Casablanca

Rating:
Summary: see it now
Review: This is not a movie.

This is a religious experience.

Go see it... NOW.

Rating:
Summary: "You must remember this"....
Review: It's hard to believe that when Casablanca was filmed at Warner Bros. Studios in 1942 it was "just another" of the 50 or so films that the studio was producing every year, as Lauren Bacall points out in the documentary about the film included in the special features. The movie was an instant success with audiences everywhere, and won three Academy Awards including Best Picture. Called "America's most popular and beloved movie- and rightly so" by The Motion Picture Guide, and "The best Hollywood movie of all time" by Leonard Maltin, Casablanca was voted the #2 film in a list of the top 100 films of this century by the American Film Institute.
Set in refugee strewn French North Africa in 1942, Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a night club owner, and his friend Captain Louis Renault (Claude Rains), Prefect of Police, enter into a wager as to whether or not Resistance Leader Victor Laslo (Paul Henreid) will be able to escape Casablanca and reach the Free World. When Laslo arrives in Casablanca, Rick is stunned to find him accompanied by his ex-lover, Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman). Filled with mystery, suspense, intrigue and romance, Casablanca will remain a favorite of classic movie lovers for years to come.
The supporting cast include Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre and Dooley Wilson as Rick's piano playing confidant, Sam. The entire cast are superb, the settings are excellent, and the cinematogrophy is wonderful.
The song "As Time Goes By" was made famous by Casablanca, as it's melody is entwined throughout the film, and it too is now a classic, filled with romance and nostalgia.
This is one film that absolutely MUST be in your DVD library!

Rating:
Summary: Shweetness
Review: The movie"Casablanca" was 103 minutes of some of the best classic film ever recorded. I was never before interested in viewing this film, but am now glad that I did. It's helped to open my eyes to the world of the black and white classic movie.

The awards for best director (Michael Curtiz), best actor (Humphrey Bogart),and best supporting actor (Claude Rains) were all well deserved. Ingrid Bergman also did a fabulous job in the part of Bogart's ex-lover. And who could forget Dooley Wilson's part as Sam, the piano player always willing to provide atmosphere where it was needed most.

I find it to be interesting that this movie would take a controversial situation, such as the German occupancy of France, and apply it to a movie based on a love triangle, while still managing to keep the entire thing believable. I wonder if this might not be the beginning of the day time soap opera.

Memorable scenes filled with memorable lines, like "Here's looking at you, kid." Help to make this movie. While the music, aside from that played by Sam, helped to not only provide the emotional atmosphere for the movie, but it also tied together important pieces that might have otherwise been left astray.

I found this movie to be well done. It was believable, but with a twist. Much like a nice cold glass of iced tea with a twist of lemon; sweet, refreshing, and with just enough of a zip to keep you interested.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect Movie...Pristeen DVD
Review: CASABLANCA....The name alone conjurs up visions of World War II, Clandestine meetings, Romance and Exotic places.This film has all that and more. To sum up this wonderful story(I'm so thrilled about the DVD I want to get to that too), it is the eve of WWII, the Nazi's are moving their way across Europe, forcing thousands to flee. Many find their way to Casablanca, Morroco, which is under French rule and as of yet is unoccupied by the Nazi's. Most are looking for exit Visa's to get to America but it is easier said then done. Victor Laszlo(Paul Henreid)and his wife Ilsa(Ingrid Bergman)are among those people and it's harder for him then most. He is on the Nazi's most wanted list for leading the Czech Resistance. Rick Blaine(Humphrey Bogart)is his best hope.
Rick, American ex-patriot,doesnt stick his neck out for anybody, until he sees Ilsa. His old flame, that mysteriously left him in Paris,("We'll always have Paris"). Rick still feels the sting of that day,but as Ilsa's story unfolds he does stick his neck out for both Ilsa and Victor to help them get away, even though he loves her still.
This movie has some unforgetable music. including "As Time Goes By",("Play it Sam") and some unforgetable characters. Included in this marvelous cast are Claude Rains, ("Louie, I think this is the start of a beautiful freindship"), Peter Lorre,Conrad Veidt and Sydney Greenstreet. And don't forgot all the unforgetable lines, I've tried to mention a few here. It was directed by Michael Curtiz, and won the academy award for best picture of 1943.
The DVD(Warner Bros) is a Pristeen transfer. The black and white cinematography with all it's shadows and lights that make film noir so dramatic is crisp and clear.I saw no signs of the age of this film. Ingrid's eyes sparkle as much as her diamond earings.The sound is perfect. The disc includes a documentary hosted by Lauren Bacall with commentary by various people involved with the film. There are theatrical trailers for this and other film noirs and there are English and French subtitles for those in need of it.
"Here's looking at you kid"............Laurie

Rating:
Summary: Don't Be Fooled
Review: I avoided this film for years and years thinking it was going to be just another mushy load of love story pap, and for once I'm happy to say I was wrong, very wrong.

