Casablanca

Casablanca
January 23, 1943
Warner Brothers
Drama
VHS
B

Like Citizen Kane, this is a good movie burdened with the reputation of "great."  It is intelligent, surprisingly witty, and romantic (although not a romance).  However, (as with Kane) I can't say that I cared all that much about the characters, except for maybe Sam, whose dilemmas seemed the most relatable.  It's not the fault of the actors and actresses, or even the writers or director.  I think we're meant to be kept at a distance, so that the morality of this environment is presented as what it is, no more, no less.  For me to love a movie, there has to be something warmer, as in Wizard of Oz.  Also, I'll admit, witty or not, this is unquestionably a drama, and I probably can't love a drama.  All that said, it is interesting to see how the twists and turns play out, even if this is one of the most spoiled, and quoted, movies ever made.  Additionally, I like the use of light and shadow, in a different way than in Kane.  (This is one of those movies that it was madness to colorize.)  Although not a musical, the film uses music well, and not just "As Time Goes By."

Leonid Kinskey, the agitator in Duck Soup, is Sascha here.  Mike Tellegen was in Roberta, Enrique Acosta and Adolph Faylauer in A Night at the Opera.  Georges Renavent was in Turnabout and Road to Zanzibar.  Paul Porcasi was also in Zanzibar.  Carl Deloro and Hercules Mendez were in Citizen Kane.

Dan Seymour would also appear in A Night in Casablanca.  Leon Belasco, Monte Blue, Dick Botiller, Jamiel Hasson, and Michael Mark would all be in Road to Morocco.  William Edmunds and Arthur Stuart Hull would go on to It's a Wonderful Life, Edmunds as Mr. Martini.  Eugene Borden would be in All About Eve.  Norma Varden, who plays the wife of the pickpocketed Englishman, would have a larger role in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, as Lady Beekman.  Jean de Briac, George Dee, and Arthur Dulac would have small roles in Gentlemen.  I've seen a few other Bogart movies but I don't own them.  He and Peter Lorre always play off each other well, although I might not have any other Lorre movies besides Muscle Beach Party.