Casablanca, a 1942 romantic drama directed by Micheal Curtiz and taking place during World War II, pre-Pearl Harbor, captures the complexities of love, sacrifice, moral duty, closure, transformation, and new beginnings. The film lightly touches on the struggle many European refugees face while attempting to flee the area, the North African country of Morocco. In an era where many European countries are under Nazi control, the French territory of Morocco serves as a haven and diverse country of many cultures for refugees escaping the regime. The main characters, Rick Blaine, Victor Laszlo, and Ilsa Lund, are distinct symbols that help portray the realities of wartime. The ending of Casablanca, depicting a heart-wrenching goodbye between two …show more content…
For example, toward the beginning of Casablanca, Rick famously says, “I stick my neck out for nobody,” emphasizing his cold and reluctant personality. Throughout the film, Rick evolves from being a disillusioned bystander, thinking no one can make a difference, to someone willing to take action and find his purpose. His acceptance in helping Ilsa and Victor escape Casablanca shows his development as a character. The film mentions Rick and Ilsa’s past relationship; the pair had been former lovers until Ilsa left Rick at a Paris train station after learning her previous love, Victor, wasn’t dead after all and was hiding near Paris. Rick and Ilsa’s re-encounter opens old wounds and emotions Rick harbored for years, including bitterness and resentment. Despite it all, he lets go of Ilsa so Victor can continue fighting for the resistance movement. Another character who is a corrupt authority figure willing to collaborate with the Nazi regime, Captain Renault, goes through a moral transformation of his own. In the last moments, Rick shoots Major Strasser, a Vichy government official, to prevent any intervention in Victor and Ilsa’s …show more content…
Rick and Ilsa come to terms with their past, prompting Rick to find a purpose while Ilsa reaffirms her commitment to Laszlo and the resistance movement. Their final moments indicate Rick’s sacrifice to let go of Ilsa while putting the needs of war above his personal desires. Lastly, acts of heroism are evident throughout the film. Characters such as Captain Renault, Rick Blaine, Ilsa Lund, and Victor Laszlo can fit the category of heroism. Each character demonstrates an act of heroism. The character that is undeniably the hero of the film is Rick Blaine. Throughout the film, Rick exhibits acts of compassion. One notable scene in which he helps others is when he aids a young Bulgarian newlywed, Annina. In the scene between Annina and Rick, Annina asks Rick about Renault’s reliability regarding obtaining letters of transit. Similar to Ilsa and Victor, Annina and her husband plan to flee Casablanca. However, to obtain the exit visas from Captain Renault, he offers them freedom in exchange for sexual pleasures. Hopeless, Annina seems like this is the only option guaranteeing their
The film Casablanca centers on an American man by the name of Rick Blaine who flees a German-occupied France during World War II to a city in Morocco by the name of Casablanca. (Casablanca, 1942) This city is a territory of France at the time and is out of full German jurisdiction due to this status. (Casablanca, 1942) Many citizens of German-occupied countries in Europe sought refuge here due to the lack of control Germany had on other countries’ territories early in the war. The general intent of refugees in Casablanca was to flee to even further countries such as The United States of America, which they could not achieve in their home, occupied countries. As the film’s plot develops, the viewer is introduced to refugees very important to the freedom-fighting movement France, and we learn that Rick originated in New York, U.S.A.
In the film Casablanca, directed by Michael Curtiz, a clear juxtaposition exists between Rick and America. Despite Rick’s numerous similarities to America and his deep longing to be part of the country, a physical and psychological barrier separates the two. With America practically being on the opposite end of the world, Rick understands that he cannot abandon his responsibility to aid and influence others in Casablanca. Rick is willing to sacrifice his personal comfort and well-being for the greater good of society. This juxtaposition between America and Rick foreshadows that the United States would soon become involved in the war by overtly displaying Rick’s transformation when he confronts his troubled past.
