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Author: |
Julius Epstein, Philip Epstein, and Howard Koch | |
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Analysis by: |
Carol A. Compton & Kevin Hindley | |
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Genre: |
Drama | |
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Period: |
December, 1941 | |
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Setting: |
Casablanca, North Africa | |
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Adapted from the unproduced play by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison, "Everybody Comes to Rick's." |
A story of "former lovers briefly united in the chaos of war. [...] Bogart is Rick, a world-weary nightclub owner who claims, "I stick my neck out for nobody." Bergman is Ilsa, fleeing the Nazis with her Resistance-hero husband. Only Rick can help the pair escape, but he refuses... until Ilsa reawakens his idealism."
(Video blurb, MGM/UA)
RICK, a cynical nightclub owner who's the coolest guy in town, is unresponsive to the problems of others. He's forced out of isolation by--
ILSA, a compassionate woman who loves Rick, and is committed to her husband Laszlo and his noble cause. She's torn between Rick and--
LASZLO, an intellectual Underground leader, who risks his life for the cause of freedom. He's pursued by--
STRASSER, the relentless Nazi Major who's out to annihilate the enemies of the Third Reich, especially Laszlo. He demands the help of--
RENAULT, the Vichy French Prefect of Police, who's forced to pacify the Nazis to maintain his control over Casablanca. He appeases the Nazis' taste for blood by arresting criminals like--
UGARTE, the thief, who murders two German couriers and steals priceless Letters of Transit that allow free passage through German occupied Europe.
FERRARI, a competing nightclub owner and black-marketeer, desperately wants to buy Rick's club, including--
SAM, the faithful piano player and nursemaid to Rick's cynicism.
If the Laszlos are to escape Casablanca, Rick must change his neutral attitude and take a stand -- and give them the stolen Letters of Transit.
Like the other refugees, Ilsa and Laszlo doggedly pursue a means of escape from Casablanca and the Nazis. Rick seems content to remain in town, but Ilsa's arrival and Strasser's closing of his club soon force him to join the exodus.
Rick has a history of self-sacrifice for noble causes, but currently his soul seems to be in limbo. All it takes is an old flame and loss of his livelihood to make Lazslo's escape a personal matter for him, galvanizing him back into action.
Both woman and men can empathize with someone who realizes his mistake and does the right thing.
Rick changes from self-centered and controlling to emotionally confident and selfless. Early on, he repeatedly emphasizes that:
But at the moment of truth he risks everything to help Laszlo escape with Ilsa, and takes up his personal fight for what's right.
Rick allows his club to be an open house to a wide variety of patrons, from refugees to Nazis to Vichy French. Whichever way the political wind blows, Rick will bend with it. When Ugarte flees his captors in the club and begs Rick for help, Rick adapts to the situation and refuses to comply.
Rick must start becoming the conscientious man he was in Paris, pick up the fight against the Nazis, and fill the hole in his heart created by Ilsa's desertion of him.
A linear thinker, Rick jumps to the conclusion that Ilsa left him in Paris because she loved Laszlo more. When he decides to help Laszlo and Ilsa, he takes a logical series of actions that ensure they will be able to escape without interference from the police or the Nazis.
Laszlo finally escapes Casablanca -- with Rick's help and Ugarte's Letters of Transit -- to continue his freedom fighting, taking the woman he loves with him.
Rick resolves his bitterness over Ilsa's leaving him in Paris. He forgives what has happened in the past, opens his heart to love again, and resumes his efforts against fascist oppression.
Ugarte's decision to entrust Rick with the Letters of Transit makes it difficult for Ilsa and Laszlo to obtain them; Rick's nod of the head to let the band leader strike up "La Marseillaise" causes Strasser to close the club and threaten Laszlo; Laszlo's altruistic decision to put Ilsa's safety before his own impresses Rick so much that he helps the couple escape, putting himself at risk; etc.
After Ugarte's killed, Laszlo turns down Major Strasser's offer of visas in exchange for naming other Underground leaders. Ferrari offers a single exit visa, but Ilsa refuses to leave without Victor. Their only remaining option is Ugarte's Letters of Transit -- which are in Rick's control.
