More an icon than a work of art, CASABLANCA is still thoroughly entertaining romantic melodrama, flawlessly directed, subtly played, lovingly evoking our collective daydreams about lost chances and lost loves and love versus honor; everything about CASABLANCA is just right--it seems to have been filmed under a lucky star.
A peerless example of Hollywood studio moviemaking, director Michael Curtiz turning the Warner backlot into a gloriously romantic vision of WW2-era Morocco crammed with real-life European exiles and larger-than-life character actors.
In my opinion this film is a masterpiece, I don't like romances, but this one have great history, great characters and charactres arcs, great end and even plot twists. For some people this film may seem boring and slow and I may agree with slow but is just because the film is setting previous events and is not a defect. I recommend it.
One of the best movies ever made, might be the ****'s hard not to hum "as time goes by" days after watching it. Humphrey Bogard and Ingrid Bergman lead the way in this wartime complex romance that dives right in and let's you experience every emotion in the backdrop of Rick's Cafe Americain and the streets of Casablanca. This movie is entertaining and funny, enthralling, and features many iconic lines that have lasted a lifetime in American cinema. It has the most special way of telling a story of humanity during war, integrity's importance, and love's ultimate sacrifice. This movie avoids common narrative tropes and creates its own path and climax, and it's just perfect.
Setting, Conflict, Character, Dialogue, Theme, Plot, and Climax: A+
Runtime: 1:42
Audience Engagement (do you feel runtime): No
Top Genres: Drama, Romance, War (Fiction)
Genre(s) rating Drama - 10 Romance - 10 War - 9
Genre Average Score: 9.66 Directing: 10 Cinematography/lighting: 10 Story/Narrative: 10 Structure: 10 Dialogue: 10 Score(music): 10 Editing: 10 Acting: 10 Characterization: 10 Mise en Scène/Visual Design: 10 Visual Effects: 10 Sound Design: 10 Costumes/Makeup: 10 Lasting Impact: 10 Originality: 10
Overall: 9.98
Casablanca was filmed in the safety of the Warner Bros. lot, but the cast of immigrants and exiles who had fled the Third Reich conveyed their visceral fear. While the future was uncertain, the resolute characters of this exquisite wartime drama found peace through love and resistance.
Despite the fact that the fortunate turn or military events has removed the city of Casablanca, in French Morocco, from the Vichyfrance sphere and has thus in one respect dated the film, the combination of fine performances, engrossing story and neat direction make that easily forgotten. Film should be a solid moneymaker everywhere.
The dialogue is so spare and cynical it has not grown old-fashioned. Much of the emotional effect of Casablanca is achieved by indirection; as we leave the theater, we are absolutely convinced that the only thing keeping the world from going crazy is that the problems of three little people do after all amount to more than a hill of beans.
Ingrid Bergman makes a charming and beautiful refugee and Paul Henried gives a convincing performance in the role of the ardent anti-Nazi leader. Claude Rains gives one of his best performances as the police chief and Conrad Veidt is properly menacing as the Nazi officer. Sydney Greestreet is wonderful as the slick proprietor of the Blue Parrot and Rick’s rival in the cafe business.
One of the most timeless classics. It took me a while to really love this movie. The acting and story is really good. The movie also has a ton of iconic dialogue and memorable moments. Truly one of the best of the golden era