...
It could all have been different since the central role was also offered to George Raft, and even Ronald Reagan!
The story is set in Casablanca, Morocco in 1941. The country is nominally under the French Vichy government control but the Nazi Germans also exert a strong Influence. The US ... Read review
A truly perfect movie, the 1942Casablancastill wows viewers today, and for good reason. ... more
Its unique story of a love triangle set against terribly high stakes in the war against a monster is sophisticated instead of outlandish, intriguing instead of gari...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
A truly perfect movie, the 1942Casablancastill wows viewers today, and for good reason. ... more
Its unique story of a love triangle set against terribly high stakes in the war against a monster is sophisticated instead of outlandish, intriguing instead of gari...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Casablanca: easy to enter, but much harder to leave, especially if your name is on the ... more
Nazis' most-wanted list. Atop that list is Czech Resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), whose only hope is Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a cynical American...
Casablanca: easy to enter but much harder to leave especially if your name is on the ... more
Nazis' most wanted list. Atop that list is Czech resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid) whose only hope is Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) a cynical America...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Casablanca: easy to enter but much harder to leave especially if your name is on the ... more
Nazis' most wanted list. Atop that list is Czech resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid) whose only hope is Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) a cynical American who sticks his neck out for no one especially Victor's wife Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) the ex-lover who broke his heart. So when Ilsa offers herself in exchange for Laszlo's safe transport out of the country the bitter Rick must decide what's more important - his own happiness or the countless lives that hang in the balance...
Postage & Packaging:£0.00 Availability:3-5 working days
A truly perfect movie, the 1942Casablancastill wows viewers today, and for good reason. ... more
Its unique story of a love triangle set against terribly high stakes in the war against a monster is sophisticated instead of outlandish, intriguing instead of garish. Humphrey Bogart plays the allegedly apolitical club owner in unoccupied French territory that is nevertheless crawling with Nazis; Ingrid Bergman is the lover who mysteriously deserted him in Paris; and Paul Heinreid is her heroic, slightly bewildered husband. Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and Conrad Veidt are among what may be the best supporting cast in the history of Hollywood films. This is certainly among the most spirited and ennobling movies ever made.--Tom Keogh
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
A truly perfect movie, the 1942Casablancastill wows viewers today, and for good reason. ... more
Its unique story of a love triangle set against terribly high stakes in the war against a monster is sophisticated instead of outlandish, intriguing instead of garish. Humphrey Bogart plays the allegedly apolitical club owner in unoccupied French territory that is nevertheless crawling with Nazis; Ingrid Bergman is the lover who mysteriously deserted him in Paris; and Paul Heinreid is her heroic, slightly bewildered husband. Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and Conrad Veidt are among what may be the best supporting cast in the history of Hollywood films. This is certainly among the most spirited and ennobling movies ever made.--Tom Keogh
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
A truly perfect movie, the 1942Casablancastill wows viewers today, and for good reason. ... more
Its unique story of a love triangle set against terribly high stakes in the war against a monster is sophisticated instead of outlandish, intriguing instead of garish. Humphrey Bogart plays the allegedly apolitical club owner in unoccupied French territory that is nevertheless crawling with Nazis; Ingrid Bergman is the lover who mysteriously deserted him in Paris; and Paul Heinreid is her heroic, slightly bewildered husband. Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and Conrad Veidt are among what may be the best supporting cast in the history of Hollywood films. This is certainly among the most spirited and ennobling movies ever made.--Tom Keogh
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Advantages: Too many to mention Disadvantages: none
...diplomatic relations with Vichy France. Casablanca is a place full of spies, crime and intrigue. As the gradual Nazi takeover of Europe continued refugees travelled from the major cities to Marseilles in order to go across the Mediterranean to Algeria and then to Casablanca in French Morocco. Here those who could afford it could get exit visas to Lisbon, and from Lisbon to the US. But many were forced to wait in Casablanca and some never left. ...Humphrey Bogart-Richard "Rick" Blaine
Ingrid Bergman- Ilsa Lund Laszlo
Paul Henreid - Victor Laszlo
Claude Rains- Captain Louis Renault
Conrad Veidt - Major Heinrich Strasser
Sydney Greenstreet -Senor Ferrari
Peter Lorre -Ugarte
S.Z. Sakall - Carl, the Headwaiter
Madeleine LeBeau -Yvonne
Dooley Wilson- Sam
Joy Page- Annina Brandel
John Qualen - Berger ... more
A classic movie. One of the best of all time. A great love story. This film has become so well known and has produced so many parodies, imitations and affectionate send ups (Woody Allen's brilliant 'Play It Again Sam' and a dreadful TV version starring David Soul!) that many people, never having seen the film, feel as if they know it well.
