Why It's a Classic: Casablanca

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"Casablanca" (1942) directed by Michael Curtiz and written by Philip G. & Julius J. Epstein and Howard Koch (based on a play by Murray Burnett & Joan Alison) is widely known as one of the greatest and most important films in the history of cinema. Even those who dislike old and black and white movies enjoy “Casablanca”. Today you’ll learn why.
A perfect combination of universal, sharp and well-characterized screenwriting with a direction that is dynamic, rich and layered, "Casablanca" is the second film examined in the WHY IT'S A CLASSIC series.
Watch episode one here: • Why It's a Classic: Th...
A classic earns its place in the canon through recognizable quality. It stands out from heaps of contemporaneous works to always be named as the highest point an artform can aspire to. A classic prospers through history; it is canonized by time. Artistry alone can guarantee survival because history gives no handouts. Times change, cultures change, peoples change, but beauty, craft and excellence always remain. This series is a celebration of the pantheon of great films.
It’s 1941, Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) owns an American café in Casablanca, destination of thousands of immigrants escaping Europe on account of World War 2. Rick takes no sides, managing his bustling bar/casino while interacting with all sorts of odd fellows, including Ugarte (Peter Lorre), Ferrari (Sydney Greenstreet) and the corrupt chief of police, Louis Renault (Claude Rains). Things get dicey when Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), resistance fighter extraordinaire, arrives with Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman), Rick’s former girlfriend who broke his heart.
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[@bimblebee]

If this video plays and you're not watching it, you'll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.

[@Bicloptic]

You’re doing the world a service by educating everyone on these films.

[@imranjavaid71]

"never boring for one second". Both the movie and this video essay.

[@samp.8099]

One of the maybe five film analysis KZbin channels that acknowledge movies existing prior to the 70s. And the best one I've seen so far too!

[@abyzz4419]

Who do you think are the other best Movie analyser.

[@Ridcally]

Man, you literally open my eyes to all these movies I've never considered watching and to the art as a whole Thank you!

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

A masterclass video about a masterclass film. I was so very lucky 30 years ago to see this film twice in an old movie theater with the audience at full capacity and everyone all in and enthusiastic about the greatness of what they were watching -- who laughed and clapped in all the right places and who gave thunderous applause when Rains said "round up the usual suspects" at the end. Nothing more thrilling in my lifetime of filmgoing.

[@samuelprocter7606]

I thought i was over watching video essays on movies for 4 Years. Then you come along and became the remarkable exception. Youre unpretentious, confident, and actually funny. Youre one of the select few youtubers that makes the obligitory 'like and subscribe' not cringe. And most importantly, you actually teach me new things about effective filmmaking. Which I will definitely use in my own filmmaking. I have a classic movie reccomendation: The Adventures of Robin Hood: directed by Michael Curtis and William Keighly

[@rosezingleman5007]

I think I’ve forwarded his dialogue video about All About Eve to everyone I know by now.

[@Kevin_Street]

Yeah, that's a real classic! It's interesting how such a fun, optimistic adventure movie came out at such a dark time in the real world. It was escapism of the best kind.

[@The.Youtuber.with.no.Name.]

I like the format for this, and I hope to see more of it.

[@Moviewise]

And you will!

[@The.Youtuber.with.no.Name.]

@@Moviewise awesome

[@lbbotpn5429]

Casablanca is my favorite movie of all time... and now I know why. :)

[@noeltaylor6504]

Ah! I think I can help clear up a mystery. Ugarte doesn't say "DeGaulle" at 2:07. He says "Weygand", meaning Maxime Weygand ("en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxime_Weygand"), a high-ranking Vichy official. This makes much more sense, since -- as you point out -- DeGaulle's signature would carry no weight with the nazis. I think part of the problem is that nowadays nobody remembers Weygand. But DeGaulle's name is still famous, so maybe people are more inclined to hear that name in Ugarte's speech. For many years I also thought he was saying "DeGaulle", but when I listen closely it sounds clear to me that he is saying "Weygand". I suspect the name would have been better known in 1942.

[@arzabael]

Any new video by this channel, I’m stopping my own life to start

[@MonsterKidCory]

Casablanca is one of those movies that, between viewings, kinda' falls into the background and I remember abstractly that it's really good, but after I pop it into the player or catch it in a classic series at the local theatre I sit back in awe of what an absolutely perfect movie it really is. Thanks for dissecting it! As for other classics, I'm more of a genre nerd, so it'd be interesting to see your takes on King Kong, Bride of Frankenstein, Vampyr, or The Deadly Invention.

