The battling anthem scene is hands down one of the best scenes ever. This movie was made while WW2 was still happening. The director filled the scene with french refugees so their emotions shown while singing their belonged french anthem are genuine. Such a powerful scene in the movie and what it represented outside the movie
CASABLANCA was filmed in 1941, released early in 1942. Pearl Harbor wasn't attacked until Dec. 7, 1941. Until we were attacked, there was a lot of anti war sentiment in the states. During production, none of the writers, director, or actors knew if America would enter the war. The studios at that time cranked out a movie a week so that their own theaters would have something to sell tickets to. CASABLANCA was just one of the 50 films they made that year. A year or so earlier there had been a big box office film named ALGIERS. The studio decided to make CASABLANCA in the hope of riding on the previous film's coat tails. None of them knew or expected it to be what it has become. Sometimes all the stars and planets line up just right.
All those actors were refugees from Europe on the run from the murderous Nazis. When the movie was released the outcome looked very dark and uncertain for the Allies
It's fun to feel a surge of patriotism for a country other than your own. I got the same feeling from Mrs Miniver (1943) when all the Little Ships go out in the middle of the night to bring their boys home from Dunkirk, and I'm neither British nor French.
This is pretty much a perfect movie. Dialogue, movie star charisma, visuals, pacing...it's flawless. Snappy dialogue goes a long way in my opinion. Plus the ending is perfect. The first time I saw this I could not guess the ending would be Rick and Renault walking off together into the night. But it works, once you see the movie you realize that ending seemed fated to happen. Both of those guys were very cynical so it makes sense that at the end, when given the chance to screw over the Nazis, they'd take the opportunity to redeem themselves.
@@annaclarafenyo8185 Yeah I forgot about that. It's especially bad because both Rick and Ilsa are supposed to be on good terms with Sam so they didn't write that to show the character's prejudice. They wrote it because racism was so ingrained in them that it was normal dialogue to them.
@@flibber123 It's worse than that, as the strange affectation of calling a black man 'boy' didn't exist in Europe at the time. This line looks like it was deliberately rewritten by one of the screenwriters, to ensure that the otherwise anti-racist script wouldn't allow the black man any chance to appear fully human. My guess would be that the word "boy" deliberately was inserted to replace "man" by Casey Robinson. The Mormons of that time didn't admit black members, and claimed that black people were cursed to servitude.
@@annaclarafenyo8185 Who was Casey Robinson? Was he Mormon? The director of this movie was not born in this country. He was an immigrant [I think from Eastern Europe] and since that word usage was not uncommon, here, do you think that he possibly didn't really understand the reasons for and history of the use of that word. And even in the 50s, unfortunately the use of that term was not all that unusual.. And Sam's character seems more substantive than most characters of black actors, that I remember thru even the 60s. Not trying to 'lecture' you, but wondering what you think abt. his character in the 'storyline'?
I don't normally post comments; however, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for reacting to this. It is truly a breath of fresh air to see someone react and appreciate a film of this caliber. This was a time when plot, dialog and acting actually meant something. Unlike today, where actors are nothing more than a mere backdrop for the next big special effect or cgi event. Consider the range of emotions, from humor to sorrow and everything in between. All conveyed by actors and a director, and all done in black and white. I hope people will be inspired to watch more films like this with substance, content and value. Films that give the viewer a reason to think and feel. Anyway, thanks for taking the time and especially for selecting this film to share.
@Randy White 🎬I'm giving you a thumbs down, ...but not really. You see, Jason Nelson and you are wrong ...and then again, you're both right. Meaning story/character are King! The studios are responsible for all of that watered-down drivel you get nowadays. Just like sports, music or anything else we love in such a deep way, it's been marketed to death in pursuit of the all to sacred, bottom-line.💰 🎬As much money as actors may make (which is nothing comparable to studio execs), they are still at the mercy of what the studios want to make. Which by definition means appealing to the lowest common denominator. White men, 18-35: they want a lot of noise (FX & CGI) and no substance (🥫the sympathy & dialog). As unfortunate as that sounds, ...it's a formula that works! 🎬There are so many actors with the bones of yesterdays actors, but you need what they had ...decent, thoughful, intelligent, well written material with substance such as a "Saving Private Ryan". But there needs to be an event or a Spielberg or Scorsese to get something worth making. But as far as H'Wood is concerned, if you want pizza 🍕or McDonald's for dinner ...that's what you get. 🎬Until then, unless the audience's demands change... ...guess what's for dinner⁉
I’m so pleased you treated this classic with respect. Many younger people today would simply find constant fault and take every opportunity to laugh and mock at it. I’m 62 and am an ‘old movie’ buff… but even I am (in a sense) young for this particular era of classic films. I started getting into the classic old films around the age of 23. I’ll take this opportunity to recommend one of my personal all-time favourite movies: Billy Wilder’s “The Apartment” (1960) You seem to have good taste and appreciation of quality film-making, so… I’m sure you’ll love it.
Hey thanks for the kind words! I appreciate falling in love with great writing, charismatic charming characters , and that honestly kept me engaged...usually 1 or 2 setting type movies I can get bored of but not this one! Thanks for watching
There is only one flaw in Casablanca, when Ilsa calls a grown ass piano player "boy". It is American racism unfairly transplanted onto whatever nationality Ilsa is.
Years ago (decades, actually) I had a friend watch it. She hadn't seen it before, I had - many times. When it was finished she said she loved it, but that the dialogue was full of so many clichéd lines. I said "All those lines CAME from this movie!". That floored her. 😄
That's because they have been fed CGI, sex and violence, ridiculous car chases and explosions. Good taste, like intelligent conversation, are relics of the past (at least in the US)
22:55 "This is some real honorable shit right here." Hahaha, the best, most perfect sentence to describe Rick's decision at the end of "Casablanca" that I've ever heard.
Having had to admit that the other guy is the better man and more fit for the lady, I can say that it is one of the hardest things to do. In the end, whether it is the lady or the world that is better off with the decision, there's still a lonely man who felt love and was loved that is left behind alone.
best love triangle ever, because you like all 3 parties, and none of them are guilty of any real wrongdoing. the lighting is amazing in this film. Not enough credit is given to just how much of a wisecrack Rick is.
I love that you are reacting to some classic movies. They may be old, but many of them are more impactful (on a human/emotional level) than most films of today. Other great, older films to check out: Rear Window (1954), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), The Philadelphia Story (1940), The Third Man (1949), North by Northwest (1959), His Girl Friday (1940), The Manchurian Candidate (1962), The Maltese Falcon (1941), To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), The Man Who shot Liberty Valance (1962), Rio Bravo (1959), Winchester '73 (1950), The Lady Vanishes (1938).
The "Manchurian Candidate" is pretty near the best recommendation you could make. No matter how great Meryl Streep is, in this case Angela Lansbury outdoes even her. Brings her character even closer to the 'Dark Side' than Streep! The Third Man is a great idea too. I saw that on afternoon TV movies as a child, and wouldn't stop until my parents bought me a "Zither". There's another very interesting 40s 'black and white' movie ["The Stranger'] abt. an escaped Nazi trying to use a marriage as a way of hiding out in America, and cover his tracks. It had Orson Wells n Loretta Young.
Yes, A great list. One takes center stage for me, however. "The Best Years of Our Lives" is way up on my list of favorites for several reasons. Yes, the actors are well cast and there are scenes that stun us like the huge field of Bombers.. But the difficulty faced by our returning soldiers and the casting of a veteran who had lost both hands, drove home the central theme: War Is Hell. Just say'n.
Impressive list indeed, I would add Key Largo and The African Queen, and Stalag 17. Forgetting about Stanley and Livingston with Spencer Tracy with the line, Doctor Livingston... I presume. Oh and Nothwest Passage.
I love older movies like this. One of my favorite franchises started in 1934 with *The Thin Man* starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. They are a mix of mystery and humor with witty dialogue and the main character couple have major on screen chemistry. They are based on a novel of the same name by Dashiel Hammett. I highly recommend them. I've introduced every generation in my family to them and they really enjoy them.
@@FlixTalk Yes. The Thin Man and subsequent sequels are awesome. For a really old movie with some great (though a different era) acting and a couple boring spots, try Dinner at Eight 1933
@@daneberhardt6314 "Dinner At Eight"! Yikes, my age (83) is showing again. It is a wonderful movie that I recommend often to my younger friends. I just forgot to mention it. Mae Culpa! Just say.n
Casablanca is truly one of the very few perfect movies that have ever been made. It has everything: action, suspense, drama, comedy, complex yet relatable characters, fantastic acting, beautiful cinematography, a perfect script and anything else I may be forgetting. I have never met anyone who disliked it. It is my absolute favorite black and white movie and definitely on my top 5 movies of all time list. And it consistently ranks at the very top of any best movies of all time list. You really can't go wrong with it.