In 1941, refugees of war-torn Europe converge on neutral Casablanca seeking exit visas to escape to America. Rick Blaine, a nightclub owner, comes into possession of Letters of Transit that will allow the bearer safe passage. Laszlo, an Underground Leader, needs those letters to escape. Rick refuses to help Laszlo initially, because Laszlo's wife Ilsa deserted him earlier in Paris. Eventually Rick regains his compassion and tricks Renault, the local Prefect of Police, into helping the Laszlos' escape to America.
Casablanca's writers set the historical backdrop with the opening V.O. narration:
Casablanca is a seething hotbed of activity: Rick tries to peacefully run his nightclub; Renault chases petty crooks and beautiful women; refugees trade their valuables to buy exit visas; Laszlo and Ilsa look for safe passage to America; Strasser works to prevent Laszlo from leaving town; Ugarte thieves and schemes; Ferrari trades on the black market; etc.
The Laszlos and the refugees seek safe passage out of Casablanca; Ferrari wants to buy Rick's club and Sam's services; obtaining the Letters of Transit is to be Ugarte's last big heist before he gets out; Strasser wants to put Laszlo under his thumb, and to capture his couriers' killer; Renault bargains for sexual favors with women refugees, and always wins at Rick's casino; etc.
Renault satisfies his ego by bedding women; Strasser has made defeating Laszlo into a personal obsession; Rick repeatedly insists, " I stick my neck out for nobody;" Ugarte and Ferrari make personal profit by exploiting refugees; Rick wants to keep his club operating without interference:
Laszlo selflessly works for the freedom of others, at great risk to himself from oppressors like Strasser; in Paris, Ilsa abandoned her lover Rick in favor of her brave husband Laszlo, whom she'd thought dead; in Casablanca, she'll do anything to ensure his work continues.
Ilsa and Laszlo both urge Rick to take the other to freedom, sacrificing their own freedom; falling back in love with Rick, a helpless Ilsa trusts him to do what's right:
Touched by the depth of Laszlo's love and his selflessness, Rick finally sticks his neck out to get Ilsa and Laszlo out of Casablanca.
The residents of Casablanca struggle to free themselves from the control exerted over them by the Nazi Strasser and his dupe, the Vichy collaborator Renault; Strasser comes to Casablanca to regain control of the stolen Letters of Transit, and to regulate Laszlo's movements.
A condition of uncontrol helps achieve the objective story's problems: when Major Strasser joins the Nazis singing "Wacht am Rhine," Laszlo responds by leading the nightclub's patrons in "La Marseillaise." A frenzied two-part disharmony ensues as the two songs compete, until the French triumph. Strasser, fearing loss of control of Casablanca, shuts down Rick's club -- pushing Rick toward the side of freedom. In addition, Laszlo's escape is the ultimate loss of control, especially to a country--America--that represents freedom.
Casablanca's residents use avoidance as a means to side-track problems: Ugarte tries to avoid arrest in Rick's club; Rick avoids getting personally involved in the political fight and the problems of his patrons; Laszlo and Ilsa come to Casablanca to escape the Nazis; Rick came to Casablanca to avoid Paris; Renault avoids taking sides, blowing with the political wind.
In an effort to resolve the effects of their problem, Casablanca's residents engage in pursuit: the refugees go after exit visas; the Laszlos and Strasser pursue the Letters of Transit; the Nazis pursue Laszlo and anyone who opposes them; Renault pursues women; Ferrari goes after Rick's club and Sam; Ugarte pursues wealth by stealing the Letters of Transit; etc.
Major hurdles on the way to the story goal are overcome only when the objective characters reach a greater understanding of what they're up against: when Laszlo learns of Ugarte's death, he understands how dangerous Casablanca is for him, and how difficult it's going to be to get out; lacking information, Rick misunderstands Ilsa's standing him up in Paris; when Laszlo asks Rick to take his wife to freedom with him, Rick understands that this is a love greater than his own; saying goodbye to Ilsa, Rick comprehends that there are more important causes than romantic love:
At the airport, Strasser understands how far Rick's self-esteem has risen--with a bullet.
