Casablanca, World War II, and the Struggle for America's Soul

Question for Discussion: How does the love
triangle between IIsa, Rick, and Victor in
Casablanca help us better understand the
complexity and depth of romantic love?

Reading: Ebert, "Review of Casablanca";
Dirks, "Review of Casablanca"; Ecco, "Review
of Casablanca"

Video: Casablanca

Writing films reviews for this class

Writing Films Reviews

Casablanca Web Pages

Casablanca--The Internet Movie Database
Vincent's Casablanca Home Page
Reel Classics: Casablanca
Em'Lynn's Casablanca - The Movie
Casablanca Weblinks

Facts about and Reviews
of Casablanca

Casablanca was released on January 23, 1943

The premiere was held on November 26, 1942,
two weeks after the allies landed in Casablanca.

1. What does Rick Blaine mean when he says that his
personal code is: ``I stick my neck out for nobody"?

2. Do you think Ilsa Lund really loves her husband
Victor Laszlo?

3. What role does the song, "As Time Goes By," play
in the movie? What does the song really mean?

4. Is the relationship between Rick Blaine, Ilsa Lund, and Victor Laszlo a classic love triangle? Or is this relationship much more complicated?

5. Do you think Victor Laszlo really loves his wife, Ilsa Lund? Does Laszlo love the larger cause of fighting Fascism more than he loves his wife? What does Laszlo mean when he says: "Apparently you think of me only as the leader of a cause. Well, I'm also a human being. Yes, I love her that much."

6. What makes Rick Blaine so cynical and bitter and hard-edged in the early parts of the movie? Why has he appeared to have given up his fight to stop the Nazis?

7. Why does Ilsa come back to Rick's bar at night to
explain herself?

8. Do you think that Ilsa has always loved and still loves Rick? Does she mean it when she says, "If you knew how much I loved you, how much I still love you"?

9. What does Rick mean when he says: "I'm not fighting for anything any more except myself. I'm the only cause I'm interested in "?

10. How do you explain the last scene at the airport. Does Ilsa still love Rick, and does Rick still love Ilsa?

11. What do you think Rick mean when he keeps on saying, "Here's looking at you, kid," to Ilsa?

12. What is Rick planning on doing when he says to Ilsa: "But I've got a job to do, too. Where I'm going, you can't follow. What I've got to do, you can't be any part of. Ilsa, I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you'll understand that. Now, now... Here's looking at
you kid"?

"As Time Goes By"

"As Time Goes By": Words and Lyrics

You must remember this
A kiss is just a kiss
A sigh is just a sigh
The fundamental things apply
As Time Goes By.
And when two lovers woo
They still say, 'I love you'
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As Time Goes By.

Moonlight and love songs never out of date.
Hearts full of passion, jealousy and hate.
Woman loves man, and man must have his mate.
That no-one can deny.

It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die.
The world will always welcome lovers as time goes by.