The only problem with it is "Whose the boy playing the piano?" about a grown ass old man. It's out of character for Ilsa, it's American racism, not European at all, and it doesn't fit in at all with Rick's respectful treatment of Sam. Other than that, it's flawless.
Casablanca is just a great film. Other films from the 40’s that I would recommend. 1940 The Maltese Falcon. John Huston directs his first film with an awesome cast, Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Peter Lorre, and Sidney Greenstreet. Great detective film. 1943 Shadow of a Doubt. Alfred Hitchcock directs his favorite film. Starring Theresa Wright and Joesph Cotton. 1944 Double Indemnity. Billy Wilder classic. Starring Fred McMuarry, Barbara Stanwyck, and Edward G. Robinson. 1944 Arsenic and Old Lace. Directed by Frank Capra, hilarious adaptation of a long running Broadway play. Stars Cary Grant, Priscilla Lane, Raymond Massey, and Peter Lorre. 1946 Notorious. Hitchcock classic. Stars Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, and Claude Rains. Brilliant spy love triangle. 1947 Miracle on 34th Street. Directed by George Seaton, best Christmas movie ever. THIS IS THE VERSION TO WATCH! 1948 Key Largo. John Huston directs Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Edward G. Robinson in a tense suspense movie.
Always great to watch a new person discover this great classic. One of my favorites, it gets 5 out of 5 too. It's a movie with real substance, and Rick's arc parallels America's as it transitioned from isolationism into involvement in the war. A real dignified treatment of a love triangle and a mature way to deal with it and step up to the plate for larger considerations. Another great Bogart movie from the era is The Maltese Falcon. I'm sure you will get a lot of the good suggestions. Nice job!
Casablanca is one of the greatest movies of all time. It's one of those happy occasions when everything comes together - the drama, the acting, the set, the lighting, the music - it all works. And something else. This is not just a drama about love and war. This has a wider dimension - it's about good and evil. But it's also about human weakness and how we are neither all good or all evil. In fact, it's Shakespearean in its scope. Thank you so much for your appreciative reaction.
Great reaction...thank you for diving into the old classics! If I might be permitted a few suggestions, you might want to check out "Stalag 17" (Best Actor Oscar for William Holden, who didn't even want the part!), or perhaps "12 Angry Men" (Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb)
My wife and I watch "Casablanca" every New Year's Eve. We have it timed so that "La Marseillaise" begins right at midnight. That's when we stand up and open the champagne. This is the greatest movie ever made.
'Here's looking at you kid', "play it again, Sam', 'We'll always have Paris', and the famous 'Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship''. All classic dialogue.
Excellent choice. Most people don't watch older movies beyond 1980 and those that do are often shocked that movies from this era can actually be good. Trivia: It is never revealed why Rick cannot return to America. Julius J. Epstein later said that "my brother (Philip G. Epstein) and I tried very hard to come up with a reason why Rick couldn't return to America. But nothing seemed right. We finally decided not to give a reason at all." I personally think that this was a brilliant choice. Sometimes the mystery is better than the explanation.
They've tried to redo this film several times and even as a TV show. Nothing has come close to the original. Everything in this film was perfect and no attempt should be made to duplicate it ever. It's a masterpiece.
Great reaction. I love seeing young RUclips reactors getting into the old classics. There's a whole universe of great movies like this to explore. Two more classic Bogart films that I would highly recommend are "The Maltese Falcon" and "Key Largo."
“When all the archtypes burst in shamelessly, we reach Homeric depths. Two cliches make us laugh. A hundred cliches move us. For we sense dimly that the cliches are talking among themselves, and celebrating a reunion.” - Umberto Eco, writing about Casablanca
Great to see someone your age taking a chance on an "old" movie ("old" meaning "classic," of course.) I was about your age when I first saw "Casablanca" and it's been a favorite ever since. Hard to believe it was made 80 years ago, but the classics hold up over time. You might enjoy other "old" movies from that era. I got hooked on classic Warner Brothers gangster movies because James Cagney became another favorite after Humphrey Bogart. "White Heat" is probably one of his most successful ones, though he did a lot of movies when he was younger. Anyway, it's nice to see someone who actually appreciates dialogue and storytelling and great acting. I hope you treat yourself to more of these movies, even if you don't review each one. Keep up the good work! 👍
Thank for you the kind words and thank you for watching! You and I are definately on the same page as far as liking gangster films! I would like to explore those next
If you have a few minutes to see again a tiny bit of stunning acting, watch that 26 second long (That's practically forever) close up of Ilsa listening to Sam play as time goes by, watch the eyes watch the head watch even when she opens her mouth to breathe she's tearing up. It is incredible acting.
Another short scene that reveals Ilsa's deep, true feelings for Victor is when Victor speeds down the stairs from Rick's office to the bandstand where urges the band -- with Rick's nodded "It's OK, do what he says" -- and the camera cuts to Ilsa's concerned face about what's to come. You can see her sped-up breathing, tears forming in her eyes, and a completely adoring countenance. Ilsa + the "battle of the bands" = one of the most patriotically stirring scenes in cinema history.
I think you should try a comedy called "Some Like It Hot" around 1958. It's rated by the AFI as the #1 best classic comedy ever made. That may be stretching it a bit but I guarantee you a lot of laughs as well as the iconic Marilyn Monroe. It's in black and white but that's ok, it won't bother you. It starts out in 1920a gangland Chicago.
This is my favorite movie, which means that it is the best movie ever because I don't believe that there is any objective way to judge. "It Happened One Night" and "Arsenic and Old Lace" are other movies from this general time spot that I would recommend and, of course, "The Maltese Falcon."
For more Bogie, you need to dig into the 3 Oscar nominee (best picture, screenplay and supporting actor) classic ‘film noir’ The Maltese Falcon (1941), written and directed by the legendary John Huston from the Dashiell Hammett book. The film also has two familiar faces from Casablanca, Sydney Greenstreet (the best supporting actor nom.) & Peter Lorre in his signature role, Joel Cairo. Another worm to take notice of is the performance of Elisha Cook, Jr.
Among classics, everyone will recommend Citizen Kane, but I think The Third Man would be interesting for you: it's from the same era as Casablanca but darker with more outside action.
This is a great one, thanks for reacting. There are lots of awesome movies from the classic era. Try The African Queen with Bogart and Hepburn. Bogey won his Oscar for that one.
I don't understand why reviewers cut out the best line of the entire movie! "And what about your beloved New York?" Bogie: "Heir Strasser, there are parts of New York that I advise you not to try and invade."
It's worth noting as Rick and Louis walk off into the fog to the rising notes of La Marseillaise that when this movie was made France was still occupied by the Germans.
@@FlixTalk Billy Wilder...the drama of Sunset Blvd., the laugh-out-loud best comedy of all time Some Like It Hot, and the bittersweet but wonderful Apartment.
Black and white movies are the best, this was one of the top ones along with Citizen Cane. There are alot of good movies during the war most tried to be optimistic. Goodbye Mr. Chips is a good one. You watch these movies for the dialogue. Todays movies are repetitive or steel from older movies.
other movies to watch to see hw this stands against the Maltese falcon, Citizen Kane, Sunset Boulevard, Miracle on 34th Street 1947, Its a Wonderful Life, Mr Smith Goes to Washington, The Great Dictator, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, On the Town.
It's always a pleasure to see someone discover this movie! - I vote for The Maltese Falcon (1941), The Big Sleep (1946; Bogart & Bacall!), Sunset Boulevard (1950; I love movies about the movie business!), The Adventures of Robin Hood (Errol Flynn; 1938), Breakfast at Tiffany's (Audrey Hepburn; 1961), The Searchers and/or Rio Bravo (John Wayne; 1956/59); The Haunting (1963); and I'll finish up with anything with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, such as Top Hat(1935) or Shall We Dance? (1937).
I love this movie. Years ago I was not a fan. But a couple years ago, I really listened and paid attention to everything going on. Now I love it. So glad you watched. There are so many old movies that are amazing. There is one that my kids love and they are your age, it's "Life With Father". William Powell and Irene Dunn. So funny. Hope you get a chance to watch it. Great, great reaction to Casablanca.