Audience members, when seeing Casablanca, would associate it as a war film, and I agree with that, but to be more precise, it is a pro-Allie war film. The literary elements in the film are the reasons why it can be viewed this way, with the emphasis on the plot and characters. The timing of when the film was released also supports the idea of it being an anti Axis film. Although it was set in 1940, it was made a year after Pearl Harbor and America entering the war, but it was released right before the Allies had a meeting in Casablanca, so the filmmakers seemed to have wanted the audience to empathize with the Allies. The whole plot seems to be focused around how Rick is neutral at the beginning of the film, but because of an old flame coming into his life once again, he slowly becomes in favor of the Allie side.
The way that a movie is pieced together by the director/producers has a huge impact on the viewer’s experience. Stylistic elements are used to help engage the viewer; however, without these techniques the viewer will most likely loose interest. In this essay I will be taking a look at a scene within the movie Casablanca directed by Michael Curtiz in 1942. Casablanca is a classic film that is reviewed to be one of the greatest movies of all time. This could be due to the notable quotes used throughout the movie, or its ability to follow a historic, comical, and romantic storyline throughout the course of the film. It caters to several different viewers, making this movie favorable to many. This scene in Casablanca uses specific editing techniques
In the essay “Beautiful Friendship: Masculinity & Nationalism in Casablanca”, Peter Kunze lavishly explains the magnificence of Michael Curtiz’s 1942 film Casablanca. Kunze focuses on how the movie not only highlights an exchange of relationships, but how the film has an underlying meaning between these relationships. He also implies that there is a more complex meaning behind every character in regards to their gender, economic, and social roles. The overall thesis of his reading is “the patriarchal ideology underlying the narrative commodifies Ilsa, leading Rick to exchange her with other men in an act of friendship and solidarity as well as to dissuade any perception of queerness between the strong male friendships in the narrative” (Kunze
The film Casablanca, indeed, involves problems that Rick faced and he finally solved that problem, ending in a satisfying way. Risk’s equilibrium is disrupted when he is going to leave Paris with his girl friend Ilsa because Ilsa doesn’t showed up at last. Risk becomes a boss of a cafe in Casablanca but he never imagines that he would encounter Ilsa again. Ilsa walks into Risk’s life again by accident when she is planing to get a letter of transit in Casablanca in order to escape to America with her husband. At the same time, Nazi Major Strasser arrives in Casablanca and tries to stop Ilsa’s husband from leaving Casablanca. Risk’s equlibrium is disrupted again. Risk still loves and hates Ilsa, and moreover, he gets the letter of transit. Even though Risk wanted to stay with Ilsa and let her husband go to America alone, Risk finally let Ilsa and her husband go and killed the Nazi Major Strasser. That is a satisfying ending.
Jack’s change in behavior has transformed him from the power hungry savage to a quiet and insecure young man. Finally, Roger’s feelings of no remorse allowed him to save his cousin by stopping them from attacking one of his family members. On the contrary, Ralph has become one an intelligent naval officer, and will always go the extra mile for his men; Jack was nothing more than a shy kid under extreme stress who simply needed the correct guidance; Finally, Roger still carries unhealthy tendencies, yet they only seem to strike when Roger senses danger. One event can have a domino effect on the rest of one’s life. Therefore, one must always second guess their actions or it could dictate how they live the rest of their
Robert B. Ray categorizes Casablanca as "the most typical" American film. Ray uses Casablanca as a tutor text for what he calls the formal paradigm of Classical Hollywood as well as the thematic paradigm that addresses the conflict between isolationism and communitarian participation. The film is typical in its appropriation of an official hero Laszlo, who stands for the civilizing values of home and community, and an outlaw hero Rick, who stands for individu...
The 1942 movie, “Casablanca” portrays a World War II era enclave where refugees fled Nazi Europe and used this unoccupied city as a safe haven while pursuing their dreams of coming to America. The main character is Rick Blaine, played by Humphrey Bogart, who owns a nightclub and casino in unoccupied Morocco during the Nazi era. Blaine, whose sole purpose appears to be money, illuminates a sense of arrogance and self righteousness as he assists in retrieving the necessary immigration documents for those who are willing to pay the price for their freedom. Hidden deep within his memory are the reflections of a women that he once loved, Ilsa Lund, played by Ingrid Bergman. The third leading role was that of Paul Henreid who played the Ilsa’s husband in the movie. Victor Laszlo, a Jewish activist who was on the run from the German Regime was once believed to be dead after being captured and placed in a concentration camp, during which time his wife (Ilsa) fled to Paris and ultimately had an affair with Rick Blaine.
