#10- Casablanca (1942) review

Of all the films coming from the era of classics, Casablanca is what I believe to be the greatest, the most memorable and simply the most enjoyable of all the greats. Featuring fantastic performances, to amazing storytelling, Casablanca is 100 minutes of cinematic perfection- a word that I have rarely used to call a film. 

Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart star in Casablanca, a 1942 romance film which is often considered the best of its genre, rivalled only be the 1939 Gone With The Wind. Casablanca tells the tale, set during the late stages of WW2, regarding letters of transit which were given to Rick, the owner of the most popular shop around. One day, his former lover from Paris, who coldly left him returns to Casablanca and seeks the letters of transit for herself and her husband. Casablanca is a film that is more than what it sounds. What may appear to the eye can be misjudged in its depth characters and engaging storyline. 



The cast for the film is fantastic and Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman are virtually unbelievable in the film, sharing incredible chemistry and perhaps, the most iconic relationship in cinema history which has now been countless parodized. Both deliver incredibly powerful performances that truly elevate the film. The film is further elevated by amazing storytelling and iconic quotes and sequences to add to an already amazing film. The cinematography in the film looks great and even to this day, has aged fantastically. None of the comedic lines in the film seem to have aged badly but instead still make you giggle. The rest of the cast do a fantastic job, each playing interesting characters.

Casablanca is quite possibly, the most iconic film of its era featuring classic lines such as "We'll always have Paris", "Play it once more Sam, for old times sake!", "Here's looking at you kid!", "This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" and various other lines. The entire sequence at the end of the film is unbelievably iconic, having been imitated several dozen times. To love movies is an incorrect judgment for any who have not seen the film as the amazing characters and story, along with fantastic direction and writing and incredibly powerful performances are a true loss to any who have yet to view this film. Do take your time and do view the film. You'll be doing yourself a favor!