It is a true cinema classic. I remember thinking before the first time I watched it that how could I enjoy a black and white movie in modern times..... but was blown away by the storyline and the performances. Still ranks as one of my favs of all time. Loved your reaction too and thanks for watching it.
Amazing film a true masterpiece Casablanca directed by Michael Curtiz produced by Hal B. Wallis starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre and music score by Max Steiner. This film was nominated for 8 Oscars and won 3 including best picture, best director by Michael Curtiz and best screenplay. The film also ranked at number 28 on Empire's list of the 100 Greatest Movies of All Time and in 2005, it was named one of the 100 greatest films of the last 80 years by Time magazine. The film has 6 memorable lines in movie history: 1. "Here's looking at you, kid" 2. "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" 3. "Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By'." 4. "Round up the usual suspects" 5. "We'll always have Paris" 6. "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine". Thank you so much Flix Talk for reacting this classic very nice awesome😊😊👍👍👍👍
This is the number one movie of all time based on all the research that movie critic's do! And I agree!!! Ben Affleck!? Are you kidding? Not even in the same universe as Bogey!!
Director Curtiz's very next film, same year, was the great "Yankee Doodle Dandy," with the amazing Jimmy Cagney. "Casablanca" got three Oscars -- Best Film, Director, and Screenplay. Best Actor went to Cagney.
‘Casablanca’ is renowned and is justly acknowledged as one of the most romantic films of all time but it is much more than the tale of a love triangle. Of course, it shows that the power of love can affect the human psyche, as demonstrated by Rick’s metamorphosis, but, actually, the film is one of the most subtle pieces of propaganda ever made. Made in the bleakest times of WW2, this film has so many levels to it that it takes many viewings to appreciate them. The main theme is not romance but self-sacrifice as its message to the world at war is to give up the personal agenda for the common cause. It reminds wartime audiences, many of whom have loved ones fighting abroad, that their situation is the same as that of Rick, Ilsa and Victor. Rick’s initial selfishness, (‘I stick my neck out for nobody’ and ‘the problems of the world are not in my department…’), is a metaphor for USA indifference. It must be remembered that the events and politics are hard to comprehend and put into perspective for current audiences than for those living through WW2, not knowing who the victors would be. The script can be considered as a 'State of the Union' address, both for home and foreign policies, in which there are references to Civil Rights, as embodied in Sam and, of course, the debate about America’s involvement in the conflict. Basically, the film is politically motivated because it is a plea to America to join the war. Please note that the action takes place in pre-Pearl Harbour, December, 1941. The screenplay is so intelligently written. It is a masterpiece of complexity, containing subliminal political opinions and messages all carried along on a thrilling plot with brilliant one-liners and memorable quotes, together with comedic elements and contemporary, social commentaries. Michael Curtiz’s direction is multi-faceted: Documentary, Film Noir, German Expressionism, Flashback etc. He is the master of creating the plot via seamlessly connecting a series of rapid-fire vignettes. There is subtle direction and cinematography. For example, Ilsa wears black and white clothes and is cast in shadows and in a mirror which symbolise the ambiguity of her role. POINTS OF INTEREST AND NOTES FOR SUBSEQUENT VIEWINGS. This is the the first non-musical movie to use music almost as an another protagonist, (which Tarantino does now). For example, ‘As Time Goes By’ is a valuable recurring theme and, in Paris, Rick and Ilsa dance to ‘Perfidia’ which means untrustworthiness. Also, ‘Love for Sale’ is played during the dialogue when the Bulgarian girl tells Rick about her ‘offer’ from Renault. Each character represents a country e.g. Two Japanese plotting; the Italian on the tail of the German; American indifference; French collaborators; the British robbed by foreign policy. Even the Balkan problem , (still ongoing), are mentioned via the Bulgarian couple. Quite evidently, Rick’s actions symbolise the USA in its change in policy from isolationism to participation and ‘….the beginning of a beautiful friendship…’ is the USA and Europe joining forces to fight Nazism. The significance of Letters of Transit is a metaphor for the might of America’s power and resources and must be delivered to the right side. The ‘La Marseillaise’ scene is the pivotal moment in which both Ilsa and Rick realise that saving Victor is more important than their own personal relationship. It also comes in just as Rick and Victor are about to argue over Ilsa but both drop the issue when they hear the music. This scene is rousing now but imagine how it must have felt for audiences right in the middle of the war when Germany seemed invincible and modern viewers need to put it in perspective in terms of world events full of Nazi and Japanese domination and when the outcome looked very bleak. The facial close-ups used throughout the film speak a thousand words: but particularly note Ilsa during ‘La Marseillaise’ when her expressions show her admiration of Victor’s power and her realisation that this must be preserved at all costs. POINTS TO WATCH ‘It’s December, 1941 in Casablanca: what time is it in New York?... I bet they are asleep all over America’. PEARL HARBOUR ‘Even Nazis can’t kill that fast’ CONCENTRATION CAMPS ‘I don’t buy or sell human beings..’ CIVIL RIGHTS In any case... there is so much alcohol!!!! On this note, please watch out for glasses knocked over and glasses set upright… The Bulgarian couple keep appearing many times as symbols of hope and determination. In the bar room fight over Yvonne, Rick attacks the German only and not the Frenchman. Captain Renault dumps the bottle of Vichy water to represent his rejection of the Nazi- collaborating French Government which was located in Vichy. Just one example of the excellent and complex scriptwriting occurs immediately after the roulette scene. The girl thanks Rick for letting her husband win and Rick replies, ‘He’s just a lucky guy’, which, on the face of it, refers to the gambling, but, in Rick’s mind, means that the husband is ‘lucky’ because his partner truly loves him. Please imagine what hope the dialogue must have projected when Ilsa states that she’ll wear the blue dress again when Paris is liberated. Nobody then knew when this would be. The quotes from the film are now embedded in popular culture and are mostly said by Rick. However, Captain Renault has some of the best lines: e.g. when asking Rick why he had to leave America, he says, ‘I’d like to think you killed a man: it’s the romantic in me’ ; a gunshot to his heart would be his ‘..least vulnerable part..’; when told where the Letters of Transit were hidden in the piano, ‘’…it’s my fault for not being musical…’: on making the bet with Rick, …’make it 10,000 - I’m only a poor corrupt official…’
Tough to name a "Favorite" movie, but this could be mine. Here's a few others you might like from the past. "Meer John Doe", "Sullivan's Travels", "The Kid"- a silent Carlie Chaplin", "My Man Godfrey", to name a very few. Liked your presentation. Good Luck. Just say'n.
Classic Cinema Masterpieces are very few... This one is up there. Another one? "Citizen Kane," written by, directed and starring Orson Wells (1939). Ground breaking cinematography. (Beware Of 'ROSEBUD!!!???')
Dude, I am the best film friend you could have. I will give you three Films older than you would expect to like, and you're gonna love em. First, in the Comedy Genre, "His Girl Friday" (1940) no spoilers except that There was a really bad remake by Burt Reynolds with a different name. I would tell you the name of the remake, but it was in the 90s and so bad I don't remember the name. Second, In the Genre of blockbuster lick ass epic, is Ben-Hur. Released in 1959, it was nominated for 12 Academy awards, and won 11 a record that held until Titanic tied it then Lord of the Rings the return of the king did too. Seriously? The Chariot race alone is worth the price of seeing it. But do yourself a favor and watch the extras. Leslie Nielsen does a screen test for a part he didn't get and was really good. The guy that beat him for the part won the Oscar. Third, is a film Called "Freaks". As of 2021, Freaks holds an approval rating of 94% on the internet review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 53 reviews, and boasts an average rating of 8.48/10. Its consensus reads, "Time has been kind to this horror legend: Freaks manages to frighten, shock, and even touch viewers in ways that contemporary viewers missed."[81] Seriously Very few reviewers review it, but it is AMAZING and a bit freaky.
I watched Casablanca a lot of times because I wanted my nephews and grandnephews to know that gem. Thank you for putting this video on line, I enjoyed your reactions so fresh and optimistic. My other favourite in 1942 is Ernst Lubitch’s delightful To Be or Not to Be, another gem ! In 1943, Otto Preminger directed and acted in a movie which is not well known but that I appreciate : Margin for Error. I’d be glad if you also made a review about Stalag 17 (1953 film by Billy Wilder - winning Oscar for William Holden and nominated for best director and best supporting actor) a film of war mixing tragic and hilarious situations, a masterpiece in my opinion. Excuse my poor English, I am a French woman.
I loved your reaction. It's one of those movies that sucks you in and delivers so well. Just a couple of interesting details - the ring being offered for sale to Lazslo carried the cross of Lorraine - a symbol of French resistance to the Nazis. The bottle Renault drops in the wastebasket at the end is Vichy water - the French collaborationist government was based in Vichy.
