Casablanca

Casablanca

Erica Meyer
Classics of 20th Century
Topic #3
8/17/11

Casablanca

“Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life” is an impacting quote in Casablanca. The movie was released in 1942, before the end of World War II. Casablanca is not the typical Hollywood movie; from the characters, the plot, the themes portrayed, and the different scenes that leave a last impact on its viewers.
The main actor of this movie is Humphrey Bogar as Rick Blaine. When the film first introduces Rick, he is the owner of Rick’s Café. He does not drink with customers; he plays chess alone. Later we find out he was left heartbroken in Paris by the love of his life, Ilsa.
Ilsa Lund, played by Ingrid Bergman, is beautiful woman who comes from Norway. Ilsa and Rick meet in Paris and fall in love. When it came time to leave Paris, Ilsa ends up leaving Rick at the train station. A few years later, she ends up at Rick’s Café with her husband, Victor Laszlo. Ilsa explains to Rick that she had fallen in love with him in Paris because she assumed Victor had died in the concentration camps, but found out that he was still alive which is why she stayed and abandoned him at the train station that night. Now Ilsa wants Rick to help her and Victor.
Victor Laszlo, portrayed by Paul Henreid, is a Czech writer. He is Ilsa’s husband, and wants freedom for his wife and himself. He comes to Rick’s Café hoping to get some exit papers so they can eventually go to America. Rick holds the exit papers that Victor wants. Ilsa pleads with Rick for the papers, and she ends up breaking down proclaiming she still loves him. She tells Rick that she couldn’t leave him a second time but asks to let Victor escape.
The plot of the movie is mostly based in Rick’s Café. The Café is an upscale nightclub that attracts a variety of people.   Most people who attend the club are refugees seeking to America.
A man who has killed two Germans has obtained possession of exit papers. The...