next to him. People did that before Internet was a thing. I imagine they won't send individual moves, but rather something like "I move this way; if you answer this way, I'll move this way" and so on.
Damn, that was a thing? Interesting 🤔
The origins story that the film was based on was “Rick’s American”. Movie title was changed to Casablanca which was the first city to be liberated by US Forces in WW2.
Great movie. Someone once pointed out that Victor and Ilse never kiss. One time Victor kisses Ilse on the cheek, but only the cheek.
I don't know if it's 100% true or not, but someone eles said that was because the censorship moral codes of the time which would not allow to be that intimate with 2 men in the same movie
I've enjoyed watching reaction videos to this movie. Absolutely nobody picks up on every detail, every key plot reveal, like you two did.
This movie is really great! A lot of things I just picked up while I was editing this reaction. Just a great script 👌
@@ptthatswhatshesaid I strongly recommend you two react to Alfred Hitchcock's great suspense film "Notorious." Both Ingrid Bergman (Ilsa) and Claude Rains (Captain Renault) are in that one too -- but in a very different way! The male lead is the fantastic Cary Grant. (I knew Cary Grant in his final years.)
@@AndyMakesPlaylists Oh, that's interesting! I've seen a few Hitchcock films and in general I like them, but never seen that one, have to put it in my to-watch list :)
If you have a copy of the entire film you'll see a brief shot introducing Rick Blaine playing chess. About this time he has shown writing a check. If you can do a stop action at this point you will see he actually dates the check, it is a very brief scene but it appears that the date on the check is December 1 1941, a week before the sneak attack on the US Navy base at Pearl harbor. This time frame occurs at some of the worst moments Nazi army victories in Europe, and Japanese conquest in Asia. This was a time of fear in America when the outcome of the war was highly in doubt and public opinion was seriously divided about entering the war or trying to remain neutral. The film was actually made in 1942 and released in 1943 when the US was seriously involved in the global conflict. The timing of the release of the film couldn't have been more fortunate because US troops world landing in North Africa close to the city of Casablanca. A famous meeting occurred in Casablanca when American President Roosevelt met with British prime minister Winston Churchill in Casablanca. At first American troops were badly mauled by the highly experienced Africa Korp under the leadership of the brilliant, highly respected German General Rommel, better known as the "Desert Fox". At this point the American General George Patton was assigned to lead American troops, and with the British military succeeded in pushing the Germans away fromthe strategic Suez canal along with the critical gateways to the oil fields of the Middle East. Losing either of them may have critically altered the course of the war and ultimately assured Adolf Hitler of complete victory. And lastly, interestingly enough, Patton was the one American general most respected and even feared by the German high command. Sadly, Patton was relieved of command because he was politically brash and outspoken. Yet the German high command failed to respond in force to the allied invasion at Normandy, because they kept expecting Patton to lead the real innovation at another location known as the Pas de Calais. Patton was ultimately restored to command and became something of a folk hero to the American public when his tank division raced through impossible winter weather to save the day of desperate American troops at Bastogne in a fight later known as the Battle of the Bulge.
Thank you for all the information and you just reminded me I have to show her the movie "Patton"!
The document was dated (Tuesday) 2 December 1941.
It gives added weight to Rick's line about everyone in America being asleep.
Don’t you just love it when someone says that looks fake whilc watching a movie? I know I do. Why? Because all movies, even the movies of the European art cinema (see Pedro Costa) which are more “realer” than most of the stuff Hollywood puts out today are FAKE. They are all manipulated via editing, framing, acting, effects. So to say something that is fake is fake is hilarious. It is a low level tautology….I love it when people say something is boring not grasping that boriing is subjective not objective and empirical. I love it because they don’t grasp that they are revealing something about themselves…In Hollywood studio shooting was actually easier because it allowed control aesthetically, acting wise, set wise, etc. Studio shooting could be very expensive...
To add I would just like to say that I think one of the main reasons why I like B&W so much is because it's not real (or realistic), but it puts you inside "movieland" let's say. A movie does not need to try to BE reality
Such a great, brilliant movie. I'm more or less your age, and trust me, older movies are not boring & they build it the story and characters with much more depth. Plus, give me people and emotions, it's a movie, for realism i live in real life.