It's not just back then (in the 40s) that smoking and drinking was not a big deal. Drinking is not big deal still in Europe (18 is the official drinking age, but teenagers drink way earlier too). You can also drink in public, buy beer and alcohol at the movies, and generally everywhere. Up until the 80s you could even smoke in a US airplane. Smoking on an airplane was banned in 1988 in the US. People were livelier and less hysterical about their health then. And surprisingly much fitter.
Yeah, right, "I'm not a romantic," says the guy who was visibly trying to hold it together during the airport scene. 😄 (Just messing with ya.) If by chance you want a suggestion: "Field of Dreams." The challenge: You cry, you lose. 😈
Agreed. And I put the first two Godfathers ahead of Kane. Welles was a genius in that movie, and he and Greg Tolland pioneered the cinematography of the next half-century. But I found the story mediocre, and Coppola's masterful saga is riveting all the way through...or at least until last-minute casting pretty much ruined 3 for me.
In my opinion, the best movie ever made, even though Bogart is only my second favorite actor. "We'll always have Paris." Ben Affleck? With all due respect, he shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as Bogey!
Some say Citizen Kane is the best movie - - but I think Casablanca beats it. Citizen Kane is perhaps the best directed movie and is innovative(Orson Welles is my favorite director ) but Casablanca has a story that anyone will like and the acting is superb. Some say a movie should be judged on how many phrases enter the common vernacular(play it again sam, here's looking at you kid, round up the usual suspects, etc.) Casablanca wins this contest hands down. A friend and I once counted the phrases we had heard in common language that are present in Casablanca and it came out to 63!!!!!!
There are so many famous quotes from this movie that you are unaware of. of course the first audiences who saw this in early 1943 did not know these would become famous quotes either. The scene where Laslo drowns out the murderous sons of bitches , the Nazis, by having everyone singing with the French National Anthem is the most important scene in the movie. Most of the supporting players were actual refugees from Europe and the Nazis. For me this is the most perfect movie ever made, the character actors/supporting players are superb. the writing is superb, the ,ain cast excellent, and the use of light and shadows in the cinematography is true craftsmanship. When new viewers get involved in the story they soon forget about ["GASP!"] "oh my god it's in black and white." How dumb to judge a movie by it's lack of color film. Like it's some kind of communicable disease. No one had any idea at the time they made Casablanca this movie would win Oscars and become a classic. They assumed it was just another film, a job to be done. What a brilliant job they did.
I know that John Wayne is now considered very problematic for many good reasons. I don’t think he was a bad person but very much a product of his time. If you can get past all of the negative assumptions about him he’s made some excellent films. One of his ll very best is “the Man who shot liberty valance” It’s also one of the best John Ford westerns. Another John Wayne movie much later in his career is “the Cowboys”. A very edgy well produced post modern western.
Another thing about Bogart's part in this movie...between Rick and Indiana Jones, I bought a fedora and have been wearing it in winter for years; hat-wise it's a classic, but then I'm 71 years old. It does look sharp. *grin*
You should watch the English Patient, if you haven't. While I am not certain it seems very likely to me that the filmmakers were consciously trying to deconstruct Casablanca in that movie (that the main character is named Laslo Almasy is should probably be the direct give away). It is a good film in its own right (and was nomionated for nine Academy Awards).
They deliberately filmed Bergmann through a gauze filter to make her features softer and apparently perfect. They didn't have CGI back then, but they did wonders with what they did have.
During the battle of the French and German Anthems in Rick's Bar, many of the extras were people that had recently escaped from the Nazi occupied France to the U.S. Their emotions while singing the French National Anthem were very high during that scene. Even the actor who played Major Strauser was a refugee from Nazi Germany.
A Timeless Classic. a work of art that has withstood the test of time and remains a cultural milestone. Casablanca......sealed with a movie quotes now engraved in Hollywood history.
You were so right...this is a perfect movie. Loved your reaction. So great to look back at a time when people would sacrifice for something bigger than themselves.
Most of the cast in the La Marseillaise scene were French refugees (including Yvonne) due to German occupation at the time of shooting and didn't know if they would ever see their beloved France again, so you can rest assured no song was ever sung with more feeling in a film and there was no acting required!
I cant tell you the joy I feel when a younger person like yourself watches my favorite movie of all time and u get it-u see why a lot of people think it is the greatest movie ever still. Im only 57 years old and it will always be my favorite. It has everything. Nobody is cooler than Bogey. Great reaction!
As a few others have said, this is a perfect movie--every moment, every angle, every line just hits! The most interesting thing about that is that it is "just" a standard "studio system" grinder: producer selects the property, hires writers and director, picks the contract players and then they grind it out in a couple of months. But magic struck! A dozen classic, unforgettable lines, gripping story, constant drama and twists, superb performances, awesome music, breath-taking cinematography--THE LOT!
I'm glad to see you tackle the classics. There is an abundance of great old films to review...drama, comedy, musicals....This film has a great cast of famous movie stars from that time. I know you don't reach for these black and white films, but when you do, you seem to like them. Try the comedies "Duck Soup" "A Night At The Opera" or "A Day At The Races" with The Marx Brothers. For drama, maybe the gangster flicks "Angels With Dirty Faces" or "Public Enemy" with Jimmy Cagney. Or "Between Two Worlds", about a ship full of people on their way to judgment day. "Harvey" with Jimmy Stewart. "Arsenic And Old Lace" with Cary Grant.
The battling anthem scene is hands down one of the best scenes ever. This movie was made while WW2 was still happening. The director filled the scene with french refugees so their emotions shown while singing their belonged french anthem are genuine. Such a powerful scene in the movie and what it represented outside the movie
CASABLANCA was filmed in 1941, released early in 1942. Pearl Harbor wasn't attacked until Dec. 7, 1941. Until we were attacked, there was a lot of anti war sentiment in the states. During production, none of the writers, director, or actors knew if America would enter the war.
The studios at that time cranked out a movie a week so that their own theaters would have something to sell tickets to. CASABLANCA was just one of the 50 films they made that year. A year or so earlier there had been a big box office film named ALGIERS. The studio decided to make CASABLANCA in the hope of riding on the previous film's coat tails. None of them knew or expected it to be what it has become. Sometimes all the stars and planets line up just right.
Brings tears to my eyes every time I see it.
One of the best movies ever. When Lazlo gets everybody singing the French national anthem, I tear up every time
All those actors were refugees from Europe on the run from the murderous Nazis. When the movie was released the outcome looked very dark and uncertain for the Allies
It always kills me when they show that lady with the guitar, singing along.
Yup, same here, right about the time they show the close-up of Yvonne.
It's fun to feel a surge of patriotism for a country other than your own. I got the same feeling from Mrs Miniver (1943) when all the Little Ships go out in the middle of the night to bring their boys home from Dunkirk, and I'm neither British nor French.
This is pretty much a perfect movie. Dialogue, movie star charisma, visuals, pacing...it's flawless. Snappy dialogue goes a long way in my opinion. Plus the ending is perfect. The first time I saw this I could not guess the ending would be Rick and Renault walking off together into the night. But it works, once you see the movie you realize that ending seemed fated to happen. Both of those guys were very cynical so it makes sense that at the end, when given the chance to screw over the Nazis, they'd take the opportunity to redeem themselves.
Oh, there is one humongous flaw. "Who is that boy playing the piano?" talking about a grown-ass man. Other than that, it's flawless.
@@annaclarafenyo8185 Yeah I forgot about that. It's especially bad because both Rick and Ilsa are supposed to be on good terms with Sam so they didn't write that to show the character's prejudice. They wrote it because racism was so ingrained in them that it was normal dialogue to them.
@@flibber123 It's worse than that, as the strange affectation of calling a black man 'boy' didn't exist in Europe at the time. This line looks like it was deliberately rewritten by one of the screenwriters, to ensure that the otherwise anti-racist script wouldn't allow the black man any chance to appear fully human.
My guess would be that the word "boy" deliberately was inserted to replace "man" by Casey Robinson. The Mormons of that time didn't admit black members, and claimed that black people were cursed to servitude.
@@annaclarafenyo8185 Who was Casey Robinson? Was he Mormon? The director of this movie was not born in this country. He was an immigrant [I think from Eastern Europe] and since that word usage was not uncommon, here, do you think that he possibly didn't really understand the reasons for and history of the use of that word. And even in the 50s, unfortunately the use of that term was not all that unusual.. And Sam's character seems more substantive than most characters of black actors, that I remember thru even the 60s. Not trying to 'lecture' you, but wondering what you think abt. his character in the 'storyline'?
