Casablanca

CASABLANCA (1943)

As Time Goes By

by Herman Hupfeld

You must remember this,
a kiss is just a kiss,
a sigh is just a sigh.
The fundemental 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.

Moonlight and love songs,
never out of date.
Hearts full of passion;
jealousy and hate.
Woman needs a man,
and man must have his mate,
that no one can deny.

It's still the same old story,
a fight for love and glory;
a case of do or die.
The world will always welcome lovers,
as time goes by.

CAST

Humphrey Bogart - Richard "Rick" Blaine

Ingrid Bergman - Ilsa Lund Laszlo

Paul Henreid - Victor Laszlo

Claude Rains - Capt. Louis Renault

Conrad Veidt - Maj. Heinrich Strasser

Sydney Greenstreet - Senor Ferrari

Peter Lorre - Ugarte

S.Z. Sakall - Carl, Headwaiter

Madeleine LeBeau - Yvonne

Dooley Wilson - Sam

Joy Page - Annina Brandel

John Qualen - Berger

Leonid Kinskey - Sascha

Helmut Dantine - Jan Brandel

Curt Bois - Dark European

Marcel Dalio - Emil, The Croupier

Corinna Mura - Singer

Ludwig Stossel - Mr. Leuchtag

Ilka Gruning - Mrs. Leuchtag

Charles La Torre - Senor Martinez

Frank Puglia - Arab Vendor

Dan Seymour - Abdul

Oliver Blake, George Meeker - Friend

Gregory Gaye - German Banker

William Edmunds - Contact

Torben Meyer - Banker

Gino Corrado - Waiter

George Dee - Casselle

Norma Varden - Englishwoman

Leo Mostovoy - Fydor

Dick Ryan - Heinz

Martin Garralaga - Headwaiter

Olaf Hytten - Prosperous Man

Monte Blue - American

Michael Mark - Vendor

Leon Belasco - Dealer

Paul Porcasi - Native

Hans von Twardowski - German Officer

Alberto Morin - French Officer

Creighton Hale - Customer

Henry Rowland - German Officer

Louis Mercier - Smuggler

Lou Marcelle - Narrator

CREW

Producer - Hal B. Wallis

Director - Michael Curtiz

Screenwriter - Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Howard Koch

Cinematographer - Arthur Edeson

Editor - Owen Marks

Composer - Max Steiner

Music director - Leo F. Forbstein

Art director - Carl Jules Weyl

Set designer - George James Hopkins

Special effects - Lawrence Butler / Willard Van Enger

Costumes - Orry-Kelly

Makeup - Perc Westmore

Technical effects - Robert Aisner

Based on the play Everybody Goes to Rick's by Murray Burnett / Joan Alison.

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SUMMARY

The film opens as a flood of refugees flow into Casablanca, now controlled by the Vichy government of France. One man who is without the correct papers is hunted down by the police and shot in the back, dying he slumps to the ground as a wall poster of Marshal Pétain hovers over him. In his hands lays a Free French handbill urging resistance.

At the airport Nazi Major Strasser (Conrad Veidt) is met by Capt. Louis Renault (Claude Rains), the police prefect of Casablanca. The two men or on a quest to find Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), of the French Resistance who it is believed will be attempting to obtain letters of transit that were recently taken for two German couriers who were murdered.

The trail leads to Rick's Cafe Americain for "everybody comes to Rick's." Here we meet Rick (Humphrey Bogart), and learn something of what he is really like when he refuses a German bank executive to cash his check, pointing out to him that "you're lucky the bar's open to you."

The man responsible for the deaths of the German couriers, Ugarte (Peter Lorre), approaches Rick and asks him to hide the letters of transit until he can arrange there sale. Rick agrees and places them in the upright piano of his friend Sam (Dooley Wilson).

Later Rick and Capt. Renault watch the latest plane for freedom take off. Renault commences verbally poking Rick to find out why he has never tried to leave Casablanca. Just after this exchange Ugarte is arrested, and begs for Rick's help, but Rick shrugs off his plea, saying "I stick my neck out for nobody."