In Casablanca, the objective characters' methods of handling problems force the story forward: Rick's neutral stance leads to Ugarte's capture and death; Laszlo's defiant challenge of the Nazis with the singing contest makes Strasser put pressure on him; Strasser's threatening approach to Laszlo sends Ilsa into Rick's arms; lovelorn Ilsa acts helpless, throwing herself at Rick's feet and forcing him to take charge; etc.
A sense of obligation creates problems and slows down progress in the objective story in Casablanca: remembering how Ilsa stood him up in Paris, a vengeful Rick refuses to sell Laszlo the Letters of Transit; Laszlo's emotional contract with Ilsa leads him to ask Rick to take her to freedom instead, leaving him at risk in Casablanca; Renault's obligation as a collaborator causes him to tip off Strasser at the airport, endangering the Laszlos' escape; etc.
Everyone is concerned with obtaining the Letters of Transit: Ugarte kills the couriers and steals the Letters to bankroll his escape from Casablanca; Strasser wants the murderer of his couriers and the Letters returned, enlisting Renault as his enforcer; Laszlo and Ilsa, and the refugees, seek the Letters of Transit for their escape; Ferrari wants to buy them from Rick; entrusted with them by Ugarte, Rick has control of the Letters.
If the freedom-fighting Laszlos are unable to escape Casablanca and Strasser's clutches, the Nazi occupation would become easier, leading to further enslavement of free European countries; etc.
On the way to escaping Casablanca, the objective characters suffer negative effects relating to their future: Ugarte's and Strasser's futures are drastically cut short; Rick and Renault will be on the run from the Nazis for the rest of their lives, or until the Nazis are defeated; Rick loses his club and future income; by sending her to America, Rick's almost certain not to see Ilsa ever again.
Laszlo's obtaining the Letters of Transit fulfills his desire for freedom; Ilsa and Rick revive their undying love for each other; Ferrari satisfies his lust for owning Rick's club; Renault gets sex by supplying visas to female refugees; etc.
Rick has to understand the truth about Paris before he can forgive Ilsa and stop being mean-spirited; once he understands the depth of Laszlo's love -- his willingness to put Ilsa before himself -- Rick understands that Ilsa belongs with her more deserving husband, and engineers their escape. Strasser understands how powerful Laszlo's influence is and has him arrested, and this causes Ilsa to act to save her husband. Ilsa understands how urgent it is to get the Letters, quits stalling, and pressures Rick for them. Renault must understand that his collaborator fence-sitting must end, realize that Rick is a patriot, and he is one too, and save Rick from arrest at the airport.
Rick schemes to achieve Laszlo's escape from Casablanca by putting into Renault's head the idea that Rick himself will escape with Ilsa, and that by setting up Laszlo with the Letters, Renault will win points with Strasser.
Ilsa's arrival in Casablanca makes Rick melancholic:
Nostalgic for the good old days in Paris, he drinks himself into a flashback and can't help but relive the pain of Ilsa's ditching him.
Rick's bitter memory of Ilsa's jilting him is a forewarning that he may not help her and Laszlo to escape from Casablanca.
Rick came to Casablanca to forget Ilsa. When Ilsa arrives at his club needing exit visas, bitter memories resurface, and Rick refuses to help. After she realizes how embittered Rick has become, Ilsa bares her soul and subjects herself to his mercy. Discovering the true meaning of love, he relents and gives her the Letters of Transit.
Rick and Ilsa were lovers in Paris when the Nazis occupied the city. He asked Ilsa to marry him, and they planned to leave Paris together on the five o'clock train. But she didn't show; instead she sent a note saying goodbye. Heartbroken, Rick has become cynical and isolated from people, not knowing Ilsa stood him up for a noble cause.
Rick, wounded by Ilsa's betrayal, protects himself from being hurt again by hiding his emotions. By baring her own heart to him and trusting him with her future, Ilsa shows Rick that the gain is worth the pain, and he changes to a loving, giving person again.
Rick's resistance to transforming into an altruistic person like Laszlo causes conflict with the dedicated Ilsa:
Rick has lost the zeal that led him to fight for freedom causes, and is steadfast about not getting involved again; though still married to Laszlo, the lovetorn Ilsa commits her love to Rick once again.