Hays code wouldn’t have allowed Ilsa to flee with Rick. However I think the Epstein brothers had that temptation.
I don't normally post comments; however, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for reacting to this. It is truly a breath of fresh air to see someone react and appreciate a film of this caliber. This was a time when plot, dialog and acting actually meant something. Unlike today, where actors are nothing more than a mere backdrop for the next big special effect or cgi event. Consider the range of emotions, from humor to sorrow and everything in between. All conveyed by actors and a director, and all done in black and white. I hope people will be inspired to watch more films like this with substance, content and value. Films that give the viewer a reason to think and feel. Anyway, thanks for taking the time and especially for selecting this film to share.
Thanks for the kind words & thanks for watching!
There are a few Casablanca reactions out there.
@Randy White You are right , there have always been great actors , from any era .
@Randy White 🎬I'm giving you a thumbs down, ...but not really. You see, Jason Nelson and you are wrong ...and then again, you're both right. Meaning story/character are King! The studios are responsible for all of that watered-down drivel you get nowadays. Just like sports, music or anything else we love in such a deep way, it's been marketed to death in pursuit of the all to sacred, bottom-line.💰
🎬As much money as actors may make (which is nothing comparable to studio execs), they are still at the mercy of what the studios want to make. Which by definition means appealing to the lowest common denominator. White men, 18-35: they want a lot of noise (FX & CGI) and no substance (🥫the sympathy & dialog). As unfortunate as that sounds, ...it's a formula that works!
🎬There are so many actors with the bones of yesterdays actors, but you need what they had ...decent, thoughful, intelligent, well written material with substance such as a "Saving Private Ryan". But there needs to be an event or a Spielberg or Scorsese to get something worth making. But as far as H'Wood is concerned, if you want pizza 🍕or McDonald's for dinner ...that's what you get.
🎬Until then, unless the audience's demands change...
...guess what's for dinner⁉
Love Claude Rains in this story. His character is just delightful and he get's some of the funniest lines.
Casablanca. The best movie EVER! My all time favorite movie.
That makes two of us. Lol
I’m so pleased you treated this classic with respect. Many younger people today would simply find constant fault and take every opportunity to laugh and mock at it.
I’m 62 and am an ‘old movie’ buff… but even I am (in a sense) young for this particular era of classic films. I started getting into the classic old films around the age of 23.
I’ll take this opportunity to recommend one of my personal all-time favourite movies: Billy Wilder’s
“The Apartment” (1960)
You seem to have good taste and appreciation of quality film-making, so… I’m sure you’ll love it.
Hey thanks for the kind words! I appreciate falling in love with great writing, charismatic charming characters , and that honestly kept me engaged...usually 1 or 2 setting type movies I can get bored of but not this one! Thanks for watching
Love The Apartment. Good recommendation.
There is only one flaw in Casablanca, when Ilsa calls a grown ass piano player "boy". It is American racism unfairly transplanted onto whatever nationality Ilsa is.
@@annaclarafenyo8185 Hey it was made in 1942, Not in 2021.
@@annaclarafenyo8185 Also at that time Ingrid Bergman had just arrived from Sweden.
Years ago (decades, actually) I had a friend watch it. She hadn't seen it before, I had - many times. When it was finished she said she loved it, but that the dialogue was full of so many clichéd lines. I said "All those lines CAME from this movie!". That floored her. 😄
I love it when reactors are shocked (shocked!) to find that these vintage classics are actually good!
Hey thanks for watching !
That's because they have been fed CGI, sex and violence, ridiculous car chases and explosions. Good taste, like intelligent conversation, are relics of the past
(at least in the US)
They are more than good, they are GREAT!
I see what you did there. ;)
22:55 "This is some real honorable shit right here." Hahaha, the best, most perfect sentence to describe Rick's decision at the end of "Casablanca" that I've ever heard.
Haha thanks and thanks for watching !
Having had to admit that the other guy is the better man and more fit for the lady, I can say that it is one of the hardest things to do. In the end, whether it is the lady or the world that is better off with the decision, there's still a lonely man who felt love and was loved that is left behind alone.
best love triangle ever, because you like all 3 parties, and none of them are guilty of any real wrongdoing.
the lighting is amazing in this film.
Not enough credit is given to just how much of a wisecrack Rick is.
I love that you are reacting to some classic movies. They may be old, but many of them are more impactful (on a human/emotional level) than most films of today. Other great, older films to check out: Rear Window (1954), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), The Philadelphia Story (1940), The Third Man (1949), North by Northwest (1959), His Girl Friday (1940), The Manchurian Candidate (1962), The Maltese Falcon (1941), To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), The Man Who shot Liberty Valance (1962), Rio Bravo (1959), Winchester '73 (1950), The Lady Vanishes (1938).
I would only ad: Night of the Hunter.
The "Manchurian Candidate" is pretty near the best recommendation you could make. No matter how great Meryl Streep is, in this case Angela Lansbury outdoes even her. Brings her character even closer to the 'Dark Side' than Streep! The Third Man is a great idea too. I saw that on afternoon TV movies as a child, and wouldn't stop until my parents bought me a "Zither". There's another very interesting 40s 'black and white' movie ["The Stranger'] abt. an escaped Nazi trying to use a marriage as a way of hiding out in America, and cover his tracks. It had Orson Wells n Loretta Young.
A great list.
Yes, A great list. One takes center stage for me, however. "The Best Years of Our
Lives" is way up on my list of favorites for several reasons. Yes, the actors are
well cast and there are scenes that stun us like the huge field of Bombers.. But
the difficulty faced by our returning soldiers and the casting of a veteran who had lost both hands, drove home the central theme: War Is Hell. Just say'n.
Impressive list indeed, I would add Key Largo and The African Queen, and Stalag 17. Forgetting about Stanley and Livingston with Spencer Tracy with the line, Doctor Livingston... I presume. Oh and Nothwest Passage.
I love older movies like this. One of my favorite franchises started in 1934 with *The Thin Man* starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. They are a mix of mystery and humor with witty dialogue and the main character couple have major on screen chemistry. They are based on a novel of the same name by Dashiel Hammett. I highly recommend them. I've introduced every generation in my family to them and they really enjoy them.
Thank you for the comment and thanks for watching!
@@FlixTalk Yes. The Thin Man and subsequent sequels are awesome. For a really old movie with some great (though a different era) acting and a couple boring spots, try Dinner at Eight 1933
William Powell was always like top quality Cognac
LOVE the Thin Man movies! The chemistry between Powell and Loy is the stuff of legend!
@@daneberhardt6314 "Dinner At Eight"! Yikes, my age (83) is showing again.
It is a wonderful movie that I recommend often to my younger friends. I just forgot to mention it. Mae Culpa! Just say.n
Ingrid Bergman is one if not the most beautiful actresses ever, she just steals the screen, this movie is amazing
Casablanca is truly one of the very few perfect movies that have ever been made. It has everything: action, suspense, drama, comedy, complex yet relatable characters, fantastic acting, beautiful cinematography, a perfect script and anything else I may be forgetting. I have never met anyone who disliked it. It is my absolute favorite black and white movie and definitely on my top 5 movies of all time list. And it consistently ranks at the very top of any best movies of all time list. You really can't go wrong with it.
And to think, they originally wanted to cast Ronald Reagan in the Rick role.
The only problem with it is "Whose the boy playing the piano?" about a grown ass old man. It's out of character for Ilsa, it's American racism, not European at all, and it doesn't fit in at all with Rick's respectful treatment of Sam. Other than that, it's flawless.
What about "Airplane"?
So great to see younger generation enjoy a old movie, and give it 5 stars. I really think its stood the test of time
Casablanca is just a great film. Other films from the 40’s that I would recommend.
1940 The Maltese Falcon. John Huston directs his first film with an awesome cast, Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Peter Lorre, and Sidney Greenstreet. Great detective film.
1943 Shadow of a Doubt. Alfred Hitchcock directs his favorite film. Starring Theresa Wright and Joesph Cotton.
1944 Double Indemnity. Billy Wilder classic. Starring Fred McMuarry, Barbara Stanwyck, and Edward G. Robinson.
1944 Arsenic and Old Lace. Directed by Frank Capra, hilarious adaptation of a long running Broadway play. Stars Cary Grant, Priscilla Lane, Raymond Massey, and Peter Lorre.
