Thursday, December 17, 2009

CASABLANCA (1942).


Casablanca (1942) romantic /drama. Directed by Michael Curtiz. Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid and featuring Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre. Set during World War II.

During World War II, Casablanca, Morocco is full of refugees fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe. Two German couriers carrying priceless visas to leave the country signed by General DeGaulle, are murdered and the visas stolen. The police are on a search to find the important documents, before they get in the hands of Victor Lazlo, a Czech resistance leader. Renault and Strasser search for the killer at Rick's Cafe Americain, a fancy nightclub run by American ex-patriot Richard Blaine. Ugarte, a dealer, asked Rick to hold the stolen visas for him, saying that he has a buyer for them and plans to leave Casablanca. When Renault suggest he not interfere with Ugarte's arrest, Rick says "I stick my neck out for nobody." He makes a bet with Renault, that Lazlo will leave Casablanca even though the German's try to stop him. After Ugarte arrest, Lazlo and Ilsa Lund, enters Rick's Cafe. Ilsa sees the piano player Sam, Ilsa asks him to play "As Time Goes By." Rick, is back in his office making contact with the underground, comes out to stop him. Rick remembers his past love affair with Ilsa in Paris. After catching up on old times, the Nazis invade Paris. Ilsa wants him to leave the city. He refuses to go without her, and she agrees to meet him at the train station. But she sends a note in her place. Sam and Rick leave just in time.

Will Rick be able to choose between his love for Ilsa, or help her Resistance leader husband escape from the city of Casablanca to continue the fight against the Nazis?

Fun fact:

The movie's line "I stick my neck out for nobody." was voted as the #42 of "The 100 Greatest Movie Lines" by Premiere in 2007.

I thought Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman had wonderful on screen chemistry. I'm surprised that they did not do more films together. The line that sticks out the most for me, is when Bogart says "There are parts of New York I wouldn't advise you to invade." And what makes this line so memorable is that Humphrey Bogart starred in another movie was the basis for the film, "All Through The Night".





Madeleine LeBeau (born on 10 June 1923). Lebeau made her Hollywood debut in, Hold Back the Dawn (1941). The following year, she landed a role in Errol Flynn movie Gentleman Jim.

Later that year she landed the role of Yvonne, Rick’s jilted mistress, in Casablanca. After Casablanca, she performed in two more American films: Paris After Dark (1943)and Music for Millions.

After the end of World War II, LeBeau returned to France and continued her acting career. In 1947, she appeared in Les Chouans (The Royalists). In 1950, LeBeau traveled to Great Britain to perform in a movie, Cage of Gold.

She would appear in 20 more movies, mainly French, including Brigitte Bardot's Une Parisienne (1957), and Federico Fellini's 8½ (Otto e mezzo, 1963). LeBeau's last two movies were Spanish productions in 1965.

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