BACKGROUND:
It was made in 1942 directed by Michael Curtiz and shot almost entirely in the Warner Bros. Hollywood studio, taking barely a week to make. The script was unfinished at the start of filming and it was written day-by-day so that the crew and actors didn't have a clear idea how it was going to end. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards including: Best Actor (Humphrey Bogart) Best Supporting Actor (Claude Rains), and Best Music and won three for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay.
It could all have been different since the central role was also offered to George Raft, and even Ronald Reagan! The story is set in Casablanca, Morocco in 1941. The country is nominally under the French Vichy government control but the Nazi Germans also exert a strong Influence. The US hasn't entered the war yet and maintains diplomatic relations with Vichy France. Casablanca is a place full of spies, crime and intrigue. As the gradual Nazi takeover of Europe continued refugees travelled from the major cities to Marseilles in order to go across the Mediterranean to Algeria and then to Casablanca in French Morocco. Here those who could afford it could get exit visas to Lisbon, and from Lisbon to the US. But many were forced to wait in Casablanca and some never left.
THE CAST:
Humphrey Bogart-Richard "Rick" Blaine Ingrid Bergman- Ilsa Lund Laszlo Paul Henreid - Victor Laszlo Claude Rains- Captain Louis Renault Conrad Veidt - Major Heinrich Strasser Sydney Greenstreet -Senor Ferrari Peter Lorre -Ugarte S.Z. Sakall - Carl, the Headwaiter Madeleine LeBeau -Yvonne Dooley Wilson- Sam Joy Page- Annina Brandel John Qualen - Berger Leonid Kinskey- Sascha
THE STORY:
The original story started as a play 'Everyone comes to Rick's' and was adapted for the screen by Howard and Koch Julius and Philip Epstein.
Bogart in his first romantic lead role, plays Rick a cynical, ex-pat American trying to run his café/club without getting in to trouble from the authorities. He still grieves over the loss of Ilsa his former lover. His cynicism and hard-nosed pragmatism have made him essentially neutral about the war. Rick's life is suddenly about to be turned upside down when Ilsa (Bergman) walks back into is life. In a series of flashbacks we see the idyllic time they had spent in Paris, before the German occupation. Just as they had decided to go away together, she disappeared. Rick broken hearted left Paris and built up a new business and a new life in Casablanca. He had known very little about her but he was sure he loved her.
Things soon get harder for Rick. The murder of two German couriers and theft of important documents (letters of transit) brings a new German Nazi/Gestapo commander Major Heinrich Strasser (Conrad Veidt) to the city. Strasser is there to 'assist' the investigation being carried out by the French Police. He is also hunting Victor Lazlo (Paul Henreid) a Czechoslovakian resistance leader now on the run from the Germans. The natural place to look for suspects is Rick's café a focus for all the shady characters in Casablanca. Rick becomes involved through his contacts with the local criminal underworld, populated by disreputable people like Senor Ferrari (Sidney Greenstreet) and Ugarte (Peter Lorri).
Watchful of any illegal activities that happen in the city is Captain Renault (Claude Rains) of the local police. He has an understanding with Rick and a friendship of sorts.
Ugarte, a black marketer, visits Rick and tells him he has the two stolen transit letters. He asks Rick to look after them for him for a short while. Rick agrees even though he doesn't like Ugarte. When Lazlo turns up the situation gets more complicated for Rick and he soon realises that his chance of getting Isla back depend on how he acts over the matter of the stolen documents.
There are many levels to the story but essentially it is a love triangle between Rick the café/club owner, Ilsa the beautiful woman from Rick's past and Victor, Ilsa's husband hunted by the Nazi's and until recently thought to have been dead.
