A timeless classic and one of the great films of all time.

Rating: 10/10 (1 January 2004)

Shot as just another film in the days when Hollywood was pumping out movies like an assembly line. Indeed, the film is not shot as an epic with sweeping scenes of battles or with elaborate sets or special effects. So why all the fuss?
This film has grown in stature because of the brilliant acting of the two lead characters, the remarkably witty and clever dialogue, and the war-torn romance that is the heart of the picture. In other words, it is an actor-driven film with a terrific script and a story about love, war, and politics, i.e., a formula for a masterpiece.
Put simply, Ingrid Bergman is electric in this film. She is stunningly beautiful and turns in a remarkable performance as the brave and sensual Ilsa. Her facial expressions alone convey more than most actresses can do with monologues. She convincingly plays a young women torn between her ideals and affection for her husband-mentor and her passion for Rick, the one true love of her life.
Not to be outdone, Bogart's performance is probably the strongest of his career. He simultaneously manages to play a self-absorbed sulking saloon keeper, passionate lover, and sentimental patriot. Rick is a complex and deep character, deeply wounded by Ilsa's choice to leave him at a train station in Paris to tend to her once forsaken husband.
On top of this passionate romance, the film is paced by its political subplot, which is all the more interesting since it was filmed during World War II. The script deftly weaves jabs at the Nazis and packs political themes throughout. Moreover, the superb script conveys complex character interactions and messages without hitting the viewer over the head with explanation or narration. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the underlying negotiating between Captain Renault and Rick on a variety of topics throughout the film.
Bolstering the performances of Bogart and Bergman is the heady acting of Henreid and Rains. Indeed, Rains' performance as Captain Renault is one of the great buddy-womanizer roles of all-time. He is simultaneously charming and without conviction. Henreid delivers a terrific performances as the political icon Victor Laszlo. He is both dashing and courageous without ever trying to overshadow Bogart.
This is a great film that gets better each time you see it.