1946 Notorious. Hitchcock classic. Stars Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, and Claude Rains. Brilliant spy love triangle.
1947 Miracle on 34th Street. Directed by George Seaton, best Christmas movie ever. THIS IS THE VERSION TO WATCH!
1948 Key Largo. John Huston directs Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Edward G. Robinson in a tense suspense movie.
Always great to watch a new person discover this great classic. One of my favorites, it gets 5 out of 5 too. It's a movie with real substance, and Rick's arc parallels America's as it transitioned from isolationism into involvement in the war. A real dignified treatment of a love triangle and a mature way to deal with it and step up to the plate for larger considerations. Another great Bogart movie from the era is The Maltese Falcon. I'm sure you will get a lot of the good suggestions.
Nice job!
Thank you so much for the comment and watching!
Casablanca is one of the greatest movies of all time. It's one of those happy occasions when everything comes together - the drama, the acting, the set, the lighting, the music - it all works. And something else. This is not just a drama about love and war. This has a wider dimension - it's about good and evil. But it's also about human weakness and how we are neither all good or all evil. In fact, it's Shakespearean in its scope. Thank you so much for your appreciative reaction.
Great reaction...thank you for diving into the old classics! If I might be permitted a few suggestions, you might want to check out "Stalag 17" (Best Actor Oscar for William Holden, who didn't even want the part!), or perhaps "12 Angry Men" (Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb)
My wife and I watch "Casablanca" every New Year's Eve. We have it timed so that "La Marseillaise" begins right at midnight. That's when we stand up and open the champagne.
This is the greatest movie ever made.
'Here's looking at you kid', "play it again, Sam', 'We'll always have Paris', and the famous 'Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship''. All classic dialogue.
Try "Sergeant York" a true story from around the same time. I've never seen any youtuber react to it.
Yes ! I second that suggestion ! : )
Excellent movie!
Excellent choice. Most people don't watch older movies beyond 1980 and those that do are often shocked that movies from this era can actually be good.
Trivia: It is never revealed why Rick cannot return to America. Julius J. Epstein later said that "my brother (Philip G. Epstein) and I tried very hard to come up with a reason why Rick couldn't return to America. But nothing seemed right. We finally decided not to give a reason at all."
I personally think that this was a brilliant choice. Sometimes the mystery is better than the explanation.
Love your reaction ❤May I suggest "Notorious" starring Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman, directed by Alfred Hitchcock? Another perfect movie, IMHO. ☮❤
They've tried to redo this film several times and even as a TV show. Nothing has come close to the original. Everything in this film was perfect and no attempt should be made to duplicate it ever. It's a masterpiece.
Great reaction. I love seeing young RUclips reactors getting into the old classics. There's a whole universe of great movies like this to explore. Two more classic Bogart films that I would highly recommend are "The Maltese Falcon" and "Key Largo."
The Big Sleep is the best!
@@squaaaaak3178 Love "The Big Sleep", but love "The Maltese Falcon" even more!
It’s my favorite movie. Thank you for this reaction!
Thanks for watching!
“When all the archtypes burst in shamelessly, we reach Homeric depths. Two cliches make us laugh. A hundred cliches move us. For we sense dimly that the cliches are talking among themselves, and celebrating a reunion.”
- Umberto Eco, writing about Casablanca
Where did the cliches come from?
Great to see someone your age taking a chance on an "old" movie ("old" meaning "classic," of course.) I was about your age when I first saw "Casablanca" and it's been a favorite ever since. Hard to believe it was made 80 years ago, but the classics hold up over time. You might enjoy other "old" movies from that era. I got hooked on classic Warner Brothers gangster movies because James Cagney became another favorite after Humphrey Bogart. "White Heat" is probably one of his most successful ones, though he did a lot of movies when he was younger. Anyway, it's nice to see someone who actually appreciates dialogue and storytelling and great acting. I hope you treat yourself to more of these movies, even if you don't review each one. Keep up the good work! 👍
Thank for you the kind words and thank you for watching! You and I are definately on the same page as far as liking gangster films! I would like to explore those next
When this movie was made, nobody knew who was going to win the war. The German army was on a winning streak. People were fighting for their lives.
If you have a few minutes to see again a tiny bit of stunning acting, watch that 26 second long (That's practically forever) close up of Ilsa listening to Sam play as time goes by, watch the eyes watch the head watch even when she opens her mouth to breathe she's tearing up. It is incredible acting.
Another short scene that reveals Ilsa's deep, true feelings for Victor is when Victor speeds down the stairs from Rick's office to the bandstand where urges the band -- with Rick's nodded "It's OK, do what he says" -- and the camera cuts to Ilsa's concerned face about what's to come. You can see her sped-up breathing, tears forming in her eyes, and a completely adoring countenance. Ilsa + the "battle of the bands" = one of the most patriotically stirring scenes in cinema history.
For my money Casablanca is absolutely the best film ever created. Number one hands down!
I think you should try a comedy called "Some Like It Hot" around 1958. It's rated by the AFI as the #1 best classic comedy ever made. That may be stretching it a bit but I guarantee you a lot of laughs as well as the iconic Marilyn Monroe. It's in black and white but that's ok, it won't bother you. It starts out in 1920a gangland Chicago.
This is my favorite movie, which means that it is the best movie ever because I don't believe that there is any objective way to judge.
"It Happened One Night" and "Arsenic and Old Lace" are other movies from this general time spot that I would recommend and, of course, "The Maltese Falcon."
For more Bogie, you need to dig into the 3 Oscar nominee (best picture, screenplay and supporting actor) classic ‘film noir’ The Maltese Falcon (1941), written and directed by the legendary John Huston from the Dashiell Hammett book. The film also has two familiar faces from Casablanca, Sydney Greenstreet (the best supporting actor nom.) & Peter Lorre in his signature role, Joel Cairo. Another worm to take notice of is the performance of Elisha Cook, Jr.
Maltese Falcon ❗💲👍
Among classics, everyone will recommend Citizen Kane, but I think The Third Man would be interesting for you: it's from the same era as Casablanca but darker with more outside action.
This is a great one, thanks for reacting. There are lots of awesome movies from the classic era. Try The African Queen with Bogart and Hepburn. Bogey won his Oscar for that one.
Thanks for the recommendations and thanks for watching!
@@FlixTalk Yes, African Queen ... and it's in color and has some action. This time it's WWI.
"Key Largo" is pretty darned good too.
citizen kane/ the hunchback of notre dame(1939)/ it's a wonderful life, are all good hollywood classics among many others.
I don't understand why reviewers cut out the best line of the entire movie! "And what about your beloved New York?" Bogie: "Heir Strasser, there are parts of New York that I advise you not to try and invade."
For October you should add Arsenic and Old Lace with Cary Grant
That's is such a funny dark comedy. Cary Grant's character and his aunts steal the show.
This is a very, very good Bogart movie. The Maltese Falcon is a great one.
It's worth noting as Rick and Louis walk off into the fog to the rising notes of La Marseillaise that when this movie was made France was still occupied by the Germans.
Definitely one of the greatest films of all time.
New subscriber. Please react to more classic films like this.
Will do! What do you recommend? Welcome to the flix talk family!
@@FlixTalk Billy Wilder...the drama of Sunset Blvd., the laugh-out-loud best comedy of all time Some Like It Hot, and the bittersweet but wonderful Apartment.
See "The Thin Man" series for PROS at drinking!
And see "My Girl Friday".
Black and white movies are the best, this was one of the top ones along with Citizen Cane. There are alot of good movies during the war most tried to be optimistic. Goodbye Mr. Chips is a good one. You watch these movies for the dialogue. Todays movies are repetitive or steel from older movies.
other movies to watch to see hw this stands against the Maltese falcon, Citizen Kane, Sunset Boulevard, Miracle on 34th Street 1947, Its a Wonderful Life, Mr Smith Goes to Washington, The Great Dictator, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, On the Town.
It's always a pleasure to see someone discover this movie! - I vote for The Maltese Falcon (1941), The Big Sleep (1946; Bogart & Bacall!), Sunset Boulevard (1950; I love movies about the movie business!), The Adventures of Robin Hood (Errol Flynn; 1938), Breakfast at Tiffany's (Audrey Hepburn; 1961), The Searchers and/or Rio Bravo (John Wayne; 1956/59); The Haunting (1963); and I'll finish up with anything with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, such as Top Hat(1935) or Shall We Dance? (1937).
Wish you had watched this with your lady.