When the dedicated Ilsa discovered Laszlo was still alive in Paris, she realized her place was at his side. Now she's out to provoke Rick -- the only one with access to the Letters of Transit -- into putting the freedom of others ahead of himself, again:
Ilsa's sense of devotion is stronger than Rick's noncommittal attitude, helping him commit to figuring out the best thing to do for everybody.
Ilsa's walking out on Rick in Paris, causes Rick to lose faith in romantic love -- and avoid getting too emotionally involved with any woman, as evidenced by his sending away of lovestruck Yvonne. Rick's loss of faith in Ilsa's love stirs up bitter feelings when she walks into his club years later in Casablanca:
When Ilsa persuades Rick that what he's believed about her behavior in Paris all these years is untrue, it allows the resurfacing of romantic love in Rick, and his realization that she was right to stay and support Laszlo.
Because of their problem with faith, Rick and Ilsa focus on avoidance: Rick avoids his feelings regarding Ilsa by ordering Sam never to play their song, "As time goes by"; after Ilsa shows up again, Rick tries to forget her by getting drunk, then uses insults to keep her at bay when she tries to explain; after that first hurtful encounter, Ilsa evades Rick until she needs his help desperately.
Rick and Ilsa direct their efforts toward pursuit: Ilsa grills the reluctant Sam about Rick's whereabouts:
She flushes Rick out of hiding by having their song played:
Rick goes after Ilsa in the marketplace, looking for answers to why she ran out on him; Ilsa goes to Rick -- above a saloon, up a flight -- to bargain for the Letters of Transit.
To change Rick into a more compassionate person, he and Ilsa must carry out various schemes: in Paris, Rick envisions he and Ilsa being married by the train engineer; Ilsa's plan to get Rick's attention by playing their song works, but she hadn't counted on his bitterness; Ilsa implements her plan to get the Letters from Rick by pointing a gun at his heart; in response to Ilsa's pleas, Rick comes up with a scheme to make sure she won't have to walk out on him again -- by sending her away with Laszlo.
Rick's and Ilsa's rationalizations force the subjective story forward: In Paris, Ilsa sends Rick a "Dear John" letter saying goodbye, instead of explaining her true motives, thus alienating him and forming his misguided resentment toward her; having made the escape plans, Rick tells Ilsa what she wants to hear so he can do what's best for her without her interference:
The drunken Rick's bitter self-justification sends Ilsa running out to think up another approach:
Rick's resentment of Ilsa delays her telling him the truth. Toughing it out, he tells Sam to play their song:
Ilsa's fear of getting too close to Rick again prevents her going to him for the letters until all other options expire.
Rick has a fixed attitude toward life in general, and women in particular. He is content to hide out in Casablanca, avoiding commitment to anything -- particularly another woman who might hurt him the way Ilsa did.
Rick's inner feelings are largely frozen. Until he meets Ilsa again, he's content to play chess alone, drink alone, rebuff Yvonne when she demands his affections, and simply run his club.
Rick hopes to continue operating his club with no political interference, and to be left alone by his customers:
After Ilsa, he lost hope of ever loving again.
With Ilsa's reappearance, Rick slips into a drunken reverie wherein everything is as it was in Paris; Ilsa offers him the dream of taking up where they left off -- all they have to do is both leave Laszlo behind in Casablanca, and go to America (where Rick's a wanted man) together.
Rick's hopes of an unaltered status quo are shattered by the Laszlos' arrival and Strasser's subsequent closing of his club; Victor and Ilsa's selflessness affect Rick to the point where he can't bear to part them, thus he gives up his dream of reuniting with her; Rick's do-gooding and defeat of Strasser offers hope of a free world.
Rick creates problems for himself by trying to control all aspects of his life in volatile Casablanca. Since Ilsa's betrayal in Paris, Rick's kept his mixed feelings toward her in check, and himself isolated from women: when Yvonne demands affection from him, he sends her home; he controls who gets into the casino and has a policy never to get friendly with his customers; Rick maintains control in his club, breaking up a fight between a German and a Frenchman:
Ultimately, Rick's problems are resolved when his life is unregulated. After Rick loses control of his club to Strasser and Renault, he sells it to Ferrari; Rick's remembering his love affair unleashes the feelings he has tried to control -- love and desire -- moving him toward the recognition of his love for Ilsa.