We really want to discover more pre 70's movies! :p so far we have also seen To Kill a Mockingbird and The Great Escape
It’s modern films that are boring !
Stop a moment and think of all the ways love is portrayed in this film. There are soooo many.
It is my favorite film ever, or perhaps a tie with, "It's a Wonderful Life." If you haven't seen that one... oh my!
I failed to ignore your Subscribe button because of your review. Can't wait for more.
As we say in Texas; y'all be safe. I mean that for everyone.
That is one that we definitely need to see since noen of us has seen that movie!
If this movie were shot today, Rick and Ilsa would have ended up in bed together (which they probably did sleep together in Paris) after she fails to shoot him. She would have told him her story about believing Victor was dead (after a little slap and tickle) and we would be fading out on Rick's face as he decides how to pull off a miracle. Rick is a chess player don't forget, so he has analyzed three or four moves ahead.
I can very easily see that scene yes
They obviously were fucking in Paris. And it’s made clear, almost explicitly so, that they fucked the previous night during Ilsa’s second visit. Rick even tells Lazlo that Rick fucked her. “She pretended she was still in love with me and I let her pretend.”
This is as close as a studio movie could get to portraying adulterous sex without offending audiences. The message is there if you have any understanding of such things, but it will go over the head of an innocent and naive person.
Why was the line included at all? Why did Rick need to tell Lazlo such a thing instead of just sending Lazlo on his way with his wife, happily ignorant?
There is an alternate interpretation of the movie that explains why the line exists, but it’s a much more cynical and less noble reading of the movie. Rick is taking revenge on Ilsa for breaking his heart. He rekindles her love for him (or some part of him, wink wink) and then throws her back to her husband.
You want to know the backstory of Rick. But we already know. Rick was a freedom fighter. The strong implication is that both the loss of Ilsa and the success of the Nazis in the war (at the time of filming) brought him to a deep depression. So, rudderless, he settled in Casablanca, but never lost hope of rekindling both love and honor.
Captain Renault harbored such feelings as well: his admiration for Rick only grew as he saw more of Rick’s nature. He did seek redemption, both for himself and France. In fact, he might have secretly aided the Resistance while in Casablanca. Perhaps. Thanks for the reaction!
The movie does heavily imply that Rick was a much more idealistic person before Elsa for sure. I'm not 100% sure about Renault though! xD
Thank you very much for your comment ☺
@@ptthatswhatshesaid Agreed about Renault. He is thoroughly unredeemed in the end. The symbolism of ditching the Vichy water, and even protecting Rick, doesn't suggest him having anything other than a self-serving survivalist character.
“The man who knew too much” (jimmy Stewart, Doris day, Hitchcock director). Beginning is in Morocco. 🇲🇦
"Double Indemnity" (1944) starring big name stars of the time Fred MacMurray, Edward G. Robinson, and Barbara Stanwyck, is a crime movie classic film noir with ratings from Rotten Tomatoes of 5 stars, from Audience reviews of 4.5 and Amazon of 4.7. When you are ready for another special black and white film.
Thanks a lot for the suggestion! We really need to do another poll on classic movies :p
She tried to tell him when he was drunk. Rick cut her off.
Ok, that is true yeah, he was already tipsy by that point
I just watched East Of Eden and A Streetcar Named Desire, both Hollywood classics, and they were both AMAZING. Thanks for a great reaction. I’m glad you chose this movie. It’s one of my favorites. Humphrey Bogart was so cool.
Thank you very, very much ☺
And yes, he was really cool on this one! 😜
I enjoyed your reaction to this classic movie. I especially enjoyed that you thought there would be gangsters and my first thought was yes, they are called "The Gestapo". Some trivia for you. Humphrey Bogart was a chess expert and prior to his success in Hollywood, he would hustle chess games for money in Central Park. When we are first introduced to Rick, he is playing chess. He is playing the black pieces and from the position one can tell that black has played the "French Defense".
Ok true, the Gestappo were criminals indeed xD
I cannot relate to disliking styles of art because they are from a different era. For example, not liking expressionism, or classical music just because they are "old fashioned." And just like paintings and music, a good movie is good no matter when it is from.