Great reaction!!!!!!!!! 1942. Casablanca!👍🏾🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳
I love this movie. Years ago I was not a fan. But a couple years ago, I really listened and paid attention to everything going on. Now I love it. So glad you watched. There are so many old movies that are amazing. There is one that my kids love and they are your age, it's "Life With Father". William Powell and Irene Dunn. So funny. Hope you get a chance to watch it. Great, great reaction to Casablanca.
Thanks for watching!
I'm so glad you watched and liked "Casablanca".
My favourite b&w film is "12 Angry Men" (1957) with Henry Fonda. Peerless.
I posted a comment on your video yesterday lol. What timing. I still recommend Harold and Maude too.
One can't have a grasp of movie history if they have not seen this film. The look on your face throughout watching was great. Thanks for sharing.
It is a true cinema classic. I remember thinking before the first time I watched it that how could I enjoy a black and white movie in modern times..... but was blown away by the storyline and the performances. Still ranks as one of my favs of all time. Loved your reaction too and thanks for watching it.
Check out "Night of the Hunter"
Watch the ending again this time keep an eye major strassers shoulders
Claude Rains must have read the dialog of his character and thought he was in heaven.
nobody does it better than bogie
Amazing film a true masterpiece Casablanca directed by Michael Curtiz produced by Hal B. Wallis starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre and music score by Max Steiner. This film was nominated for 8 Oscars and won 3 including best picture, best director by Michael Curtiz and best screenplay. The film also ranked at number 28 on Empire's list of the 100 Greatest Movies of All Time and in 2005, it was named one of the 100 greatest films of the last 80 years by Time magazine. The film has 6 memorable lines in movie history: 1. "Here's looking at you, kid" 2. "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" 3. "Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By'." 4. "Round up the usual suspects" 5. "We'll always have Paris" 6. "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine". Thank you so much Flix Talk for reacting this classic very nice awesome😊😊👍👍👍👍
This is the number one movie of all time based on all the research that movie critic's do!
And I agree!!!
Ben Affleck!?
Are you kidding?
Not even in the same universe as Bogey!!
Looks-wise relax lol
Director Curtiz's very next film, same year, was the great "Yankee Doodle Dandy," with the amazing Jimmy Cagney. "Casablanca" got three Oscars -- Best Film, Director, and Screenplay. Best Actor went to Cagney.
‘Casablanca’ is renowned and is justly acknowledged as one of the most romantic films of all time but it is much more than the tale of a love triangle. Of course, it shows that the power of love can affect the human psyche, as demonstrated by Rick’s metamorphosis, but, actually, the film is one of the most subtle pieces of propaganda ever made.
Made in the bleakest times of WW2, this film has so many levels to it that it takes many viewings to appreciate them. The main theme is not romance but self-sacrifice as its message to the world at war is to give up the personal agenda for the common cause. It reminds wartime audiences, many of whom have loved ones fighting abroad, that their situation is the same as that of Rick, Ilsa and Victor.
Rick’s initial selfishness, (‘I stick my neck out for nobody’ and ‘the problems of the world are not in my department…’), is a metaphor for USA indifference. It must be remembered that the events and politics are hard to comprehend and put into perspective for current audiences than for those living through WW2, not knowing who the victors would be.
The script can be considered as a 'State of the Union' address, both for home and foreign policies, in which there are references to Civil Rights, as embodied in Sam and, of course, the debate about America’s involvement in the conflict. Basically, the film is politically motivated because it is a plea to America to join the war. Please note that the action takes place in pre-Pearl Harbour, December, 1941.
The screenplay is so intelligently written. It is a masterpiece of complexity, containing subliminal political opinions and messages all carried along on a thrilling plot with brilliant one-liners and memorable quotes, together with comedic elements and contemporary, social commentaries.
Michael Curtiz’s direction is multi-faceted: Documentary, Film Noir, German Expressionism, Flashback etc. He is the master of creating the plot via seamlessly connecting a series of rapid-fire vignettes.
There is subtle direction and cinematography. For example, Ilsa wears black and white clothes and is cast in shadows and in a mirror which symbolise the ambiguity of her role.
POINTS OF INTEREST AND NOTES FOR SUBSEQUENT VIEWINGS.
This is the the first non-musical movie to use music almost as an another protagonist, (which Tarantino does now). For example, ‘As Time Goes By’ is a valuable recurring theme and, in Paris, Rick and Ilsa dance to ‘Perfidia’ which means untrustworthiness. Also, ‘Love for Sale’ is played during the dialogue when the Bulgarian girl tells Rick about her ‘offer’ from Renault.
Each character represents a country e.g. Two Japanese plotting; the Italian on the tail of the German; American indifference; French collaborators; the British robbed by foreign policy. Even the Balkan problem , (still ongoing), are mentioned via the Bulgarian couple. Quite evidently, Rick’s actions symbolise the USA in its change in policy from isolationism to participation and ‘….the beginning of a beautiful friendship…’ is the USA and Europe joining forces to fight Nazism.
The significance of Letters of Transit is a metaphor for the might of America’s power and resources and must be delivered to the right side.
The ‘La Marseillaise’ scene is the pivotal moment in which both Ilsa and Rick realise that saving Victor is more important than their own personal relationship. It also comes in just as Rick and Victor are about to argue over Ilsa but both drop the issue when they hear the music. This scene is rousing now but imagine how it must have felt for audiences right in the middle of the war when Germany seemed invincible and modern viewers need to put it in perspective in terms of world events full of Nazi and Japanese domination and when the outcome looked very bleak.
The facial close-ups used throughout the film speak a thousand words: but particularly note Ilsa during ‘La Marseillaise’ when her expressions show her admiration of Victor’s power and her realisation that this must be preserved at all costs.
POINTS TO WATCH
‘It’s December, 1941 in Casablanca: what time is it in New York?...
I bet they are asleep all over America’. PEARL HARBOUR
‘Even Nazis can’t kill that fast’
CONCENTRATION CAMPS
‘I don’t buy or sell human beings..’
CIVIL RIGHTS
In any case... there is so much alcohol!!!! On this note, please watch out for glasses knocked over and glasses set upright…
The Bulgarian couple keep appearing many times as symbols of hope and determination.
In the bar room fight over Yvonne, Rick attacks the German only and not the Frenchman.
Captain Renault dumps the bottle of Vichy water to represent his rejection of the Nazi- collaborating French Government which was located in Vichy.
Just one example of the excellent and complex scriptwriting occurs immediately after the roulette scene. The girl thanks Rick for letting her husband win and Rick replies, ‘He’s just a lucky guy’, which, on the face of it, refers to the gambling, but, in Rick’s mind, means that the husband is ‘lucky’ because his partner truly loves him.
Please imagine what hope the dialogue must have projected when Ilsa states that she’ll wear the blue dress again when Paris is liberated. Nobody then knew when this would be.
The quotes from the film are now embedded in popular culture and are mostly said by Rick. However, Captain Renault has some of the best lines: e.g. when asking Rick why he had to leave America, he says, ‘I’d like to think you killed a man: it’s the romantic in me’ ; a gunshot to his heart would be his ‘..least vulnerable part..’; when told where the Letters of Transit were hidden in the piano, ‘’…it’s my fault for not being musical…’: on making the bet with Rick, …’make it 10,000 - I’m only a poor corrupt official…’
Tough to name a "Favorite" movie, but this could be mine. Here's a few others you might
like from the past. "Meer John Doe", "Sullivan's Travels", "The Kid"- a silent Carlie Chaplin",
"My Man Godfrey", to name a very few. Liked your presentation. Good Luck. Just say'n.
Classic Cinema Masterpieces are very few... This one is up there. Another one? "Citizen Kane," written by, directed and starring Orson Wells (1939). Ground breaking cinematography. (Beware Of 'ROSEBUD!!!???')
Dude, I am the best film friend you could have. I will give you three Films older than you would expect to like, and you're gonna love em. First, in the Comedy Genre, "His Girl Friday" (1940) no spoilers except that There was a really bad remake by Burt Reynolds with a different name. I would tell you the name of the remake, but it was in the 90s and so bad I don't remember the name. Second, In the Genre of blockbuster lick ass epic, is Ben-Hur. Released in 1959, it was nominated for 12 Academy awards, and won 11 a record that held until Titanic tied it then Lord of the Rings the return of the king did too. Seriously? The Chariot race alone is worth the price of seeing it. But do yourself a favor and watch the extras. Leslie Nielsen does a screen test for a part he didn't get and was really good. The guy that beat him for the part won the Oscar. Third, is a film Called "Freaks". As of 2021, Freaks holds an approval rating of 94% on the internet review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 53 reviews, and boasts an average rating of 8.48/10. Its consensus reads, "Time has been kind to this horror legend: Freaks manages to frighten, shock, and even touch viewers in ways that contemporary viewers missed."[81] Seriously Very few reviewers review it, but it is AMAZING and a bit freaky.
