Casablanca is a 1942 drama film directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid. The plot is set during World War II in the city of Casablanca, Morocco, under the control of the Vichy regime, which supported Hitler's regime at the time, and partly in Paris during the Nazi occupation.

Casablanca was, in 1942, the crossroads of business, espionage, adventure and Rick's Café was at its centre. Among the most beautiful films ever made and many say: the most beautiful. 

Original English trailer.

The story unfolds against a backdrop of political tension and intrigue, in which the ideals of freedom, love and sacrifice are put to the test, and stars Rick Blaine ( Humphrey Bogart), a cynical and unscrupulous American who runs Rick's Café. Rick is disillusioned after a love disappointment and only cares about his business.

Everything changes when he unexpectedly sees Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman), a very beautiful, mysterious and charming woman who appears at Rick's Café with her current husband, Czech resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid). Rick and Ilsa were lovers in Paris during the Nazi occupation a few years earlier. 

Ilsa in Casablanca embarrasses Rick and puts him in a difficult situation, because Victor Laszlo is wanted by the Nazis and has come to Casablanca to try to emigrate to America and continue his political commitment against Hitler's regime. Rick has to decide between his feelings for Ilsa and his natural and interested reluctance to help Victor. The local police captain, Louis Renault (iClaude Rains), is an ambiguous character, human, but inclined to adapt to circumstances for his own career, while ideally being against the Nazi regime.

Rick has to make a difficult decision choosing between his love for Ilsa and helping Victor who wants to escape from Casablanca. 

Casablanca is a classic film, known for its songs, especially 'Play it again, Sam', and its romantic atmosphere. In the film, themes such as loyalty, redemption and altruism coexist and stand out against a backdrop of war and oppression. Its gripping plot and characters 
One of the greatest cinematic masterpieces of all time.

Comments

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Here, with this film, the dream machine expressed the best that could be achieved not only in 1942, but ever, or at least to this day, since we cannot know what the future holds.

All the characters are extraordinarily likable, starting with a beautiful Ingrid Bergman who is extremely expressive and good, to Humphrey Bogart cast in a part that was right up his alley, to all the other actors. There is not a hint of criticism, not a lapse of text or music or photography or anything else. All outstanding, cinematically speaking. To be seen and seen again.

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It may have been a combination of positive factors, but the fact is that Casablanca succeeded well, very well, indeed perfect.

The two leads come into their own as best they could, thanks to their bravura, but also thanks to this director, the Hungarian naturalised in the USA Michael Curtiz, who has given Hollywood spectacular films and others less so.

The three screenwriters could not do better, filling the film with suspense, action and mystery in a Casablanca somewhere between dream and reality.

Splendid, exceptional music with one of the most beautiful and unforgettable pieces: Max Steiner's As Time Goes By, played to perfection by Dooley Wilson (Sam).

3 Oscars in 1944: best film, best director, best screenplay. I have seen it many times and I always watch it again with emotion.