Rick is focused on his feelings about events in Casablanca. Rick is angry when he hears Sam playing "As Time Goes By"; he's resentful when Ilsa first comes to explain why she left him; he empathizes with the newlyweds, letting the husband win at roulette:
Rick takes a series of steps to enact the Laszlos' elaborate escape plan; he uses logic to persuade Renault to release Laszlo from prison:
When Strasser ignores Rick's linear reasoning:
Rick demonstrates what a straight-shooter he is.
As Rick grows emotionally, he's better able to deal with his memories of Paris: when Sam first plays "As Time Goes By"; invoking painful memories, Rick becomes enraged; after he flashes back to being stood up in Paris, he's rude to Ilsa; as the vestiges of forgotten love and social commitment stir in his soul, he helps the young couple win at roulette; sending Ilsa away, Rick treasures his memories of her:
When Ilsa reveals why she left him in Paris, Rick's finally able to put that painful part of his life behind him and move on to what he's good at: putting an end to despots like Strasser.
Rick's assumptions about why Ilsa jilted him cause him to waste his life in suspended animation in Casablanca, when he could have been fighting the Nazi threat; his close mindedness toward her almost results in him denying her (and the Cause) help.
Ilsa's predicament is that she's committed to Laszlo, but in love with Rick. Rick has the only means to get Laszlo safely out of Casablanca, but he's not in a giving, or forgiving, mood.
By reinvigorating Rick and showing him there's something worth living for, Ilsa gives Rick a brighter future; she motivates Rick to send her away in support of Laszlo, continuing their good work together.
In Paris, Ilsa drags her feet over Rick's plans:
She puts off telling him her true intentions until Casablanca, where she procrastinates over approaching him for the Letters.
In Paris, Ilsa chose to stay with husband Laszlo rather than leave with Rick; in Casablanca, it's harder for her to leave Rick a second time, so she asks Rick to make the decision.
When Ilsa finally tells Rick the truth about Paris, she's unable to choose between her two men again and passes the burden onto Rick -- who wastes no time in making the right decision, and stands her up at the airport.
Ilsa's drive to support Laszlo causes problems for her. Ilsa's support of Laszlo and his cause made her give up her love for Rick once before; her efforts to get her husband out of Casablanca send her back into Rick's arms, forcing her to choose again.
Ilsa's opposition satisfies her emotional problems in the story. Ilsa's opposition to Rick's neutrality and rejection of his self-pity forces her to tell him the truth about Paris; her inability to fight the power of his love causes her to relinquish the difficult choice to him:
Ilsa's focus on avoidance causes Rick more distress. Ilsa avoids telling Rick the truth in Paris, and dodges him at the train station; although still in love with Rick, Ilsa lets him suffer alone:
Ilsa's use of pursuit to solve her problem throws Rick into a quandary. Unable to obtain safe passage through other means, Ilsa comes looking for Rick's Letters of Transit, but he spitefully refuses; she goes after him again with a gun, finally managing to revive his compassion.
Ilsa's view of the past has an increasing relevancy upon her own future as well as Rick's. Recognizing Sam at Rick's club, a nostalgic Ilsa insists on bringing up the past, despite Sam's warning:
Hearing their song makes Rick suffer the joy and pain of their time in Paris together, and he bitterly refuses to help her; at the marketplace, she reveals she left him for Laszlo -- her husband -- which further alienates Rick; unable to shoot Rick, Ilsa reveals what really happened in Paris, breaking through to him with the truth; sending her away, Rick reminisces:
Ilsa's willingness toward openness forces Rick to re-evaluate his hatred of her and his neutral stance, when she tells him how her receptiveness to Laszlo's beliefs led her to choose him over Rick in Paris:
In Casablanca, her tolerance of Rick's petty vengefulness and her re-evaluation of her situation causes her to want to leave Laszlo for Rick again -- which brings out Rick's submerged feelings and frees them all.
Ilsa's constant denial of her true feelings toward Rick almost loses her the Letters she needs to save Laszlo. Ilsa has denied and ignored her true feelings for Rick, making them all the more powerful when they meet in Casablanca; she falls in love with Rick again, making it even more unlikely that he'll help her stay with her husband.