I watched Casablanca a lot of times because I wanted my nephews and grandnephews to know that gem.
Thank you for putting this video on line, I enjoyed your reactions so fresh and optimistic.
My other favourite in 1942 is Ernst Lubitch’s delightful To Be or Not to Be, another gem !
In 1943, Otto Preminger directed and acted in a movie which is not well known but that I appreciate : Margin for Error.
I’d be glad if you also made a review about Stalag 17 (1953 film by Billy Wilder - winning Oscar for William Holden and nominated for best director and best supporting actor) a film of war mixing tragic and hilarious situations, a masterpiece in my opinion.
Excuse my poor English, I am a French woman.
Thank you so much for watching! Shout-out to France. I really did appreciate this film..
I loved your reaction. It's one of those movies that sucks you in and delivers so well. Just a couple of interesting details - the ring being offered for sale to Lazslo carried the cross of Lorraine - a symbol of French resistance to the Nazis. The bottle Renault drops in the wastebasket at the end is Vichy water - the French collaborationist government was based in Vichy.
I think you'll like "Twelve O'Clock High" with Gregory Peck and Hugh Marlowe. Best WWII movie I ever saw.
Next, check out "The Adventures of Robin Hood" with Errol Flynn... It's an absolute classic.
It's not just back then (in the 40s) that smoking and drinking was not a big deal. Drinking is not big deal still in Europe (18 is the official drinking age, but teenagers drink way earlier too). You can also drink in public, buy beer and alcohol at the movies, and generally everywhere. Up until the 80s you could even smoke in a US airplane. Smoking on an airplane was banned in 1988 in the US. People were livelier and less hysterical about their health then. And surprisingly much fitter.
Yeah, right, "I'm not a romantic," says the guy who was visibly trying to hold it together during the airport scene. 😄 (Just messing with ya.)
If by chance you want a suggestion: "Field of Dreams." The challenge: You cry, you lose. 😈
#2 on the list of 100 best films ever made, behind "Citizen Kane". IMHO, it's #1!
Agreed. And I put the first two Godfathers ahead of Kane. Welles was a genius in that movie, and he and Greg Tolland pioneered the cinematography of the next half-century. But I found the story mediocre, and Coppola's masterful saga is riveting all the way through...or at least until last-minute casting pretty much ruined 3 for me.
In my opinion, the best movie ever made, even though Bogart is only my second favorite actor.
"We'll always have Paris."
Ben Affleck? With all due respect, he shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as Bogey!
Can we say it? They don't make them like that anymore.
Some say Citizen Kane is the best movie - - but I think Casablanca beats it. Citizen Kane is perhaps the best directed movie and is innovative(Orson Welles is my favorite director ) but Casablanca has a story that anyone will like and the acting is superb. Some say a movie should be judged on how many phrases enter the common vernacular(play it again sam, here's looking at you kid, round up the usual suspects, etc.) Casablanca wins this contest hands down. A friend and I once counted the phrases we had heard in common language that are present in Casablanca and it came out to 63!!!!!!
The line “Everybody comes to Rick’s” is a title drop; the movie _Casablanca_ was adapted from a stage play titled _Everybody Comes to Rick’s._
There are so many famous quotes from this movie that you are unaware of. of course the first audiences who saw this in early 1943 did not know these would become famous quotes either. The scene where Laslo drowns out the murderous sons of bitches , the Nazis, by having everyone singing with the French National Anthem is the most important scene in the movie. Most of the supporting players were actual refugees from Europe and the Nazis. For me this is the most perfect movie ever made, the character actors/supporting players are superb. the writing is superb, the ,ain cast excellent, and the use of light and shadows in the cinematography is true craftsmanship. When new viewers get involved in the story they soon forget about ["GASP!"] "oh my god it's in black and white." How dumb to judge a movie by it's lack of color film. Like it's some kind of communicable disease. No one had any idea at the time they made Casablanca this movie would win Oscars and become a classic. They assumed it was just another film, a job to be done. What a brilliant job they did.
I know that John Wayne is now considered very problematic for many good reasons. I don’t think he was a bad person but very much a product of his time. If you can get past all of the negative assumptions about him he’s made some excellent films. One of his ll very best is “the Man who shot liberty valance” It’s also one of the best John Ford westerns. Another John Wayne movie much later in his career is “the Cowboys”. A very edgy well produced post modern western.
Another thing about Bogart's part in this movie...between Rick and Indiana Jones, I bought a fedora and have been wearing it in winter for years; hat-wise it's a classic, but then I'm 71 years old. It does look sharp. *grin*
Yeah, the Stranger, Double Indemnity, Maltese Falcon, anything with the " Fat Man " !
You should watch the English Patient, if you haven't. While I am not certain it seems very likely to me that the filmmakers were consciously trying to deconstruct Casablanca in that movie (that the main character is named Laslo Almasy is should probably be the direct give away). It is a good film in its own right (and was nomionated for nine Academy Awards).
They deliberately filmed Bergmann through a gauze filter to make her features softer and apparently perfect. They didn't have CGI back then, but they did wonders with what they did have.
Look at the Oscars for 1944 . Casablanca won best picture and best director. Bogart was nominated for best actor.
During the battle of the French and German Anthems in Rick's Bar, many of the extras were people that had recently escaped from the Nazi occupied France to the U.S. Their emotions while singing the French National Anthem were very high during that scene. Even the actor who played Major Strauser was a refugee from Nazi Germany.
A Timeless Classic. a work of art that has withstood the test of time and remains a cultural milestone. Casablanca......sealed with a movie quotes now engraved in Hollywood history.
You were so right...this is a perfect movie. Loved your reaction. So great to look back at a time when people would sacrifice for something bigger than themselves.
Great movie acting at its best try checking out African queen with Humphrey Bogart and Kathleen Hepburn another great and classic piece of acting
In the 70's CBS try to do a TV series based on this movie, Starring David Soul (" Starsky& Hutch fame)
From now on, when anyone says that CASABLANCA is the best movie ever made or their favorite film of all time, you will know why.
Liked your review first time I check out your channel, hope you’ve seen all the Hitchcock movies.
Most of the cast in the La Marseillaise scene were French refugees (including Yvonne) due to German occupation at the time of shooting and didn't know if they would ever see their beloved France again, so you can rest assured no song was ever sung with more feeling in a film and there was no acting required!
🔥🔥🔥GREAT REACT!!!🔥🔥🔥.
I recommend, “The Maltese Falcon”, also Bogart and several of the stars from Casablanca. It’s a great film!
I cant tell you the joy I feel when a younger person like yourself watches my favorite movie of all time and u get it-u see why a lot of people think it is the greatest movie ever still. Im only 57 years old and it will always be my favorite. It has everything. Nobody is cooler than Bogey. Great reaction!
As a few others have said, this is a perfect movie--every moment, every angle, every line just hits! The most interesting thing about that is that it is "just" a standard "studio system" grinder: producer selects the property, hires writers and director, picks the contract players and then they grind it out in a couple of months. But magic struck! A dozen classic, unforgettable lines, gripping story, constant drama and twists, superb performances, awesome music, breath-taking cinematography--THE LOT!
This is one of the movies that should never be remade.
I totally and wholeheartedly agree. Never mess with perfect movies.
Such texture and shade with this heart warming classic. One of my all time anti-nazi favorites !
In addition to all the comments about WW2 etc., this is probably one of, or perhaps the greatest romance ever in film.
Casablanca - the GODFATHER of all cinema.
Yeah, they used to put a fine gauze filter over the camera for the women. It took away their imperfections and gave them a glistening look.
I'm glad to see you tackle the classics. There is an abundance of great old films to review...drama, comedy, musicals....This film has a great cast of famous movie stars from that time. I know you don't reach for these black and white films, but when you do, you seem to like them. Try the comedies "Duck Soup" "A Night At The Opera" or "A Day At The Races" with The Marx Brothers. For drama, maybe the gangster flicks "Angels With Dirty Faces" or "Public Enemy" with Jimmy Cagney. Or "Between Two Worlds", about a ship full of people on their way to judgment day. "Harvey" with Jimmy Stewart. "Arsenic And Old Lace" with Cary Grant.
I would love someone to react to Angels with Dirty Faces.
@@Majoofi It's the movie on which the parody movie, Angels with Filthy Souls, in Home Alone is based.