Casablanca
Casablanca
Directed by Michael Kurtiz
Photographed by Arthur Edeson
1942
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman
It’s hard for me to think of someone cooler than Humphrey Bogart. I mean, there are Mcqueen, Wayne, Brando, Elvis and even the Fonz, but none of them come close to Bogart. In my opinion, what aides to Bogart’s composure is his elegance and classicism. This is what makes him the true King of Cool. There is no better Movie to back me on that than Michael Curtiz’s Casablanca. This film absorbs the audience right from the beginning, showing Rick Blaine’s nonchalant attitude amongst anxious refugees at his Gin Joint seeking escape from the third Reich. When we're first introduced to Rick we see nothing but his hands signing a check. We then follow his hand as he grabs a lit cigarette from the ashtray and we continue to follow until he places it on his lips. Only after he puts the cigarette to his lips we finally see Rick's frigid face. By doing this, Kurtiz showed us how indifferent Rick is about life, his rough exterior. The glorious camera movements accompanied by beautiful, exaggerated lighting along with the black and white photography make this film an aesthetically pleasing one, while the performances and catchy quotes make it unforgettable. Rick’s demeanor change is shown tastefully through Curtiz’s great gift for storytelling. His final selfless act of sacrificing his love for the greater cause, is the perfect way to show this change of heart.
