"Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine."

Rick Blaine runs Casablanca's number one club "Cafe Americain" in French owned Morocco. "Special" arrangements with the local French police Captain Renault, enable Rick to maintain a profitable business in the city becoming widely used as a thoroughfare to Lisbon and ultimately a plane to America to escape the war. The arrival however, of underground resistance leader Victor Laszlo attracts unwelcome attention from the German Gestapo officers unofficially controlling the as yet unoccupied Morocco led by Major Heinrich Strasser. Victor's arrival also brings with it further upheaval for Rick with ex-love Ilsa now on the arm of Laszlo. Rick has to choose between helping the resistance, his one true love and himself in the midst of a corrupt war.

"With the coming of the Second World War, many eyes in imprisoned Europe turned hopefully, or desperately, toward the freedom of the Americas. Lisbon became the great embarkation point. But, not everybody could get to Lisbon directly, and so a tortuous, roundabout refugee trail sprang up. Paris to Marseilles. Across the Mediterranean to Oran. Then by train, or auto, or port across the rim of Africa, to Casablanca in French Morocco. Here, the fortunate ones through money, or influence, or luck, might obtain exit visas and scurry to Lisbon and from Lisbon, to the New World. But the others wait in Casablanca. And wait. And wait. And wait."


skyjude review
You must remember this. Sorry - but there really is no other introduction for this cinematic legend. Filmed during and set in the midst of the Second World War this movie really is as close to perfection as it gets. It's memorable for the acting, the music, the direction but most of all the sizzling screenplay - surely the finest ever written. Bogart and Bergman star but the real genius in this film is the huge role the supporting cast play with Claude Rains given all the great lines while Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre revel in their roles. Casablanca has already stood the test of time with some of the most memorable quotes ever and an almost perfect ending. It's eminently rewatchable and with the immaculately restored DVD special edition should feature in everyone's collection.

Top 5 Reasons for Watching Casablanca

[5] Rick meets Ilsa
The stars meet for the first time in the movie, and the first time since Paris for their characters. With heavyweight stars like Bogart and Bergman this was always going to be a key scene but with Sam playing As Time Goes By in the background this is an all-time great movie moment.

[4] Supporting cast
While everyone celebrates Claude Rains scene stealing performance, Sydney Greenstreet is just awesome as Ferrari and Peter Lorre never creepier as Ugarte. Paul Henreid is hugely under-rated for his serious portrayal of the resistance leader while Conrad Veidt's playing of Major Strasser has become a stereotype for all Nazi's ever since. But complete respect must go to S.Z.Sakall and Leonid Kinskey for their roles as Carl and Sascha respectively, allowing us to capture their characters with just a few lines of dialogue and some wonderful facial expressions.

[3] La Marseillaise
Victor Laszlo instructs the band to trump the German singing with a playing of La Marseillaise. The customers soon join in and show Major Strasser their true feelings - "Vive la France!". An inspiring moment whether you're French, German or any other Nationality.

[2] The script
The story is great and yet so simple on paper. The dialogue is just mind blowing - line after line of hugely quotable classics that have now become part of everyday language.

[1] The ending
Some love it - Hollywood purists hate it. The simple fact is that this is one of the main reasons Casablanca is still talked about today. I love it but then I think in the underground resistance leader the real hero got the girl anyway. As for Rick and Ilsa - well, they'll always have Paris..


Casablanca quotes

Capt. Renault: What in heaven's name brought you to Casablanca?
Rick: My health. I came to Casablanca for the waters.
Capt. Renault: The waters? What waters? We're in the desert.
Rick: I was misinformed.

Ilsa: I wasn't sure you were the same. Let's see, the last time we met...
Rick: Was La Belle Aurore.
Ilsa: How nice, you remembered. But of course, that was the day the Germans marched into Paris.
Rick: Not an easy day to forget.
Ilsa: No.
Rick: I remember every detail. The Germans wore grey, you wore blue.

Capt. Renault: Rick, there are many exit visas sold in this café, but we know that you've never sold one. That is the reason we permit you to remain open.
Rick: Oh? I thought it was because I let you win at roulette.
Capt. Renault: That is another reason.

Capt. Renault: By the way, last night you evinced an interest in Señor Ugarte.
Victor: Yes.
Capt. Renault: I believe you have a message for him?
Victor: Nothing important, but may I speak to him now?
Major Strasser: You would find the conversation a trifle one-sided. Señor Ugarte is dead.
Ilsa: Oh.
Capt. Renault: I am making out the report now. We haven't quite decided yet whether he committed suicide or died trying to escape.

Capt. Renault: No matter how clever he is, he still needs an exit visa. Or I should say two?
Rick: Why two?
Capt. Renault: He is traveling with a lady.
Rick: He'll take one.
Capt. Renault: I think not. I have seen the lady.

Rick: Who are you really, and what were you before? What did you do and what did you think, huh?
Ilsa: We said no questions.
Rick: Here's looking at you, kid.

Rick: And remember, this gun is pointed right at your heart.
Capt. Renault: That is my least vulnerable spot.

Ilsa: You're saying this only to make me go.
Rick: I'm saying it because it's true. Inside of us, we both know you belong with Victor. You're part of his work, the thing that keeps him going. If that plane leaves the ground and you're not with him, you'll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.
Ilsa: But what about us?
Rick: We'll always have Paris. We didn't have, we, we lost it until you came to Casablanca. We got it back last night.
Ilsa: When I said I would never leave you.
Rick: And you never will. But I've got a job to do, too. Where I'm going, you can't follow. What I've got to do, you can't be any part of. 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.

Capt. Renault: Major Strasser has been shot. Round up the usual suspects.

Rick: Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.


Production company: Warner Bros.