Revie 572: Casablanca

It goes without saying that Casablanca is one of the greatest films ever made.

Based on the unproduced play Everybody Comes to Rick's by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison, In December 1941 during World War II, American Expatriate Rick Blaine owns an upscale nightclub and gambling den "Rick's Café Américain" in Casablanca  must choose between his love for a woman and helping her and her husband,

 

The plot is a beautifuly written   At its core, it's a story about a man and a woman who are in love set against a backdrop of a war. The relationship between Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund is the primary driving force of the film.

Within the main narrative, there are loads of little vignettes/stories such as personal stories and tradgedies.

Directed by Michael Curtiz, Casablanca looks splendid, gorgeously rendered in black and white

The titular Casablanca setting is also very character because it features all the mysterious qualitites.

The score by Max Steiner is  

 

Humphrey Boggart is immensely charasmatic playing Rick Blaine. During a time where a very black and white conflict going on. Blaine is something of an enigma. He's on his own side

Ingrid Bergman is luminous playing Ilsa Lund