Architecture is also a good example! a lot of styles that have centuries and are still gorgeous 👌🏻
Nice reaction to one of my favorite films! Note on B&W films vs color - to set a scene or mood, an artist uses a brush, a musician uses their instrument, and a b&w film maker uses light and shadow. Subscribed.
Yes! love the way you put it 👌
Filmed while WWII was raging
And we were not winning!
The censors almost rejected that movie when learning that married Ilse had an affair with Rick. Luckily, they were persuaded to continue watching, and when it was revealed that she believed her husband dead, they relented.
Yeah, thats right, keep watching!
The action of the movie is taking place during the first week of December 1941.
We just now realized it took place right before the US entered the war!
The costuming, the decor, the details of black & white are carefully selected to showcase the beauty of lighting without color (look at Yvonne’s sparkly blouse at the beginning), the constant presence of the roaming searchlights, the times when rays of light highlight a room, as well as the many shadows (which were a sort of known trademark for this director, Hungarian Michael Curtiz.) Adding color to this would detract from the tension, and eliminate the mood that is created by high-contrast lighting.
100% agree! The visual aspect of this film is a big big positive. Love the contrasting light and shadows of it
It premiered In New York, but won the Oscar for 1943 because that's when it premiered in Los Angeles.
Interesting, well what matters is that it won! 😜
A pleasure to see your reactions to the movie and to watch you watching the movie. You two are quite a nice couple. Thanx for sharing your thoughts!
Thank you so much! ☺ We enjoyed watching this movie very much
Lucy strikes me as someone who would visit the Grand Canyon & say, "It's nice, for a hole in the ground." 🥱
Exactly
lmao!
Like Clark Griswold in National Lampoon's Vacation.
Ahahah! I told her something very similar when she first watched the LOTR!! 😂
In this particular case we both loved this one and tbh we are more and more becoming big fans of pre 70's era movies the more we watch them 😅
@@ptthatswhatshesaid See 1957's "12 Angry Men" -- and the 1980's film "The Verdict" by the same director, Sideny Lumet. Both are courtroom dramas.
"It reminds me of Airplane."
Yes, there are many subtle and not-so-subtle references in "Airplane."
For example, the music in both films is the same at the end.
Ahahah yes, we will probably be able to catch more references to Casablanca from now on!
I'm about to watch. I see a lot of reactors say they've "heard" of Casablanca before, but they haven't heard how BIG this movie's reputation is- like do you know you just watched what many people still think (in 2024) is the BEST movie every made? Also, it's not a really a "romance" even though that's what it's reputation is.
Yeah, I was much more aware of its existence because it was talked a lot about when I was in film school. But even Lucy recognized the name
How is it not a romance? You could say it’s not only a romance, but the plot centers around “the problems of three little people”.
Capt. Renault ( Claude Rains ) is also in The Invisible Man. You might see him in that movie, or maybe not because he is invisible.
ahahah! well, in this one he is absolutely great!
This was one of the more historically informed reactions--a nice change from reactors who have no clue at all about the WWII era geopolitics which obviously provide crucial context for the film. That said, some of the things you latched onto about Rick's character are important clues about "what he was" before the events of the film...
The handful of Americans who fought in the Spanish Civil War on the Loyalist side were *very* strongly anti-fascist in their convictions. In the historical context of the 1930s (when the vast majority of US voters were still very strongly isolationist, and a significant minority still pro-German and/or pro-Italian), these soldiers of fortune quite likely would have been *very* far to the left in terms of contemporary US politics.
Typically in fact they would have been at the very least loosely affiliated with one or another of the many socialist, anarcho-syndicalist, or communist party organizations in existence at the time. These were, after all, the United Front years.
But although the 30s were a relatively safe time to be openly left wing in the US, Rick's past political affiliations (given his age) would likely have stretched easily back into the 1920s, which were (like the 1950s) a much less hospitable time to be a committed member of the left in the US.
