Rated:
PG
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, et al.
Director: Michael Curtiz
Review
A truly perfect movie, the 1942 Casablanca still wows
viewers today, and for good reason. Its unique story of a love triangle
set against terribly high stakes in the war against a monster is
sophisticated instead of outlandish, intriguing instead of garish.
Humphrey Bogart plays the allegedly apolitical club owner in unoccupied
French territory that is nevertheless crawling with Nazis; Ingrid Bergman
is the lover who mysteriously deserted him in Paris; and Paul Heinreid is
her heroic, slightly bewildered husband. Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet,
Peter Lorre, and Conrad Veidt are among what may be the best supporting
cast in the history of Hollywood films. This is certainly among the most
spirited and ennobling movies ever made. The DVD release has theatrical
trailers, a related documentary, optional French soundtrack, and optional
English and French subtitles. --Tom Keogh
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If you want to see one of the greatest films ever, this is
the way to see it (forget video tape, the quality of this product is
superb).
'Casablanca' is set in wartime Morocco where refugees from
Europe wait for the chance to escape to America. Rick (Humphrey Bogart)
the owner of a fashionable bar, is shocked when his former lover Ilsa
(Ingrid Bergman) arrives with her husband Victor Lazlo, the leader of a
Resistance movement. Victor is being pursued by the Germans who have a
strong influence over the French authorities in Morocco and who will be
happy to see him stopped. Will Ilsa escape with Victor or will she leave
him for Rick...?
When they bought the rights to the play (Everyone comes to
Rick's), Warner Brothers couldn't possibly have known how successful
'Casablanca' would be. It has just the right mix of mystery, intrigue,
romance and humor with a few memorable songs thrown in for good measure.
Watch out too for the references to concentration camps which is
surprising when you consider that it was filmed in 1942.
As well as the movie itself, on the DVD you get a
documentary about its production hosted by Bogart's real-life partner,
Lauren Bacall.
This is a must-see movie...
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