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Casablanca

Casablanca

List Price: $19.97
Your Price: $14.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Kiss is Still a Kiss...
Review: Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart make Hollywood's most memorable couple in this classic story of love and intrigue, set during WWII. People come to Casablanca from all over the world in hope of getting an exit visa and a flight to America. Bogie plays the suave and cynical Rick, owner of a hot nightclub. Enter the lovely Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa, his love from pre-war Paris. She had disappeared without a word. It seems she had to leave suddenly because her husband, partisan fighter Paul Henreid, presumed dead, was alive and needed her. Rick never got over losing Ilsa, and now she comes to beg him for an exit visa for her husband. They relive old times ("You wore blue, the Germans wore gray") and discover the old spark is still there. But what to do with hubby?

There is so much romantic tension between Bogie and Bergman; they really ignite the screen. She is helpless in his arms, he isn't used to being noble... Ingrid was never lovelier and Bogie is Bogie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A True Classic!
Review: When I first purchased my DVD player, "Casablanca" was one of the first DVDs I ran out and purchased. I first saw this film on TV as a teenager. Despite my past lack of interest in "old black and white movies," I fell in love with this movie instantly. The acting was superb (Bogart and Bergman share an amazing on-screen chemistry). The storyline grabs your attention. Even the supporting cast was excellent. Add the classic score of "As Time Goes By" into the mix, you've got one of the most romantic films ever made. "Casablanca" is my favorite movie of all time. It's a true classic and it certainly has changed my views of "black and white movies."

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: I can't believe that this movie was voted as the most
Review: popular big screen love story. There is little chemistry between Bogart and Bergman characters. The Germans just appeared to be too stupid in the movie. If Bergman's so called on screen freedom fighter husband is so important, why don't the Germans just finish him off when they had the chance rather than just trying to keep him from getting to Lisbon, duh... Ingrid Bergman is mesmerizing though, she deserves 5 stars.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: I didnt like it
Review: you know, i'll get like 1-300 helpful votes on this, but i didnt like this film. i honestly didnt like it. it seemed that humphrey bogart's character could do nothing but whine all the time about his love affair in paris and then get drunk at the bar. there were some powerful scenes, like when the opposing groups sang their respective nationalist songs and the ending was beautiful. but i just didnt like it. too melodramatic and humphrey whined too much.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent
Review: Very good service and the quality of the box and tape are excellent. I would buy from this seller again without a problem.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The great romantic movie of the 20th Century
Review: There are not that many romantic movies that men love, but this is the great exception. The reasons are not difficult to find. 'Casablanca' is a gripping thriller that never lets the pace flag. Ingrid Bergman is a doll. Humphrey Bogart is a man's man in a way that someone more obviously handsome, like Clark Gable, could never be.

The film has class and style that is sadly missing nowadays. Bogart looks good. Bergman looks beautiful and elegant. Even Claude Raines looks dapper, with his cap tipped nonchantly to one side. The script is clever and sharp with umpteen memorable lines. Throw in Peter Lorre and Sidney Greenstreet, and you have the recipe for a perfect film.

In 'Casablanca' the protagonists live out their moral dilemmas before us with a conviction that is rare in the cinema. Bogart looks genuinely pained when Bergman walks in. When Bergman has to choose between Bogart and Paul Henreid, you really believe her heart is about to break in two. This is acting at its best. Even Henreid manages to look noble and heroic as a wartime resistance leader without looking insufferable. Couple that with a script that not only involves us emotionally in their tangled moral dilemmas, but also resolves these dilemmas beautifully, and you have a recipe for a classic movie.

The director Michael Curtiz deserves credit for skilfully bringing everything together. Frame by frame, this film's brilliance is a tribute to his professionalism.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Just another positive opinion.
Review: A vast majority of filmgoers have acclaimed "Casablanca" as a classic. The small minority usually dislikes it for the black and white photography, the long since deceased stars, the lack of car chases and the characters bad habits (Drinking and smoking were very common in the 1940's). Many of the scenes in this film have also become so paroided that people have probably seen the spoof before they see the actual scene (Don't get this film's ending confused with the 'alternate version' used on the "The Simpsons"). I do agree with the majority vote, but I do so for a reason as well. Here is a list on "What makes 'Casablanca' a classic".

Values. This film shows that there are causes worth fighting for and that are worth sacrificing for. You have to take a stand on what you know is right and wrong, even if it means giving up something valuable to you or giving up your life

Patriotism. Though not all of us think of "La Marseilles" as our national anthem, that scene in the movie reminded us that pride in one's country could be a most powerful weapon. If I were in the same room with Osama Bin Laden, I would torture him by singing "The Star Spangled Banner".