Residents and police learn of the murdered German couriers, Strasser learns of the murderer; Rick learns of the Letters of Transit and that Ugarte killed the couriers; Rick learns of the upcoming arrest in his club and that Laszlo is in Casablanca.
The optimistic Laszlos arrive at Rick's and meet disappointment -- Ugarte's been arrested and Strasser's waiting for them instead.
Laszlo understands that Renault won't sign exit visas unless he gives Strasser names of Underground leaders; Strasser understands the depth of Laszlo's conviction:
Ilsa and Laszlo understand the difficulty of getting Letters of Transit now that Ugarte's dead.
Desperate to escape Strasser's increasing control, Laszlo makes little headway with Ferrari and Rick, but wins a moral victory by outsinging the Germans.
Yvonne dates a Nazi who gets in a fight with a French officer, leading to the France vs. Germany singing contest. When Laszlo leads the Marseillaise, Strasser shuts down Rick's club.
Feeling more pressure from Strasser, both of the Laszlos ask Rick to save the other. Recognizing true love, Rick figures out what's best for everyone.
Ferrari buys Rick's club; Renault arrests Laszlo at the airport; Laszlo and Ilsa obtain Letters of Transit from Rick and escape; Rick takes Strasser's life; Rick and Renault achieve a beautiful friendship.
When they meet again in Rick's club, Rick and Ilsa pretend they're only acquaintances; Rick pretends he can relive his life with Ilsa in Paris; on that last day in Paris, Ilsa acts as if she will marry Rick.
As his attitude softens toward Ilsa, Rick shows signs of changing from a bitter, jilted lover into a "rank sentimentalist."
Seeing a parallel between the sad love story of refugee Annina and that of Ilsa, Rick has a change of heart and lets the newlyweds win money for exit visas.
Ilsa swallows her pride and approaches Rick for the Letters, but their trading of barbs gets her nowhere and she needs to think of a different line of attack.
Ilsa comes up with the idea of using a gun to get the Letters of Transit from Rick; she can't conceive of leaving him again and asks him to do the thinking.
Falling back in love with Rick, Ilsa throws herself and Laszlo at his mercy and asks him to come up with an idea that they can immediately implement to resolve all of their dilemmas.
Rick implements his master plan for Ilsa by tricking Renault, and getting her and Victor on the plane together.
Ex-girlfriend Yvonne asks the cynical Rick where he was last night:
Renault probes Rick's memories:
While possessing a shady reputation and on the run himself, Rick agrees to safeguard the Letters but won't help Ugarte evade justice, snapping:
Rick storms out of the casino into the bar when he hears Sam playing "As Time Goes By." He snaps at Sam:
Rick goes on a drinking binge, then lashes out at Ilsa when she comes to explain Paris.
While bitter at Ilsa's reopening of old wounds, Rick's scrupulous enough to refuse to consider Ferrari's offer of making profit off Ugarte's crime.
Ilsa gives Rick something to think about when she tells him she's married to Laszlo; the Bulgarian bride causes Rick to think about love and he lets her win at roulette; Rick won't consider Laszlo's offer to buy the Letters.
His heart melted by Ilsa once more declaring her love for him, Rick agrees to get Laszlo out.
Rick's deeply moved by Laszlo's self-sacrifice for Ilsa:
He realizes Laszlo's love is nobler than his own desires.
Upon recognizing Sam, Ilsa knows Rick's nearby. She pressures Sam:
Taken aback that Rick's no longer the man she used to know and love, Ilsa concentrates on trying to effect Laszlo's escape.
Ilsa's quest for the Letters of Transit suffers a setback with news of Ugarte's death, but moves forward again when she learns from Ferrari that Rick has them.
The way Rick is acting, Ilsa gives up trying to explain her past actions to him until he cynically remarks that, in the future, she will probably do the same to Victor as she had done to him:
Strasser tells Ilsa that there are three options for Laszlo's future: a concentration camp, "safe" passage back to Occupied France, or death in Casablanca; Ilsa tells Laszlo that whatever she may do in the future, it's because she loves him.
