Thankfully this doesn't star Bennifer

26 November 1942, a day that probably means nothing to no-one (unless of course you happen to have been born on that particular day, but it will mean nothing to most other people) yet it's a day that should go down in history as the birth of a legend. It was on this very day that a film by director Michael Curtiz (Angels with Dirty Faces) was given it's world premiere in New York city. That film was the Humphrey Bogart vehicle Casablanca, a film that has since gone on to infuse itself into our culture in a way few films can truthfully claim. If imitation is indeed the greatest form of flattery then this particular film has a received more flattery than any other film in history, being the influence for countless films released since and the the material for thousands of spoofs in both the movie and video-game worlds. However we find ourselves today facing a very sad state of affairs; a time when most of our youth could quote half of Casablanca without thinking, but still can not make the claim of actually having seen it. They would claim that a love story will suck; which let's face it is generally true, or that any film without color is destined to have them snoring before the opening credits have ended. So instead of getting over these initial prejudices and actually watching the film even once, most youths are perfectly content with the many imitations out there; quoting the really famous lines in an attempt to sound cool and forgetting that a copy will always be degraded in quality, no matter how high the technology is.

Yet the fact remains that real; die hard, movie fanatics will have seen Casablanca, and while they wont all have enjoyed it (Something I can grudgingly accept in small doses) most will have made sure to see it, purely because a movie fan who has never seen Casablanca is the equivalent of a book worm that has never read, a book. (Enter your "I haven't seen Casablanca, actually" comments in the appropriate box.) So why is it that this particular film has become so popular among people who are usually so strict; that a romantic comedy is now so well respected that the mere suggestion of a Ben Affleck/Jennifer Lopez remake is tantamount to blasphemy? At a guess I would have to say that not only is it one of the few romantic comedies that is both romantic and funny; not only does it feature strong characters and unforgettable performances, but mainly I would say that it comes down to the progression of the films story, because Casablanca tells a story that; like it's main character, is pure nobility hiding itself behind a cynical shell.

The events of Casablanca occur entirely within the confines of the colorful city of the title (well with the exception of a quick flash back around the halfway mark) and centers around a glitzy casino known as Rick's Place. This particular casino is run by the cynical ex patriot Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a man who; years previously, had enjoyed a torrid affair with the beautiful Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) which ended when she disappeared, leaving behind only one last note and turning Rick into the empty shell he is today. Yet the Nazi regime has come to Casablanca due to concerns that a freedom fighter named Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid) is on his way and that Rick may choose to help him escape. However when Lazlo does show up in town he brings with him his wife who; fate would have it, is the very same Ilsa that Rick was in love with all those years ago.

To explain why Casablanca works as well as it does will take a while though; it's not the kind of thing that can be adequately covered in a few short paragraphs because the film is such a pure marvel; a film that sees every one of its technical areas coming together in sheer perfection. That is why I will take the most sensible route, I'll start with the most basic reason for Casablanca's endearing success and then I'll move my way forward into the depths of the film. The simple reason is; and this is also the thing that most people will find to like about Casablanca, the fact that the film works as a genuine romantic comedy. It's totally unlike most other romantic comedies because not only does it not focus on just one of these areas, but it also develops both areas incredibly well, preventing the film from dissolving into an incoherent mess. The location design of Ricks place, the longing close ups of Bergman's teary eyes and the central plot all work as a romance, yet the film still succeeds at being funny, very funny. At one point Claude Rains Capt. Louis Renault is required to shut down Rick's place by request from the Nazi's. When asked to give a reason he replies "I am shocked, shocked to discover there is gambling going on here!" before a waiter comes over to him replying "Your winnings sir." This is the kind of joke that has been used many times since and so may seem a little lame to those who have never seen the film, but when you have seen the film you will be able to appreciate how this particular instance benefits from the perfectly timed reaction of Rains and the fact that the joke has been underplayed enough that it barely has time to register as a joke. This is just one example of the films humor, but there are many examples and all of them work equally well in combination with the romantic aspects to produce the perfect romantic comedy.

Yet I cannot with a clear conscience imply that Casablanca is merely another one of histories romantic comedies, because as good as it works in that area Casablanca is so much more memorable than that. As any-one who has seen the film will testify; Casablanca features some of the strongest characters in the history of film and just as important are the actors who make these characters work. Who can forget Bogart's take on Rick, a character who is as far removed from the 2 dimensional heroes of todays films as is humanly possible. A man who can make the claim "I stick my neck out for nobody", yet have it countered by Lazlo's observation that he is merely trying to fool himself. That in his heart he remains a good man, even though he is hiding it from himself in this uncaring, cynical shell. Who can deny that it's Bogart that makes this role what it is, that his exuberance is the very reason that Rick Bane has gone on to become one of the silver screens biggest icons, remaining unchallenged for 40 years until Anthony Hopkins made Hannibal Lector the single contender. Bogart himself wasn't the best looking guy, he had an odd tone of voice that could have been considered annoying on anyone else, and yet with him it never did. He held such a sense of authority, an unmatched screen presence which made you believe that he was genuinely capable of getting the girl, thus adding to the power that was already on display during the films infamous climax.

Far from being alone though, Bogart was joined by a group of people who can only be described as a perfect cast. Bergman's long stares at the camera could so easily have turned into a typical eye candy moment, and yet she has such a wide eyed innocence about her that she gives the role an emotional intensity that it could so easily have missed. Paul Henreid gives her husband a sense of strong will, determination to do the right thing at all costs beyond the unhappiness of his wife. A man willing to sacrifice himself if it would make her happy and for the most part working as the voice of reason that constantly nags at Ricks cynical nature. Yet as far as I'm concerned the films best performer; after Bogart of course, will always be Claude Rains who played Casablanca's corrupt Police captain. A man willing to sell himself to the highest bidder, even willing to do favours for the Nazis whome he believes will win the war. Rains gives the role a sense of humor though, a cheeky humor that works in the spirit of the character, but also succeeds at making him endearing despite seeming to be such scum.

Like I said previously though; my favorite aspect of the film is that it does have a noble story to tell. While it initially comes across as a cynical tale, and by the end of the film the hero still doesn't get the girl, once you have finished watching the film it becomes obvious that the writers had a lot of faith in people. Louis, the corrupt police captain goes through the film appearing to be scum, a man who would sell his own mother down the creek if it would garner him with a little more success. Yet when the film reached its conclusion he utters another of Casablanca's immortal lines, "Round up the usual suspects." With that line he proves that he still has some humanity left in him thanks to a bond of friendship that he shares with Rick. Likewise with Rick, a man who has been broken down by the loss of the woman he loves, and in the end still fails to get her. Yet the point is that Rick is a man who could have easily left on that plane with Ilsa, he could have left Casablanca with the woman he loves and been happy forever. Yet he sees the bigger picture, he sees that his feelings are irrelevant and gives up the girl, but not only that, finally finds himself feeling content when he does this. It's this faith in humanity that keeps drawing me back to the film because it's been pulled off in such a way as to appeal to a cynic like me, while at the same time convincing me that not all people are that bad. It's probably one of the only optimistic films that appeals to me because of that optimism, and for that reason Casablanca has gone on to become one of my favorite films.