The 100: – No.3 – Casablanca

Here’s looking at you kid. Taking third place on the countdown, is Michael Curtiz’s 1942 romantic drama, Casablanca. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman star in a tale of love lost and found again but also the decision to do right in the background of World War II. Bogart plays Rick Blaine, who owns a nightclub and gambling den in Casablanca, called Rick’s Café Américain. The club draws a variety of guests from officers from the Vichy French and German armies, refugees seeking to escape the nazis and those who prey on the desperate. Rick maintains a neutral stance, despite a past as a gun runner during the Italo-Ethiopian war and also fighting for the republic in Spain’s Civil War. One night, a guest called Ugarte (Peter Lorre) claims to have obtained two letters of transit (forms to leave the country and travel legally) by murdering two German officers. Begging Rick to hide them, he is shortly arrested by Captain Renault (Claude Rains), dying in custody without divulging he had passed the letters to Rick. One night, Rick’s former lover, Ilsa (Bergman) arrives at the club. Seeing Sam, Rick’s friend and house pianist, she starts reminiscing and asks him to play hers and Rick’s song, As Time Goes By. Rick has forbidden Sam from playing the song and storms other, but sees Ilsa, who is also accompanied by her husband, Victor Laszlo, a leader in the Czech resistance who is on the run. They are looking for letters so they can flee, whilst being chased by Major Strasser.

Laszlo makes enquiries around town, and speaks to Signor Ferrari, a rival of Rick’s, who believes Rick has the letters. Rick refuses to sell the letters at any price, telling Laszlo to ask Ilsa as to why. During the discussion, they are interrupted by the arrival of Major Strasser, who corrals a group of German officers in a singing of The Watch On The Rhine. Laszlo implores the house band to play Le Marseillaise, who after receiving Rick’s approval strike up and slowly the other guests join Laszlo in singing loudly along, drowning out the Germans, which leads to Strasser ordering the club to be shut down. Ilsa visits Rick later, begging for the letters, even threatening to kill him, before confessing she still loves him. She explains that when they fell in love, she was under the impression that Laszlo had been killed in a concentration camp and that after learning he was still alive, is why she left Rick in Paris without any explanation at the time. Rick promises to help her escape. Victor arrives, whilst Ilsa is quickly spirited off, and his knowing that Rick still has feelings for her, begs him to take care of Ilsa and get to safety.

Victor is later arrested on dubious charges, which Rick gets Renault to drop by promising him a setup of Laszlo for a more worthy crime, possession of the stolen letters. Rick explains that he and Ilsa will be leaving to help allay suspicions. When Renault comes to arrest Laszlo, Rick forces Renault to help them in their escape and leads to one of the most wonderful and moving speeches in romantic cinema.

For me, Casablanca is the greatest romantic film of all time. Coming from the glorious heady Hollywood days, it pulls at your heartstrings and has you hanging on every word. The iconic casting of Bogart and Bergman have such a wonderful bond and chemistry, you just want them to escape and be happy ever after. And who doesn’t love a good opportunity to boo Nazis! Bogart plays his wonderful hangdog face to a tee here. Imbuing Rick with a grumpiness and bitterness at love lost, and when the chance arises again, finds it still out of reach. But in his heart, he wants to do what’s right, not just for him, but for others. As noted when he helps a young couple by rigging a game of roulette so they can pay for their letters of transit, deep down he’s a good man, with a cynical outside. Bergman is wonderful as Ilsa, a delight who brightens the screen, just with a look or a softly spoken word, you couldn’t have anyone else play her. Claude Rains is great Renault, playing him with a witty charm, knowing full well he’s out for his own personal gain and isn’t shy about it.

This is a film that stands the test of time. Filled with iconic lines, a memorable song that will always linger in your mind, you can keep coming back to it again and again. Given it’s iconic stature, it is frequently referred to in other works, or certainly inspired others with it’s adept story telling and tale of heartbreak. Thankfully, it has never been remade, and let’s hope it stays that way. There was talk of a sequel after it’s storming success, but this never got further than being discussed. Some films have attempted to rehash the story, in a different setting, but these were mostly poorly received as trying to replicate Casablanca’s enduring themes. So remember, Last night we said a great many things. You said I was to do the thinking for both of us. Well, I’ve done a lot of it since then, and it all adds up to one thing, making sure you and watch Casablanca.

Our penultimate entry takes us into the realm of Sci-Fi again, this time for a movie that has one of the most misquoted scenes of all time…