Film Analysis Of Casablanca

One of the most debated topics in recent history questions if Casablanca is the best film of all time. The film was originally released in New York in late 1942, and then nationally in early 1943. Given the time period and the plot, many found this film to be controversial, yet informative, as the movie follows the story of a group of refugees during World War II. With any discussion, criteria must be set to determine this answer. In this particular review, I will discuss why I believe Casablanca is the greatest film of all time and why. Specifically, I will be comparing the following factors; Plot, music, and casting. To begin with, I will first discuss the significance of the film’s plot. Casablanca was rushed into production in December

As this film takes place in December 1941, the plot revolves around many refugees attempting to reach The United States, which was still neutral during that time of the war. A specific key to the plot is the “Letters of Transit”, a document that allows those who bear them unquestioned travel through German-controlled Europe. Although this document is completely fictional in our reality, they are significant to the plot of the movie. These papers are a necessity for the refugees attempting to escape to safety. Considering their significance, it is evident that people went to great lengths to obtain the documents; the character Urgarte killed two German couriers to get his hands on the papers. When Rick’s past love, Isla shows up in his nightclub, desperate for The Letters of Transit for herself and her fugitive husband (a leader of the resistance), he must make a decision that contradicts his once neutral political mindset. By the end of the film, Rick ends up giving Isla and Victor the documents so they can escape to America and continue his work. With a basic plot and summary of the film, it is clear that there are underlying themes such as propaganda and romance.

Considering the main setting takes place in Rick’s nightclub, there is constant sound of music being played in the background. One of the most memorable parts of Casablanca is the original song, “As Time Goes By”. As the song is played various times throughout the film, it is evident that the meaning of the piece changes over time. In Paris flashbacks, when the song is playing, it represents the love between Isla and Rick. After Isla left Rick, he refused to listen to the song, as it turned into a song that represented her, their relationship, and memories he didn’t want to think about. When Isla and Rick are reunited, they both ask Sam to play the song, turning this into a new meaning for the song; a possible new beginning for their relationship. While Rick and Isla do not end up together, “As Time Goes By” is still a significant factor to their relationship. Moving on, the French national anthem, “La Marseillaise” is another important musical piece in the film. At one point in the movie, when in Rick’s cafe, a group of Nazi’s began singing the Nazi anthem, which greatly upset Victor Laszlo. To counter this, he asked the band to play “La Marseillaise”, which everyone begins to sing along to. This may be one of the biggest turning points of the film, specifically with Rick’s character development. This is because Rick