...t it is clearly obvious what is about to happen using an establishing shot. Casablanca also uses camera angle specifically portraying Captain Renault and Strasser as less powerful people in the office scene. Editing allows for smooth transitions between shots and allows for us as viewers to experience the scene like we are seeing through the characters eyes. Lighting provides us a mood of the scene, specifically when Rick first sees Ilsa for the first time since Paris. The Music plays a role in how we as audiences should feel while watching the movie. And without production design movies would not flow correctly. Every setting is specifically chosen to depict the location where the scene takes place. Casablanca is a quintessential film because it ties up all the formal elements of classical Hollywood. Without this movie Hollywood may be a completely different place.
Casablanca debuted in 1942, shortly following the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the United States' entrance into World War Two, although there was plenty of anti-Nazism sentiment, the movie fueled these feelings. There is pro-Allied forces propaganda to support the war, from the scene with La Marseillaise, to the characters of Renault and Rick, and to the last scene. Although the majority of the French patriots were elated to sing their national anthem, it created tension with the German soldiers who imposed their patriotic songs on the crowd, representing the imposition of Germany on France during the war. Captain Louis Renault, who tries to placate who he believes will be the winning side, seems flimsy when compared to Rick, the firm patriot who believes in freedom at all costs. The phrase, "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" represents the new strong bond between France and the United States once Nazi-Germany has fallen. Although the film is propaganda against the Nazis, the political language in the movie does not glorify American courage and valor, nor is it militaristic. The movie presents the facts while emphasizing the poor qualities of the Nazis.
Despite not being considered as the traditional ‘hero’s journey’ which is outlined in Joseph Campbell’s argument of ‘separation-initiation-return’, Humphrey Bogart’s character Rick Blaine, in the 1942 film Casablanca, can be argued to follow this twelve-step journey. Campbell states “whether the hero be ridiculous or sublime…” (p.38), on this basis, Rick Blaine qualifies as a hero. These twelve steps are: Ordinary World; Call to Adventure/Disruption; Refusal of the Call; Meeting with the Mentor; Crossing the First Threshold; Tests, Allies, and Enemies; Approach to the Inmost Cave; Ordeal; Reward; The Road Back; The Resurrection; and Return with the Elixir. Although in some parts stages may overlap, this essay aims to argue that Casablanca still
Modern feminists stand at a crossroads, torn between staunch opposition of the parts of the patriarchy that disadvantage them and a reluctant acceptance of the fragments of the same system that benefits them. The patriarchal structure that stands responsible for the wage gap and the glass ceiling is also responsible for the tradition of male chivalry, in acts such as paying for a first date. Similarly, American Jezebel depicts the harrowing tale of Anne Hutchinson, a pioneer at challenging the male orthodoxy with religion and firm ideas, who both benefits and suffers from the weight of womanhood. Even though Hutchinson proved a genuine threat with her preaching
Casablanca: A political approach. Michael Curtiz's Casablanca is highly acclaimed and is regarded as one of the greatest films in the history of cinema. Although it does have the genre of a romantic drama, with the setting displayed as the ongoing war of World War 2, there is a great degree of probability that we can apply a political film analysis to the film. In this paper, we will be examining the political notions implied in the film and how Casablanca has overall themes of devotion, sacrifice, and the fight against injustice. Casablanca was released in 1942, during the peak of World War II, which provided at the time to the general audience watching the film a perspective of elusion and a sense of hope during a time in which it was an extremely stressful and
As the world plunged into the throes of World War II, every corner of the globe felt the rippling effects, from the battle scarred terrains of Europe to the bustling streets of Casablanca. In this tumultuous time, the city of Casablanca emerged as a transitional space, an outset between the despair of war-torn Europe and the hope of freedom across the Atlantic. Within this context Casablanca finds its setting, weaving a narrative rich in romance, intrigue, and the shadow of global conflict. The film follows Rick Blaine, an expatriate running a popular nightclub in Casablanca, who navigates the complexities of loyalty, love, and life amidst the backdrop of wartime struggles. Through his story, and the multitude of characters that find their