Stevie Stigall and Jonnie Mills | Staff Writers
July 5, 2023
On the night of Casablanca, scholars seemed to just pour into the room. So much so, that scholars were even turned away at the door because it was so full. It was a highly anticipated film by many scholars, the movie went head to head with “Singin’ in the Rain” as a double feature in the Classic Film Series installments. Many scholars had to make difficult choices between the two films. Casablanca won the battle for us.
Casablanca is an award winning film directed by Michael Curtiz that has won multiple academy awards. The film, set in December of 1941, follows Rick Blaine as he struggles to fight his own morals about what is right and wrong when it comes to love. After a few years of living in Casablanca with his trusty companion Sam, Rick is confronted with a past romance Ilsa Lund, who is now married to infamous escapade, Victor Laszlo. Rick now has to decide whether to sacrifice his neutral for a greater good, or follow his heart and rekindle his past romance. The movie is a great representation regarding issues of World War II. It focuses on immigration issues within the country that are still very relevant today.
Our favorite scene would definitely have to be the very last scene of the film. This scene sums up just how much Rick’s character grew from being a selfish person who would “never stick his neck out for anyone,” to someone who puts the greater good before himself. The fact that he risked all that he loved for what would be better for others, really shows his growth as a person. The last scene also shows Captain Louis Renault serving the “right side” and double crossing the captain from the Germans showed his dedication to help advocate for justice.
Our Horseshoe Award goes to Rick Blaine. He’s our favorite character because of his ability to change as a person throughout. His internal conflict was a tough one for him to battle, but he was able to overcome it and put Victor and IIlsa before himself. Although, we may just be a little biased.
There are so many quotes that we loved throughout the movie, but our favorite would be, “You might as well question why we breathe. If we stop breathing, we’ll die. If we stop fighting our enemies, the world will die.” This quote was said by Victor Laszlo who was an activist against the Nazi Party representing the persistent climates in historical contexts becoming incomparable.
Though this movie may have not been all we thought it would be, it’s still a classic movie that is beloved by many. It’s one that we would recommend, as long as you can stand it being in black and white that is. Overall, the movie is very enjoyable with a great story line, though it may have been a little underwhelming. We give it 2.5/5 Shoes Up.