[@jerryschramm4399]

This video essay has increased my respect and admiration for this movie. Bogart did so many classics. "The Maltese Falcon" and "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" are my other two favorites, and we re-watch them on a regular basis. And what connects all these movies are the characters. In just seconds, we can get a feel for who these people are, and how they fit into the world of the movie. Thank you for this video. And congratulations on slowly building a following.

[@Hilislaw]

This is one of the best, if not altogether the best channel about film on KZbin. I only wish modern directors would watch these videos and maybe learn a thing or two. Sometimes it feels like the art of filmmaking is lost, replaced by vacuous clipmaking with ugly, nondescript shots. Most modern films feel like they were done in PowerPoint... Anyhow, many thanks to Moviewise for top-quality content!

[@LittlePhizDorrit]

These reviews are the best. I already loved this film, but so much detail I had never considered before (especially the use of shadows). Classic films should be taught in school with classic novels. I hope you keep it up, Thanks! I would love to see if I'm justified in loving one of my favorite classics: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

[@rosezingleman5007]

I want to hear what he thinks of Little Big Man. It was a big hit when it came out (I was in high school at the time). It’s kind of forgotten but since it’s based on a picaresque novel, I think his take would be interesting.

[@WildFungus]

they do I learned all of this stuff in a highschool course on film. so the 90s textbook tlaked alot about Dr Calligaris Cabinet this movie Casablanca and interestingly enough probably to keep it fresh for the young minds taking it, Star Wars A New Hope, when they were getting into the use of lighting and shadow. They teach this stuff in film school too.

[@alindsey4]

"...in a refugee-jammed Moroccan city, whose name I don't remember." LOL!

[@MarcosElMalo2]

You don’t remember? Are you a dummy? It’s . . . Oh. Never mind. 😅

[@AnnoyingMoose]

2:12 I will now ask Ryan George for a Pitch Meeting on Casablanca every time he uploads new material!

[@macandcrafting2190]

This is the only film analysis channel you need to watch.

[@jtcbrt]

This is my favorite movie. I've seen it dozens of times. Your observations are excellent. Thank you for this. So well done on your part. Here's looking at you!

[@rpg7287]

Another great movie analysis! Is it all right to say that I get excited every time I see a new Moviewise upload of a classic film analysis? But not as excited as seeing Ingrid Bergman’s face on the screen.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

Another great examination, this time of blocking and choreography of motion. They weren’t the only elements you touch on, but certainly they are center stage in this essay.

[@MA-go7ee]

You're one of the few KZbin channels that breaks down direction and why it matters.

[@Pete-hm5gw]

I've seen this movie dozens of times, one of my all-time favorites, but never noticed the camera movement and actor blocking-- which is a testament to how unbelievably both are done. Masterful filmmaking. Thanks as always for another gem!

[@MD-ve5zy]

This short video is one of, if not the best, that I've seen on this subject. Whole channel is pure gold. I would love to see your video about Sergio Leone or some of his films.

[@joaomilhomem956]

You drop this, sir 👑

[@deebugger]

"Take two people, romantic Smoky nightclub situation Your cigarette traces a ladder" Bryan Ferry would approve of this video.. And as a request: how about Keaton's "The General"? That scene with the cigar burning Buster's elbow, only to reveal a way for him (and us!) to see his captive girlfriend being brought to the room - what an incredible setup..

[@mikea.6121]

@ deebugger, on an unrelated note, how were you able to comment 13 days ago on a video that was posted 11 hours ago?

[@deebugger]

@mikea.6121 through the power of Patreon 🤩

[@mikea.6121]

Ah, or course! I thought I’d found a glitch in the Matrix🙂

[@deebugger]

@@mikea.6121 don't forget to take your red pills! 💊

[@johns123]

Great video, as always! Can you make a playlist for this series? Also North By Northwest would be a good video for the series. I saw it at the theaters recently and had forgotten how good it is

[@LordBaktor]

I haven't watched it in a while (like 30 years), so I can't recall much about the cinematography, but A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was an obsession of mine for a while as a kid. I think it counts as a classic (1966). Nowadays all I remember is that Buster Keaton is in it and someone has to bring a horse into a sauna.

