I make no secret of the fact that I am an unabashed romantic. Alas, we seem to live in an era when romanticism appears to be dead – or at least terminally ill and on life support. Let me then take you with me to a time and place when men were noble and heroic and women were both soft and also incredibly strong.
The time is 1942, and the place is Casablanca, in Vichy-controlled Morocco. The men are Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), an outwardly cynical American expatriate living in Casablanca. Rick owns and runs "Rick's Café Américain", an upscale nightclub and gambling den that attracts a mixed clientele. In spite of his rough exterior, Rick has a big and generous heart.
The other man is Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), a fugitive Czech Resistance leader long sought by the Nazis. Victor is legendary as an "anti-Nazi underground hero" who is in Casablanca, a safe-haven from the Nazis. The Nazis fear Victor’s courage and strength.
Caught between these two bigger-than-life men, is the beautiful Ilsa Lund (played by Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman). She is the Norwegian wife of Victor Laszlo. Ilsa is at times vulnerable (especially when her heart is torn between the two men she loves). Ilsa, however, can also be incredibly tough - willing to stand up to the Nazis.
“Casablanca” is my all-time favorite movie – watching it takes me back to a time when men were men and women were glad of it. The movie won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Its characters, dialogue, and music have become iconic; in the years since it debuted, “Casablanca” has grown in popularity to the point that it now consistently ranks near the top of lists of the greatest films of all time.
Here are some scenes from “Casablanca” – enjoy!
CASABLANCA – Play it, Sam (As Time Goes By)
Embedding was not allowed for the following clips – you need to click on the link to view the video.
CASABLANCA - La Marseillaise (Long version.)
CASABLANCA - La Marseillaise (Short version.)
CASABLANCA – Here Is Looking At you Kid (End of movie.)
1 comment:
You ARE a big time romantic. I too love Casablanca. This movie transcends time, place and gender. This is a chick flick that guys can also enjoy. Rick is a man's man. I have practically memorized all of his lines. Victor is pretty cool too. Thanks for posting Debbie.
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