In short, Rick's mysterious inability to return to the US is most naturally tied to the domestic trouble his prior political convictions would have gotten him into during the so-called "First Red Scare" of the 1920s. If you listen again to his ironical answer, when Renault asks him why he can't return, he almost says as much ("it's a combination of all three").
FWIW, I also think that today's conventions of how to portray strong emotions on screen are every bit as artificial as were those of the 1940s, on display here. The only difference is that they are *our* theatrical conventions, and so we are more comfortable with them as representations of the "real thing."
In the 1940s, what seems to have been convincing was the simulation of long-suppressed emotion finally breaking free. In the 2020s, what seems to be convincing is is the simulation of never-suppressed emotion constantly spilling out in public. This probably says more about changing social mores & expectations that it does about acting, writing, or directing talent in the respective eras.
That was a very good exposition.
Very well explained and yes, we were not as informed on the political leaning aspect of Rick's character (except for the fact of him always fighting fascists).
the greatest movie ever made!
Its up there, absolutely 👌🏻
Rick is very parallel to America's posture at the time of the war Casablanca is set in. He's officially neutral and purports to stick his neck out for no one. Meanwhile, he repeatedly does things to help the Allies such as hiding the letters of transit, helping the Bulgarian refugees, and allowing Les Marsailles to be sung against the Germans. Compare this to U.S. neutrality prior to Pearl Harbor and the America First movement popular in the U.S. Yet FDR was doing all he could to help the Allies (Lend-Lease for example) and converting the U.S. economy to a wartime economy. Bogie evens says at one point, " it's December 1941 and America is sleeping". Like Bogie , the U.S. finally "went public" after Pearl Harbor with its declaraion of war on Japan and Germany declaring war on the U.S.
Yes, as far as I know, prior to being attacked, the US was having business with both warring sides (although it was eventually clear where it standed)
Finally: a review of Casablanca, 'first time watching'. It is really tough for younger generations to watch a Black and White movie. Problem was when TV went colour and they didn't make B & W movies after the 1960s. There are dozens of great B & W movies to review if you wish to take another chance.
To be honest, I think black and white works extremely well on camera! and the use of shadows is great in this 👌🏻 One of our favourite movies is in B&W: Schindler's List.
I understand that for a lot of people it might make a lot of difference the movie to be in colour, but personally I think a movie being worth watching as nothing to do with that! Casablanca has stood the test of time, despite not being in colour. I think (and hope) younger generations can go pass the idea that a movie HAS to be in colour
The man who shot early in the film was underground resistance. The man with the ring -- "Berger" -- is also underground resistance, and from occupied Norway.
Bogart began his film career as a gangster. That shadow was in this character.
Interesting 🤔 I had the idea that he was also know for playing detectives
@@ptthatswhatshesaid Early on he played a "heavy," a gangster. Then he played detectives, but was still "shady" -- those detectives often operated not entirely in compliance with ethics and law.
So he was known to play "shady" characters when he did "Casablanca"; that added a fitting dimension to that character -- as result the viewer was suspicious of his motives. "I stick my neck out for nobody" echoes the implication that no one can be trusted. And in a twist it turns out that he did stick his neck out for others.
Renault is more complicated in that one doesn't know if he really "blows with the wind" -- well, he does when it comes to "helping" young women. But at the end he rejects "Vichy" by dropping the bottle into the trash.
Renault is also a sentimentalist -- he's just trying to get Rick to be the first to admit being that. He's an opportunist, but at the end he's a patriot.
He does admit in the movie that he is a sentimentalist xD but yeah, him saying that he had no convictions at all and that Germany ocupation didn't bother him was just a front
@@ptthatswhatshesaid Yes -- he several times brings up -- "projects"? -- that RICK is the sentimentalist. It's almost like he's looking for someone in whom to honestly confide.
The making of the film was a mess. During it Bergman was lobbying for a role in an "important" film, and she later said that Bogart was always angry because there was no script -- none in the film knew where the story was going -- and he on;y talked to the producer and the director.
Then it won Best Picture, _Best Screenplay_, and Best Director.
The characters are surprisingly complex. And there's excellent balance between the humor -- which shouldn't work but does -- and the tragic undercurrent.
@@jnagarya519 Yes, it's impressive in how everything worked out perfectly!