The Love story between the two main actors plays more like a sub-plot than a main story, which is off course about Nazis invading Casablanca, a lot of people seem to forget this.

The other thing people forget is how witty the script is, EI: when Rick is asked what his nationality is he replies "I am a drunkard", I often found myself chuckling through this movie.

Everything else great about this movie has been said a thousand times before and probably a thousand times better than I ever could say them, and its all true.

Buy it and see.

Rating:
Summary: Here's Looking At You Kid
Review: If there is one film to be marooned with; this is it.

Rating:
Summary: An experience worth reliving a thousand times
Review: Casablanca is not a movie... it's an experience. It's an introduction to a magical world to which we feel we must be a part of.

Replete with an all-star cast and moving dialogues, Casablanca is a treat, any comments about which from me, will spoil your pleasure when watching it.

Rating:
Summary: Film looks terrific on DVD, but outtakes disappointing.
Review: Casablanca is a great film and looks wonderful on DVD, but don't buy the disc expecting to see a lot in the way of "newly discovered outtakes". They are not very interesting or revealing, few in number, very short, not documented or explained and seen only briefly as part of and under the closing credits of the "You Must Remember This" documentary included on the disc.

Rating:
Summary: "Nobody ever loved me that much."
Review: To me, "Casablanca" is one of the most perfect examples of films from Hollywood's golden age. It's the kind of black and white, studio-bound film that they don't make anymore. It's also got Humphrey Bogart, one of Hollywood's greatest stars in one of his signature roles.

"Casablanca" is the story of a cynical cafe owner named Rick Blaine, who sticks his head out for no one. Rick used to be a notorious anti-fascist who fought against Franco in Spain and ran guns against Mussolini in Ethiopia. However, after being abandoned by the girl that he was in love with, ... Rick ceased to care about causes and instead settled in Casablanca.....

"Casablanca" was made as war propaganda to convince an isolationist America to join the battle against fascism. But thanks to sharp writing, directing, and acting it transcends this and becomes a universal story about the need to get off our behinds and combat evil. Many of the lines have gone down in history, so that even people who have never seen this film recognize the quotes.

Among the memorable quotes:

"Here's looking at you kid."

"Of all the ginjoints in all the world,..."

"I'm no good at being noble,..."

"Here's looking at you kid."

"Play it, Sam."

"Louis, this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

I'm sure fans will be able to think of plenty more.

Bogart represented a different kind of hero. Unlike the almost sickeningly idealistic Victor Laszlo, Bogart's character is quite willing to turn a blind eye to the world's problems. Which makes his ultimate act of self-sacrifice so noble, because it is so unexpected. ... We find ourselves amazed by the cynical Rick's ability for goodness.

The ending of "Casablanca" has got to be one of the greatest, and most satisfying endings ever in a Hollywood film. It is the ending perhaps more than anything that makes "Casablanca" so much better than the average Hollywood film from that era.

"Casablanca" is a must for any lover of old films. Like me!

Rating:
Summary: "I am shocked - SHOCKED! - to find gambling going on here!"
Review: I first saw this movie over a year ago. I was at a friend's house, and she had some friends over. I got partway through, then she asked me to join her party. I served as a non-participating bystander until they all drank themselves to sleep around 1.30 or 2 in the morning - then I finished the movie. Despite the interruption, I thought it was a wonderful film.

The second time and the third time and every time since, I see it and think, "This is so fine. I don't think I ever understood it before." Because there are so many characters and they all have their complex personalities and situations.

Ingrid Bergman is beautiful as always and wears some pretty interesting outfits. Look for the one with the appliquéd hearts. At least they look appliquéd. Humphrey Bogart bends away slightly from his "tough guy" personality and smiles in a few of the flashback scenes. Paul Henreid doesn't have a very big part, unfortunately, but he makes the most of what he is given. But in my opinion, it is really Claude Rains that steals the show here. He has all the good lines; he cuts a snappy figure in the French uniform; and he lends a charming humour to each scene he is in. Of course he is a womaniser (that just dawned on me the last time I saw it - yeah, I know, wake up), but... Anyway.

The music is also very good, and to use my mother's words, the "groovy globe" at the beginning is - well - pretty groovy.

Well, anyway, what I have to say, it's nothing new - I like this movie and I think it's one of the best Hollywood ever turned out. See it and enjoy Ingrid, Humphrey, Paul, and Claude.