The key question in the plot is whom will Ilsa choose?
'Ilsa, I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you'll understand that. Now, now. Here's looking at you, kid.'
WHY IS IT SO GOOD?:
This film works on so many levels. It contains some wonderful dialogue with some of the most memorable lines in movie history.
'Ilsa, I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you'll understand that. Now, now. Here's looking at you, kid.'
The plot is a classic love story tinged with tragedy. The central question, will Bogart get girl at the end? keeps the audience wondering up until the final reel. The setting in Casablanca, an exotic almost lawless place, populated by desperate people in their turn preyed upon by unscrupulous criminals, allows the story to include some wonderful characters played by some of the bets character actors around at the time, it also makes for a great background to the drama that unfolds.
The central performances are magnificent. There is real on-screen chemistry between Bogart and Bergman. Greensteet and Lorri are at their menacing best (the kind of high quality acting that we see them repeat in another classic Bogart film 'The Maltese Falcon'). Claude Rains also gives a typically great performance. Despite some very cheap effects in the Paris flashback sequences of the film, the cinematography in glorious 'Film Noir' type black and white brings to life the feel of Casablanca, even more amazing considering the film relatively small budget and the short time only a few weeks, that the film took to shoot.
And on top of all this you have that song….
Rick: What's that you're playin? Sam: Oh, just a little somethin' on my own. Rick: Well, stop it! You know what I want to hear. Sam: No, I don't. Rick: You played it for her, you can play it for me. Sam: Well, I don't think I can remember... Rick: If she can stand it, I can. Play it!
'You must remember this A kiss is just a kiss A sigh is just a sigh The fundamental things apply As Time Goes By. And when two lovers woo They still say, 'I love you' On that you can rely No matter what the future brings As Time Goes By. '
So next time it's scheduled to show on a rainy Sunday afternoon, curl up on the sofa and treat yourself to a real classic…
The film is available on DVD from Play.com for £7.99 delivered and since this is the two disc special edition with lots of extras it is worth every penny.
Advantages: great acting, brilliant plot, Disadvantages: impossible to have any disadvantages
...The story is set in Casablanca in Morocco, it is a place where many French fled and Europeans to get away from the German invasions during the war. The people are also going here to get visa's so they can go to America and be safe since it is World War Two. Casablanca s a very nice place with it's markets and culture and the club owned by Rick (Humphrey Bogart)which is named Rick's. He plays a moody club owner and he never joins anyone at their table ... ...so miserable. She comes to Casablanca with her husband which is unfortunate for Rick. The reason they have come is to get visa's for America because her husband is an enemy of the Nazis and has left a camp to escape to America. She has walked into Rick's club but not on purpose and she is in as much surprise as he is. In Paris
Ilsa is her name and she met Rick, they didn't know anything about eachother which made them feel so close. They fell in ...
ms19 03.04.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Casablanca (DVD)
Advantages: Virtually flawless. Disadvantages: The flashback scene - Bogart doesn't look right smiling!
...way, we can concentrate on Casablanca the movie, rather than Casablanca the grab-bag of pop culture references.
Humphrey Bogart, in perhaps his greatest role, is Rick, an bitter ex-pat American who now runs the imaginatively named 'Rick's' in Casablanca. Here he is kept company by the loyal, piano playing Sam (Dooley Wilson) and sporadically flirts with the corrupt chief of police Louis (Claude Rains). It is the middle of World War Two, and from ... ...desperate hope of gaining a visa to America and safety.
Things go off big style when - through sheer force of coincidence - his former lover Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) walks in. It could've been any gin joint in any town in all the world, but she walked into his...unfortunately for Rick, she is also accompanied by her husband, Laszlo (Paul Henreid), who happens to be a highly influential enemy of the Nazis.
By even more coincidence, two visas are now ...
Plissken 11.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Casablanca (DVD)
Advantages: great story, acting, action Disadvantages: it's in black and white but see review
...she wants to stay in Casablanca with the line "You must decide for the both of us". Rick decides to help Ilsa and Victor escape to America. Of course, every Nazi leader including Major Heinrich Strasser(Conrad Veidt) persue them. Rick fights the Nazis and several bad guys in this film.