This the most frequently quoted movie of all tie.
we get why 👌🏻 the script is gold
Laslo represents the ideal human being.
I can see that, which is why it's impossible to dislike him! 😂
May I respectfully suggest that multi-academy award-winning movies such as this and "To Kill A Mockingbird" are not slowly paced, but were paced for the sensibilities of the audiences of their times. Although 20 years apart, the thing they have in common is taking the time to establish mood and character, which was not a problem for contemporary audiences. The difference between those two eras and now is that constant bombardment by endless video, social media, cell phone use, etc., has resulted in a shorter attention span for many viewers of today, who are unused to a less frantic time. Compare the long takes and graceful camera movements of a "Casablanca" with the hyper-kinetic fast cutting and restless, incessant camera movement of a Michael Bay film. It's the difference between a nice steak dinner and a plate full of candy. In "Casablanca" we have the time to wonder about Rick and Ilsa's mysterious past, to smile at the subtle witty banter between characters, to understand the desperation and frustration of those trying to escape to America. All of this could just be stated by some spoken exposition, or we could be shown, which we are. Think of it as being like personal intimacy. Would you rather take your time, or race to the end as quickly as possible?
Something recent that's similar is the series Star Trek: Andor, which is criticized by some for being slow-paced, when actually the plot moves very quickly through excellent dialog...when one realizes that the real plot is not the action itself but the development of the characters, what pushes the characters to take their resulting actions.
And I actually think that this movie is very fast paced actually, it's just that the script is so tight that you never get a boring moment 👌🏻
The movie Casablanca came out in 1942 four years after a movie called Algiers that was a big hit. The original story is from a play called Everyone Comes to Ricks, but they changed it to Casablanca to take advantage of the success of Algiers so that is why the movie wasn't about the location of Casablanca and concentrated on Rick's Cafe Americana where the play was set.
Based on a play "Everybody comes to Rick's" which was set in Lisbon.
Oh! So originally it was set directly in Portugal? Would have liked to see that version! 😋
Bravo.
Movie was in post-production near time of Pearl Harbor and suspense
Over whether Germany was going to
War with USA
Much serendipity contributed to the movie
such timing!
Screenwriters were trying very hard to come up with some cool reason why Rick can't return to US. They just couldn't. Eventually someone suggested he has a ton of unpaid parking tickets, and they decided to drop the matter.
Ahahah leave it as a mystery!
It's one of the issues that undercuts the "propaganda" view of the film. It's deeply cynical about the utopian fantasy of America.
Rick fought against the Fascist Italians in Ethiopia, and then against Fascists in the Spanish Civil War before he got his heart broken and became cynical .
Yope, he did have a track record of which side he was on :p
I very much enjoyed the reaction. This was a very timely movie and a part of the studio system at the time. So many good movies came out of that and of that,
Thank you very much 🙏🏻
Film Noir. Serious dark theme. Artistic use of deep shadows and light.
👌🏻
Maybe you should try out The Maltese Falcon (1941).
I've heard of that one, its has a film noire vibe doesn't it? Love that
Rick was a gun runner in wars where powerful people in America were backing the other side and this may be why Rick cannot go back.
I didn't thaught of that straight away, but it does make sense, I initally just noticed that he would always be on the opposite side of fascist regimes (both in spain and in ethiopia)
Not just people, the government has a long history (which continues long after this film) of backing the wrong side.
Wow, thanks for watching one of my favorite movies. But I'm a little surprised at your comments at the end. Not your thing? It appeared to be very much your thing. You laughed out loud as most do seeing Claude Rains as Capt Renault. You also loved in some fashion, the bitter Rick in the beginning. You were on the edge of your seat wanting to know the story behind Ilsa and Rick. I did notice you had nothing much to say about the beautiful Ingrid Bergman whose radiance was captured masterfully in this film. Oh well, I looked over the list of movies you've reacted to and frankly there are very few I'd be interested in watching as the movies you like are probably not my thing.
