“Casablanca”: 80 years since the premiere of the most beloved film of all time

Perhaps his most iconic film world cinemaknown even to those who have never seen a movie, the “Casablanca” it is always in all the lists of the five ten best films of all time and certainly the most loved by historians, critics and especially cinephiles.

A true classic masterpiece, an unadulterated example of incredible magic, living up to the reputation of Hollywood’s golden age, it is also one of the most paradoxical productions, as it began as yet another low-budget commercial propaganda film, by Warner, in the context of encouraging Americans to side with the European Allied Powers in World War II. At its core is a simple romantic melodrama of unrequited love, combined with patriotic messages and the exoticism of Casablanca.

And yet, this b’movies turned into one of the greatest films of all time, thanks to the brilliant producer Hal Walliswho a year ago delivered the famous “The Maltese Falcon”, directed by debutant John Huston and of course the monumental, once again, performance of Humphrey Bogard.

This year marking 80 years since the premiere of the film, it is an opportunity to remember the fascinating story behind the lights, the protagonists of the legendary film and above all the reasons that made it one of the most loved films of the public.

“Casablanca” remains a timeless value, every showing of it reminds what true cinema means, remaining fresh and conveying authentic emotion, thousands of emotions, even if you have seen it dozens of times. The film was honored with three Oscars, those for best film, director and screenplay – for unknown reasons it did not yet win five Oscars, for which it had been nominated.

But these are of little or insignificant importance in front of the value and above all the incomparable charm of the film, which will continue to enchant millions of viewers for many decades even and will justify the invention of the cinema, the existence of Hollywood, even after it has turned into an industry video game….

Wallis, the theater and Reagan…

It all started when Hal Wallis was persuaded by screenwriter Irene Diamond to buy the rights to Murray Barnett and Joan Allison’s play Everybody Comes To Rick’s, which, however, had not yet been staged. Wallis wanted the hot name of the time William Wyler to direct, but since he was busy with another film, he will eventually turn to his friend, the reliable Michael Curtiz, a Hollywood master extraordinaire with vast experience in romantic adventures – and not only – with classic films to his credit, such as “Robin of the Woods” with the one and only Robin of our hearts Errol Flynn, “Captain Blud” and “The Sea Eagle”.

The script was undertaken by the Epstein brothers with Edward Koch, who had to transfer it to the cinema but also give it a final form, as it was incomplete and most importantly without a finale. Despite the rumored feuds and even backstage fights, in the end they would all work feverishly and with a grace, one might say divine, for a final result that would not just vindicate Hal Wallis and Curtis, but send them to heaven. .

Even for the two leading roles, there were disagreements, until the production ended up with the most charming cinematic couple of the cinema, Bogard and Bergman. Really, what would have been the fate of the film if Warner’s original choice Ronald Reagan ended up taking the lead role of Rick? What would have been left of the plywood performance of the talentless actor and later president of the USA?

The script and Rick

The story is simple: In French-occupied Casablanca, a place of escape to America, where rebels, fugitives, blackmailers, spies and even criminals congregate, everything revolves around the mysterious owner of a famous club-casino, Rick. An apparently cold, cruel and cynical man, who hides in his heart the crumbs of a romantic disappointment, but also of personal disappointments. A man who, although he has been decisively defeated many times, will find the courage to show his moral stature.

Rick is in complete control of the situation, staying away from the games being played even inside his luxury club, until he sees Ilsa in front of him, with her famous resistance man. The woman who accidentally hurt him in Paris, just before the Germans entered, leaving him to wait for her in vain at the train station.

Now, while the Germans surround the bar, she must take a stand, put her emotions aside and help her persecuted resistance man.

Film noir and thrills

The Bogarde-Bergman chemistry is unsurpassed, but Curtiz’s direction, which would have been unfairly obscured had it not been for “Casablanca” to his credit, reaches perfection. He takes a romantic melodrama and adds to it as many elements of mystery, suspense, patriotism, as in the famous scene in the club where the patrons sing the Massaliotida, to cover the song of the Germans. The US-France relationship had not yet broken, after all, it is a time when Hollywood even filmed heroic war dramas, to deify the courage and self-sacrifice of the Soviet people!

And together with Curtiz’s genius choice to direct in the form of film noir, with dark wet shots, which uniquely give the suffocating atmosphere of Morocco. Except the film was shot entirely at Warner Studios in California and the final scene at Los Angeles’ Van Ice Airport, where one of the film’s many immortal lines will be captured “I think this is the beginning of a nice friendship”written by Wallis himself.

The haughty Bogie and Ingrid’s glare

Bogarde gives a unique performance, confidently playing what he knows how to do better than anything else, an anti-hero, sarcastic, haughty, impervious to emotion. And yet the time will come when he will break, he will surrender to the great love and even more to the higher purpose, which is the questioning of the powerful Nazi Germany and his contribution to its defeat. And his shadow alone is so heavy, that when he appears everything else in the shot disappears, while even when he is absent from it, the anticipation of his appearance creates in the audience a euphoria – bordering on the metaphysical.

Up close, Ingrid Bergman, who shines in every appearance, becomes a genuine symbol of life, passion and freedom. And at the same time, equal to Bogie, ready to sacrifice her great love and her own happiness for the sake of duty. She is not a femme fatale, but a paragon of innocence, an authentic woman you adore.

Claude Rains and the prima donna

However, the contribution of the second roles was also huge, as amazing characterizationists gave this something more. Primarily, the wonderful Claude Rains, the film’s second-rate adventurer, the French officer who plays with the Germans but ultimately prefers Bogarde’s friendship. Next, Peter Lore’s terrifying face, which in the few minutes he appears with his frightened eyes, gives the whole atmosphere of the time. The good-natured figure of Dooley Wilson, in the role of the famous pianist and singer Sam, but also the greasy black man Sidney Greenstreet. And of course the co-star and probably the most indifferent of the cast Paul Henright, in the role of the resistance and Ilsa’s husband, who snubbed Bogie and quarreled with Bergman, who had called him a “prima donna”, because of his snobbish behavior.

“As Time Goes By”

Of course there were all those who were behind the cameras and worked their own miracles. In addition to the screenwriters, there was also the great cinematographer Arthur Edison, who filmed in dark black and white, clearly referring to film noir and German expressionism, played with shadows and flashes, contributing both to the mystery, the tension, but also to the emotion , which dominates from halfway through the entire film. A worthy supporter is also the famous film music composer Max Steiner, who also wrote the immortal song “As Time Goes By”, which remains the soundtrack of the film and an entire golden age for Hollywood.

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