Thank God Ronald Reagan never got into THIS "White House"...

Rating: Null/10 (26 April 2000)

If the above seems somewhat strange, allow me to explain: Ronnie Raygun, once upon a time, was scheduled to take over the role of Rick in the beginning of this film...and the translation of Casablanca from the French means "white house". Now that that's been settled, I must confess that I'm at something of a loss as to what to say about this film that hasn't already been said about five times. Here goes...
The Humphrey Bogart we all came to know and love first appeared in this crown jewel of Hollywood's Golden Era. Virtually everything we ever associated with a Bogart character (cynicism, romanticism, disrespect for unjust authority, doing the right thing in spite of himself) came from this film. My favorite scene of his has to be when he refuses to let the German banker into the gambling action:
"Your money's good at the bar."
"Do you know who I am?!"
"I do! You're lucky the bar's open to you!"
Ingrid Bergman has never been so lovely. The charming lilt in her voice never ceases to be music to my ears every time I hear it. I'D fall for her, no doubt about it. Peter Lorre's role is small, but vital to the plot. Let's face it, nobody ever played a spineless, underhanded wimp better than Lorre. Dooley Wilson will forever stay etched in my mind for "As Time Goes By" so long as I live. Claude Rains, the only person in the entire cast to show off more cynicism than Bogie, is an utter delight, doesn't care one way or another until that last moment at the airport. Paul Henreid, one of the most underrated actors of the '40s (check him out in "Now, Voyager"), is superbly sublime as the principled, eloquent Resistance fighter. Contrary to some reports, he's not a sap who has no idea what's going on between Bergman and Bogie. My suspicion has always been that he knew a lot more than he ever let on. Finally we have Conrad Veidt, the very epitome of the sadistic Nazi commader. Veidt had inpeccable credentials for such a role: he'd been imprisoned by the Nazis during the 1930's. Plenty of opportunity to study the real thing up close and personal, one would agree.
Lest I forget, I feel a special mention should go to director Michael Curtiz, who keeps the plot rolling along at the pace of a bullet train. Anyone who likes this one should check out his other great classics with Errol Flynn, "Captain Blood" and "The Adventures of Robin Hood". A director of good taste and great skill, he should be remembered as well as anyone else for his contribution to this cinematic masterpiece.