We agree with everything you mentioned yeah 😅 If we said it's not our thing its not in any negative way concerning the quality of the movie itself, we do mean its something we were not used to see, but we are gonna change that for sure xD this one, together with To Kill a Mockingbird and The Great Escape have shown us we need to go against any kind of prejudices against older movies 😋
Nice reaction. Try another Bogie film, "To Have and Have Not."
The first Buddy Movie
What a beautiful friendship indeed :p
Lisbon is the one place I have been in Portugal. Sadly until the last day there I didn't really connect with it. But on my last day, while waiting to catch my train to Barcelona, I found a wonderful wine place with a wonderful view and just relaxed. It was wonderful.
I recommend the Maltese Falcon. Very similar cast but more of a crime plot.
Lisbon is not our favourite place at all! We also can’t really connect with the city.
However where we live (Algarve) and the north (Porto, Guimarães, Douro, Gerês), we find it amazing !
If you have a chance to visit Azores (S. Miguel island), we definitely can’t recommend enough ! We would visit every year if we could 😅
@@ptthatswhatshesaid I would love to visit Portugal again.
I took that trip after finishing grad school to celebrate. I went to Lisbon, Barcelona, Florence, Rome, Athens, Santorini, and Crete. I think Athens was my least favorite place, though honestly the Acropolis was amazing. Lisbon was my second least favorite. Florence and Barcelona were my favorites, though on a later trip Santorini took on significance for me.
Azores would be amazing to visit. So many places. So little money!
To be fair to Lisbon, I really did not know what to look for. Usually when I visit a place I know exactly what I want to see and eat. Lisbon I don't think I did my homework well enough. I am a city person (grew up in Los Angeles and now live in NYC). But I need a way to connect with a place. I do feel I was connecting with Lisbon on the day I left.
By contrast, I knew Florence from Art History classes. When my taxi took me to my hotel and I caught a glimpse of the Florence Cathedral, I actually had tears in my eyes.
I am not surprised by your narrow look on this film. Because of your age and limited acceptance. Surprise it's listed as the greatest film ever. The director one of the top 5 in history as to the actors Bogart & Bergman legendary but maybe your acting expertise could have saved Bergman😅. The black & white cinematography here is called film noir. I was born during the color film era and I am amazed how some people seem crippled watching b&w. It probably is all those video games.
@@makingthecoin3647 I am confused by your reply. I said no criticism of the movie. Far from it. One of my favorites. And what do you know of my age or ability to accept things?
I only commented on Lisbon and only because the reactors are Portuguese.
@@davidmichaelson1092David my apologies it was not for you. I will remove it.
Ah, the prejudice against "old movies", you know it was kind of hard to film on location in Morocco in 1942. Interesting reaction and indicative of modern film viewers not familiar with social mores of a different era although I will say you knew your WW II history better than most reactors. Good job!
Thanks a lot! 😊 we do love WWII era content, although our country was not part of it, we do study it in school here.
This movie helped a lot against that prejudice ahahah now we want to see more!
Two films with brilliant black and white cinematography are "Citizen Kane" and "The Third Man," both featuring Orson Welles. Also, of course, "Rebecca," directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
Of those, I've only seen Citizen Kane, but some friends have talked very highly of "The Third Man"
I must say you two are the brightest and most intuitive people I have ever seen watching these "Reacting to" video shows. It's an interesting concept for CZcams, by the way. Sincere compliments to both of you though, not only because you're both very perceptive and present with what's in front of you but all the more so because you KNOW the history of the 20th century in a way so few younger generations, American youngsters (and their equally dim parents) in particular seem to. We all agree, of course, that as natives of Portugal you are vastly more aware of the events of European history. So of course you would know about the Third Reich's designs on the conquest of, well, let's start with All of Western & Central Europe, the Soviet Union and all the lands to the East, and anything of value on the continent of Africa because of minerals, jewels, medicinal plants and raw materials in general, right?