Characters. Many words have already been written about Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine and Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa Lund. What about Paul Heinreid as Victor Lazlo, Claude Rains as Captain Renault or Conrad Veidt as Major Strasser? What about Sydney Greenstreet as Senior Ferrari, Peter Lorre as Ugarte, Dooley Wilson as Sam and S.Z Sazkall as Carl? Each of these characters has an important part and-Along with the ones discussed in the next paragraph-only add to the film.

Authenticity. The actors and extras in this movie are able to create a convincing environment that resembles French Morocco, unlike some films at the time which made up white actors to unconvincingly look like foreigners. This can be attributed to the large number of refugees that fled to America at the time. Many of the people in this film went through the same experience of running away from their homelands as their characters in this film do, further adding depth to the film. Some people in the audience can also relate to the events and experience these persons go through, like running away from home and having to stay on your feet or watch your back every minute.

The screenwriters on this film (Julius and Philip Epstein and Howard Koch) were responsible for the great dialogue and scenes that are affecting, hilarious and dramatic, sometimes all at once. But it was the director (Michael Curtiz) and actors who avoided making them throwaway lines. For example, after Rick shoots Major Strasser, Captain Renault states "Major Strasser has been shot", than takes a glance at Rick as he decides what to do. Than he says "Round up the usual suspects" to the guards. The line would have still been good if he had said it immediately afterward, but it wouldn't have been so emphasized.

Another thought I had was in the feelings Rick and Ilsa have for one another. Though, when they were in Casablanca, they still had something for each other, the fire wasn't as intense as seen during the Paris flashback. It's also possible that Rick and Ilsa might have only slept together in Casablanca so Ilsa could get Rick to help her and Victor. Certainly a far cry from the way it was in Paris. If the film had ended with Ilsa leaving Victor for Rick, Ilsa would not only be in danger but she and Rick might not have been as happy with one another (Not to forget that the film would be regarded today as a message to leave your spouse for someone you had a one night stand with).

Finally, this movie is just so darn fun to watch. But while it works at straightforward value, many people have nevertheless come up with unusual interpretations. One has the film being a political allegory of the time, with Rick as FDR ('Casa Blanca' is Spanish for 'White House'). Another idea has the ending being a gay fantasy, with Rick dumping Ilsa to have an affair with another man, that being Captain Renault (Bogart does have more screentime with Rains and there is the line "Rick is the kind of man that, if I were a woman, I shall be in love with Rick"). The best thing that can be said about both theories is that they are creative.

No movie, in my opinion, is absolutely perfect. There is also no 'Greatest movie of all time' in my view.

However, "Casablanca" does come close to being both. This film also achieves something that few movies do: It improves with age. Indeed, as time goes by, I will enjoy returning to Rick's more and more.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: not really a review, but my opinion on a particular scene
Review: no point exists in explaining why this movie is good. it just gets on another level, and plays with one's emotions. how many movies could do that?

perhaps my favorite scene out of any movie is when the german thugs are racuously singing a patriotic tune (probably deutschland uber alles... but it doesn't matter). victor lazlo, incensed, stands up and walks to the band leader, where he perfectly delivers a laconic line... "PLAY LA MARSEILLAISE!" eventually, the song starts out with just lazlo, and the germans are still heard. soon, everyone sings and drowns the germans out. the blonde girl (i don't remember her name) gets a close-up, and as we can plainly see, she is crying. she cries with frustration, rage, and vengeful pride.

seeing this scene chills me to the bone.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Quite Simply the Greatest!
Review: In my humble opinion, this is the greatest Humphrey Bogart movie, and one of the greatest of all times. Only an great actor like Bogie could make you feel Rick's pain, solely through facial motions, the first time Rick sees Ilsa at his cafe. Claude Rains is perfect in his role, and the supporting actors and actresses make this an incredible film! What the filmmakers did with black and white is exquisite! I would recommend this film to anyone! Buy it and enjoy!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Quality of the DVD Edition
Review: No point in writing about the movie - it is adequately covered elsewhere - just a note to say the quality of the DVD release is superb. This is what B&W on the big screen should look like - all the subtlety of shade and texture and wonderful tonal values. If you are borderline about buying it for the plot and have seen to many terible prints on TV - get this to see how good the cinematography really was in those days! Oh yes - it's also a good movie!


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