In the climactic scene between Rick and Ilsa, they are at an airport, where Rick tells Ilsa she must leave for America. As Rick watches Ilsa's plane leave the airport, ... ...of a beautiful friendship".
Casablanca was the greatest Hollywood film ever made. The cast was excellent from Humphrey Bogart's Rick and Ingrid Bergman's Ilsa to the supporting cast. Of course the piano player Sam(Dooley Wilson) sings the classic "As Time Goes By". Of course Bogart gives another classic line to Sam "Play it again, Sam".
Casablanca has excellent elements from a great screenplay and snappy dialouge. The film has humor, suspense, ...
kagito 10.06.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Casablanca (DVD)
This is one great movie, possibly the greatest. Practically every shot has been aped at some time since - and that's flattery indeed.
I've watched it quite a few times now and cannot find a bad shot or dodgy line, or a glitch in any of the performances from Bogarts sublimely cool bar owner, Peter Lorre's magnificently creepy Ugarte, Claude Rains' superb police cheif, Ingrid Bergmans' radiantly beautiful Ilsa and so on. The direction (Michael Curtiz) ...
JSpencer 14.07.2000
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Review of Casablanca (DVD)
Advantages: Quotable lines and filmstars the way they used to be Disadvantages: Quality isn't so good anymore
...the script at all.
Casablanca is a film that is rather hard to put into any specific category. It's a romance, and it's a drama, and it's a war-story. Bogart, as most will know, runs a 'gin joint' in the port of Casablanca, aided by his black pianist, Sam, and the local French policeman, who seems entirely disinclined to enforce the local rules on gambling after-hours. Just when things are going nicely, in walks Ingrid Bergman, with whom Bogart ... ...mention the wonderful ending shot - But I won't give away the ending. Casablanca is consistently voted the best film ever made. It has humour, romance and action, so I can quite easily appreciate why. Everybody should see Casablanca at least once. It's one of those films. ...
elsie_elizabeth 26.10.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Casablanca (DVD)
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Advantages: A Hollywood classic ! Disadvantages: None.
For ages, I owned a VHS of "Casablanca" and enjoyed digging it out every so often to watch when there was nothing better to do. The tape was of a perfectly acceptable quality, so when I finally got a DVD player, I resisted the urge to replace it with the DVD version and, instead, concentrated on getting films I didn't already have.
However, recently I found the 2 disc special edition online for £6.99 and thought it a 'must buy'. And I was right.
First, the contents of the set (note: this isn't the box set with additional items, this is the version in a normal plastic case)
On disc 1 is the film itself, in a Digitally re-mastered form; 2 commentaries, one by US film critic Roger Ebert, the other by film historian Rudy Behlmer; an introduction by Lauren Bacall (Humprey Bogart's widow) and two trailers. The second disc contains two ...
Advantages: Classic film given the treatment it deserves Disadvantages: none
attention slipping. The second disc has some deleted scenes and outakes but these are limited. However it also includes two great documentaries, one of the making of the film and the other on Bogart. Both are great viewing for anyone who is a fan and full of great snippets of information (some of which I've used above). An unusual bonus feature comes in the form of the Bugs Bunny episode / homage "Carrotblanca".
Casablanca is a classic under any definition and would be worth purchasing for that reason alone. The Special Edition adds even more enjoyment and becomes, in my view, an essential purchase for anyone with a DVD player. ...
Interactive Menus, Scene Access, Trailer, You Must Remember This Featurette
Aspect Ratio
1.33 Full Screen
Sound
Mono
Dubbing Sound
Mono English French Italian
DVD Description
Perennially at the top of every all-time-greats list, and indisputably one of the landmarks of cinema. Bogart is Rick Blaine, an American expatriate and war profiteer in WW II Morocco. He's content to merely run the Cafe Americain until love in the form of a Ilsa, the luminous Bergman, returns to his life after breaking his heart years before. Ilsa's husband Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid) is the Czech Resistance leader whose only hope of safe transport, and Ilsa's, from Morocco is Rick Blaine. Ilsa offers herself as a bargaining tool to encourage Rick to transport her husband, but he must choose between his own happiness and the lives of others. An accidental Hollywood masterpiece, this spine-tingling tear-jerker just gets better and better - as time goes by.
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