Casablanca review - ‘Here’s looking at you kid’

As World War II continued to enthral the world the Warner Bros picture ‘Casablanca’ was released that would soon become well known and much loved by audiences for generations to come. The film which follows Rick played by Humphrey Bogart an exiled American as he runs the popular ‘Rick’s Cafe Americain’. A cynical and self reliant character that repeatedly states “I stick my neck out for nobody” comes into possession of two valuable letters of transit needed to leave the comparative holding pen of refugees that the unoccupied area of Africa had become. With the real war still raging on the use of patriotism used throughout the film makes the heroes and villains of the film easy to distinguish increasingly when the Nazi’s arrive led by the film’s lead villain Nazi Major Strasser. Who upon arrival requests that the somewhat sycophantic head of police Captain Renault to detain the Czech underground resistance leader Victor Lazslo. When Laszlo arrives in Casablanca he is not alone, he is accompanied by his wife and Rick’s one time love Ilsa played by the talent of Ingrid Bergman. The back story of the couple’s romance in Paris is beautifully presented to the audience and the bitter and timeless tales of the trepidations that come with being involved in a love triangle are executed. With two letters of transit it becomes clear that two of these characters will be leaving Casablanca but it is not clear until the film reaches its climax which of those characters it will be.

Having won Oscars for best picture, best director and best screenplay along with some of cinemas most memorable lines including ‘Here’s looking at you kid’,’ I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship’ and my personal favourite ‘Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine’ there is no denying that Casablanca is a timeless classic and for anyone that hasn’t seen it I whole heartedly recommend it.

9 out of 10 - For a film that is 70 years old this year it sure has stood the test of time