As a lifelong student of Cinema I understand your critiques of "older" films in general. But never forget that Cinema as an Art Form was not even fifty years old by the time "Casablanca" was made. Leagues of the earliest actors, many from Vaudeville, relied on larger-than-life "physical reactions" to bring the drama of the moment across for all the theater patrons up in the cheap seats. Director Michael Curtiz was one of the very Best of his ilk under contract with Warner Brothers exactly because he understood the value of keeping a screenplay moving along taughtly. "Casablanca" was just another product rolling off the assembly line at Warner Brothers at that time. It was the power of the original story and the performances of a fabulous ensemble that truly made "Casablanca" the enduring Classic it will always be revered as. I hope you guys will enjoy watching this film at least a couple of times more because you'll find new "little moments" of brilliance everytime you see it. I'll mention just two. First, that the cynical Monsieur Blaine is playing chess against himself near the very beginning. And as the story progresses, aren't the behaviors of the many characters just like watching a risky, yet clever chess game all its own? And second, that little spot of humor you may have missed when Louis tells Rick that he's "shocked, Shocked, that gambling is going on in here!" A moment later the croupier approaches Louis with a wad of cash, saying, "Here are your winnings, Monsieur...." And then watching Rick's reaction to that moment! Karl is great. So's the Russian bartender, the pickpocket, Signor Ferrari of the Blue Parrot, even Yvonne's relatively small part. Another point to consider: So many of the most minor characters throughout the film were, in reality, refugees cast in this Hollywood film who had more or less recently fled Europe themselves "toward the freedom of the Americas." And one last thing. MANY of the devices used to move the story along such as the traveling map tracing the route from Paris to Casablanca are ALL homages to this honored cinematic masterpiece used by the great filmmakers who came years after, not the least of which is Steven Spielberg in his "Indiana Jones" epics.
I deeply apologize for failing to mention Sam the piano player. Sam is Rick's ONLY true friend in Casablanca. It's obvious within the story that they've covered many miles together!
Thank you so much!! ☺️
We will definitely rewatch this movie, it was just great 👌🏻 hope we were not too over Critical of it, we genuinly really enjoyed it.
We have quite a lot of knowledge of events that occured in Europe during WW2 but I suppose americans know more about the events that concerned them more directly (Pearl Harbour, the Philippines, war in the Pacific, D-Day).
"Round up the usual suspects" became the title of the movie "The Usual Suspects". The movie took place in the USA as a robbery occurred and the police rounded up the suspects for interrogation. The movie was set in the modern era. Each suspect told a different story. Nothing was revealed until the end. I like your reactions and will continue watching. Thank you.
Oh, we already reacted to The Usual Suspects, but I didn't actually knew it was based on this line xD thats great
I like the few times you were surprised. 😊
In this case usually a gun was always envolved 😂
Write a book
An old school plot driven story. Thank you for sharing this one. 🙂
Just a great flick. So much better than chase ,crash, repeat cgi. legit top 5 depending of course. I don't like 'citizen Cain' or '20001' , to each their own. interesting kinda bit - Ingrids personal life kinda followed a thread in this flick... She was a tabloid target . very minor - look at the scenes they are together - Ingred was some 3 in taller than bogey.
I get it tbh, this is one that I will definitely rewatch! And will probably search for other people's reaction to it :p
"I'm pretty sure it's going to be interesting" - is really couching any emotion and expectation, especially going into it knowing its reputation of being one of the greatest (arguably THE greatest) ever made. That "Old Style" was current, and opening graphics have been copied by the likes of Spielberg, Coppola, Lucas ... This is almost non-stop dialogue, so stop commenting and Watch, LISTEN. In this same genre of film, I'll recommend TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT (1944) with Bogart and features Lauren Bacall's film debut at 19. It came about when director Howard Hawks bet his friend Ernest Hemingway he could take his worst novel and make it a great film, and did. Nightclub Jazz is provided by Hoagy Carmichael.
It was a Hollywood film. All of it was filmed in Hollywood.
Bet that made it way cheaper to make it! Don't need to lose time and money on locations xD
@@ptthatswhatshesaid 99-100 per cent of films were made in Hollowood studios during that era.
The airport scene was filmed at the nearest actual airport.
Search here on youtube for "Casablanca Accidental Cassic" for the Warner Bros. excellent "making-of" documentary.
This film has a "romance" to attract an audience. But it's actually infused with the chaos of WW II, in which the US was not doing well at the time, so the actual theme is bigger than that. In the end it is about SACRIFICE for a greater good: putting aside one's petty personal concerns to defeat tyranny.