Next, Laszlo arrives with his wife Ilsa Ingrid Bergman), to meet with other members of the resistance. Ilsa sees Sam, and goes to him asking about Rick, and asks him to play As Time Goes By. The music catches Rick's attention, and he storms over yelling at Sam that he is never to play that song. Then Rick sees Ilsa and the two exchange a long knowing. They are interrupted by Renault and Laszlo, and Rick quickly departs the group.

Later that night Rick sits alone in the closed café, drinking heavily, and talking to his friend Sam about Ilsa. The reminiscing takes the two of the back to the care free days in Paris, before the war, where the two lovers find their world shattered by the invading Germans. Rick proposes to Ilsa asking her to flee with him, but later at the train station Sam and Rick stand alone in the pouring rain. A Note arrives telling Rick that she will not be coming with him, and he will never see her again.

Ilsa comes to Rick to tell him why she left him, of her relationship with Laszlo, but Rick is to drunk to want to listen, and Ilsa leaves in tears.

The next day in the bazaar Laszlo is informed that the man with the letters of transit he needs is dead. Capt. Renault informs him that he hasn't decided if Ugarte took his own life, or died escaping, and informs him to be available for questioning. Laszlo seeks out Senor Ferrari, who informs him that the only man who can help him is Rick. Elsewhere Rick finds Ilsa, and apologizes for the previous night, but she rebuffs him, and informs him that she and Laszlo are married and have been even when she was with Rick.

That night in the café Rick aids two young Bulgarians to earn enough money to purchase visas, and is approached by Laszlo to sell him the letters of transit, Rick refuses, telling him to go ask his wife if he wants to know why.

Trouble arrives in the café when German officers commander Sam's piano, and begin singing the nazi anthem . Laszlo goes over to the band, and tells them to play 'La Marseilles', the band looks to Rick for direction, and he gives his approval. The two sides battle in song, with the Germans finally being drowned out by the cafes occupants. Major Strasser is enraged by the defiance being shown, and has Capt. Renault close the place down.

As Laszlo meets with his fellow resistance members, Ilsa finds herself at Rick's apartment and pulls a gun on him to obtain the letters of transit. The truth of their past relationship comes out, when Ilsa informs Rick that she thought Laszlo had been killed in the concentration camps, but found out he was alive they day they were to flee, and could not abandon her husband.

Bogart now makes plans to get Ilsa back when he finds Laszlo and his head waiter in the café after escaping the police raid on their meeting. Laszlo tells Rick he knows about his past with Ilsa, and asks him to use the letters he is holding to get her to safety. The police burst in and arrest Laszlo.

Rick then goes to Capt. Renault, and tells him that he will give Laszlo want he wants after he has been freed. Rick will tell Capt. Renault when Laszlo has the documents, and he can swoop in and arrest him on charges that will have him confined to the camps forever. Rick will then leave Casablanca with Ilsa.

Rick sells his café to Ferrari, and sets his trap for Laszlo. Capt. Renault arrives to arrest Laszlo, and informs them of Rick's scheme, only to find that Rick has drawn a gun on him, and orders him to take the four of them to the airport, but not before Capt. Renault is able to get word to Major Strasser about the escape

At the airport. Rick has Capt. Renault write 'Mr. and Mrs. Victor Laszlo' on the letters of transit, informing him that he will be staying behind to make sure Laszlo and Ilsa get away safely. Ilsa says she will stay with Rick for saving her husband, but he tells her she must go, for if she doesn't, "go with him she'll regret it."

As Laszlo and Ilsa board the plane, Capt. Renault tells Rick that he will be arrested for this. As Major Strasser arrives he is informed that his prey are on the plane heading down the runway. As he tries to contact the tower Rick orders him to stop The Major draws his gun, and both men fire, with Major Strasser being killed. As the police arrive Capt. Renault looks at Rick and turns to his men, and tells them to, "round up the usual suspects."

As the plane leaves Capt. Renault throws his lot in with Rick as they walk across the fog strewn runway as Rick tells him, "Louis, I think this could be the start of a beautiful friendship."

The above text and images were taken from the © Ricks Café Americain page. Click on the thumbnail below for this page; which has many posters, images and sounds from Casablanca.

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This is just a little tribute to what I consider to be the best motion picture of the 20th Century. This is only my humble opinion; of course there are others.

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