Resorting to violence but unable to hurt Rick, Ilsa breaks down and falls in love with him again.
Ilsa tells Rick the whole truth about what happened in Paris, causing him to lose his resentment and do the right thing.
All Concerns:
While Laszlo and Ilsa work toward obtaining freedom, Rick resists the pressure to become involved in the problems of anyone but himself. When Ilsa reveals her true feelings for him, Rick's passion for life is unleashed -- he ensures Laszlo and Ilsa a future together in America, and for himself and Renault, a more rewarding life fighting for freedom.
Master Plot Synopsis:
"Following the fall of France, refugees from Nazi-occupied Europe gather in Casablanca, where they attempt to obtain exit visas to Lisbon, take-off point for America. A favorite haunt of these refugees is Rick's Cafe Americain, owned by Richard Blaine, an enigmatic American who smuggled arms to Ethiopia and fought with the Loyalists in Spain who, for the moment, refuses to "stick his neck out" for anyone. To Casablanca comes Major Heinrich Strasser, seeking the murderer of two German couriers who were carrying two precious letters of transit. Ugarte, who has the letters, prevails upon Rick to hide them for him briefly, but Ugarte is arrested by the police and later killed. Cooperating with Strasser is Casablanca's prefect of police, Captain Louis Renault, who, though no fascist, "blows with the wind." Also in Casablanca are Victor Laszlo, a leader of Europe's underground, and his wife Ilsa, who need visas to continue Laszlo's work in America. In a flashback we learn that Ilsa and Rick had fallen in love in Paris and had planned to leave before the Nazis marched in, but that at the last moment Ilsa had deserted Rick.
The Laszlos attempt to obtain visas from Senor Ferrari, head of Casablanca's black market, but he refers them to Rick, who he correctly believes has the letters of transit. While Laszlo is attending an underground meeting, Ilsa goes to Rick and pleads with him for the letters, but Rick, bitter over Ilsa's desertion in Paris, refuses to help. In desperation, Ilsa threatens to shoot Rick unless he gives her the letters, but she is still in love with him and cannot carry out her threat. She reveals that she was married to Laszlo when she met Rick, but, believing Laszlo dead in a German concentration camp, she permitted the Paris affair, and left Rick only when Laszlo turned up alive.
Rick tells Ilsa that they will use the letters themselves, and he deludes Renault into believing that he will set Laszlo up for arrest if he and Ilsa are allowed to leave Casablanca unmolested. Renault agrees but is crossed by Rick, who forced Renault to accompany him and the Laszlos to the airport, where he reveals that his real plans are to put the Laszlos on the Lisbon plane. Although Ilsa still loves Rick, she allows him to persuade her that Laszlo's work is more important, and she boards the plane with her husband. Strasser, alerted by a furtive phone call from Renault, arrives at the airport and attempts to stop the flight. Rick shoots him, but he is saved from arrest by Renault, who, moved by Rick's "beau geste," has at last become a patriot."
(McCarty, p. 106-108)
Master Theme Synopsis:
The interests of individuals are unimportant when weighed against the threat of world domination by a ruthless oppressor. Blowing with the wind will freeze the soul. If you're a self-respecting human being, you'll set aside personal happiness and act for the greater good. As Rick says:
Subjective Character Synopsis:
Rick and Ilsa had a glorious love affair in Paris, when she presumed her husband to be dead. When he surfaced, alive, she walked out on Rick and something inside him died. In Casablanca, it takes the truth from Ilsa to break through his protective shell of cynicism to enable Rick to love again. It takes two things to make Rick let go of Ilsa this time -- the selfless love of her saintly husband Victor, and the future of the free world.
Master Character Synopsis:
The American Rick, once a vigilant fighter for noble causes, commits himself, body and soul, into self-exile in neutral Casablanca. Laszlo, from Occupied Czechoslovakia, and Ilsa, from neutral Sweden, pull him back into the dangerous work of opposing fascists. The Nazi Strasser tightens his pincer grip on Laszlo by ordering Vichy collaborator Renault, the prefect of police, to arrest him. Rick finally gives up his isolationist attitude and becomes an ally by arranging Laszlo and Ilsa's escape, and teaming up with Renault, who switches allegiance to the Free French.