Also recommend the film "Ike," also on youtube. When the US invaded North Africa -- French Morocco -- it had to concern itself with French military defenses shooting at the US and allied troop ships. So Eisenhower ("Ike") appealed to two French generals -- keep in mind that France was defeated and at least partly occupied by Nazi Germany, and the ultimate goal for the US was liberating France -- one being DeGaulle to order the French military to NOT fire on the ships.
BOTH French generals RESISTED being "subordinate" to the US allied command by doing as requested because they were staunchly "independent" -- while their country was defeated and occupied!
This film remains relevant because of the history in which embedded and with which imbued: think of the Republican House refusing to provide assistance to Ukraine against a WW II-like invasion by Russia. Are they that ignorant of that repeat of HISTORY!? -- yes, they are.
NATO was established, first, to put an end to the hundreds of years of wars between European countries -- the United States got sucked into two world wars that began that way. And it has been an enormous success and changing that dynamic to multi-national peace and cooperation. The second reason was to establish a multi-national defense alliance against historically-expansionist Russia -- instead of yet again having to put US boots on the ground. There is video on youtube by a young French woman of her tour of the massive US section of the cemetery in Normandy from WW II that is powerfully moving.
The third reason for the establishment of NATO is as national defense for the US: if a NATO member is attacked, all other NATO members -- including the US -- comes to that member's defense. That has only happened once in history: when the United States was attacked on 9/11 all the other NATO members came to the US's defense.
Ukraine is the front line defense of democracy. The alternative to NATO? -- US boots on the ground in Europe for a third time.
What I most appreciate about this couple reaction is that they already know the history of "Vichy" and "unoccupied" France, and the significance of that. Most Americans don't know that history, so they miss that overt subtext; sure, there's a romance, but that's to get eyeballs; that isn't what the film is actually about. In fact, Warner Bros. lead Hollowood, beginning in the 1930s, with films against Nazism.
The only Americans in this film are Bogart and the piano player. "Renault" is English actor Claude Raines. Bergman was from Sweden, but "Ilsa" was from Norway -- under Nazi occupation. The character with the ring -- underground resistance -- was from Norway.
All the other actors and extras, beginning with "Ugarte" (Peter Lorre) were mostly refugees from Europe who had fled ahead of the Nazi invasions.
PS my preference is no research. More fun for viewers to watch!😂
Requests (if you haven’t seen these):
The Yellow Rolls Royce (Rex Harrison, Shirley MacLaine, Alain delon, Art carney, Ingrid Bergman, Omar sharif)👈🏾You’ll be the first to react to this awesome movie!
Some Like it Hot (Billy wilder director, Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis)
Indiscreet (Ingrid Bergman, Cary grant)
To Catch a Thief (Cary grant, Grace Kelly)
The Crying Game movie (NO SPOILERS!!! No research!!!)
The Crying Game I have seen before, but no worries, if I show it to her, there will be no spoilers!! 😂
@@ptthatswhatshesaid I know she’ll like the loyalty and devotion.
Great Reaction 👍👍👍
Thank you very much ☺️
Please do not cuss in your comments! Good that Ms. Lucy is wearing a wristwatch.
Sorry, most of our english comes from watching movies and music xD
Give the black and white classic "The Hustler" (1961) starring Paul Newman a try - a fast paced drama without the melo.
I think I've heard of it yeah, never seen it though, but seems quite interesting 😊
'Everybody cones to Rick's" Bogart is the greatest! Great reaction!
Thanks a lot! 😜 We had a lot of fun recording this one!
Guys if you like this film please check out The Third Man. 😊
I have heard of it! Some colleagues of mine did recommended that one to me, still haven't seen it yet, but I still have time 😋
The most romantic movie of all time.
Period.
The most quoted script of all time.
More famous lines than any other movie.
You will not see 5 better movies in your lifetime.
This is basically a perfect film.
Bogart and Bergman are the DEFINITION of chemistry.
Can't disagree much xD We don't really see anything you can say was BAD in this movie, everythins as such quality. Personal favourite aspects: script, actors and cinematography 👌🏻