[@deanr.johansen6377]

Excellent observations; thank you. I saw Casablanca about two weeks ago in a movie theater. Unfortunately, it was not full. Then again, there were no interruptions by patrons.

[@LeeHarris]

I ran a film group for 12 years in Barcelona and one Christmas decided I would put this film on thinking "fuck it I don't care if no one wants to see it." The place was rammed, around 100 people showed up. I have been meaning to watch it this Christmas, maybe I now will.

[@user-pi8qw9jj7h]

Great essay/ Some recommendations... All That Money Can Buy (1941) The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) I Married A Witch (1942) A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945, Kazan and Shamroy, who did all the camera set-ups, a testament to collaboration in the studio system) The Letter (1940) Gaslight (1940) versus the 1944 version Goodbye Mr. Chips (1939) best regards, bobby

[@AGirlofYesterday]

Right again, Mr. Moviewise! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I was fortunate enough to catch the 80th anniversary screening at Grauman's Chinese. Not a dry eye in the house. It holds up beautifully.

[@AntonioHernandez-li7kv]

I highly suggest to review the amazing classic movie "12 angry men". It's directing, writing, acting, music, everything is top notch. Please do it, not because we don't know why it's a classic, but for the people who hasn't yet wachted, and should be awere.

[@FauxRomano]

Great as always. As for other titans--Laura (1944) could be a good pick. Or a major Powell flick like The Thin Man (1934) or My Man Godfrey (1936). All near the top of my recommendations when trying to get people into classic cinema. Man, or get into Lang with M (1931) or Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933). The list is endless, really. Keep up the stellar work.

[@MichielHollanders]

Man. Happy new year. Your videos are quite unique in that I watch some of them more than once. Kind of KZbin classics. Perhaps a video on what makes your videos so great. 😂

[@albertorimoldi8713]

You have masterfully commented my favourite movie. I understood better why I love it.

[@johnpaulsylvester3727]

The simple “push in on two shot” seems to be the one camera movement you literally NEVER see today…

[@MarcosElMalo2]

Fincher.

[@johnpaulsylvester3727]

@@MarcosElMalo2 Where at? I haven’t seen Mank, but that would make sense if he used it there. He’s one of the better directors currently working, IMO.

[@unimpressedalchemist]

Would love to see a Kurosawa covered in this way. Particularly High and Low or Rashomon. That first half of High and Low has some of the best directing I've ever seen.

[@amirhani22]

Thank you for your efforts man, it's an opportunity to learn and appreciate the classics. I would love to see you analyze "Lawrence of Arabia".

[@that1guy375]

I was able to see it on the big screen and it was pure magic. I had always enjoyed the film but I had a deeper appreciation after that viewing, loved it. Also, yes Ingrid Bergman's face needs as many close-ups as possible. My suggestion for the next classic video is The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp.

[@uchil3916]

I hope one day you review The Ladykillers (1955), most people only know that Coen Brothers atrocity from 2004. They are really missing out on a classic

[@PW400]

That's a good piece of knowledge. I'm waiting for an analysis of "Vertigo"!

[@anrun]

Bravo, sir! Thank you. My vote would be for Vertigo as a lot of younger types I've seen here on YT fail to appreciate its greatness. Granted, it is no Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, but I think it is still worthy of your expert attention. I'd also vote for Chinatown. It isn't a 'classic' by the definition you used at the end of this video, but it did receive an honorable mention in your greatest films ever video.

[@zetectic7968]

I must rewatch this as I have missed so much before. Sticking with B&W for no particular reason: The Third Man, Brighton Rock, Paths of Glory & The Ipcress File.

[@JamsODonnell100]

Ooh. Ipcress file - good one. Yes, please

[@MichaelHayes_s6]

Ipcress File was in colour ;) Great choice though.

[@constanzagarcia348]

Please, do Laura. I´ve allways been fascinated with Classic Noir films. Or Seven Samurai, All quiet in the Western front (1930). Thanks for your work.

[@shawn6669]

Never forget that the Pickpocket shows up 40ish years later as "Homer" in "Wings of Desire".

[@AScreenwritersJourney]

I love your videos because they're educational and entertaining. Thanks for uploading!

[@Hii-fs8jk]

I know you've done a video on The Big Country about writing characters, but I think Wyler's visual from The Best Years of Our Lives would be good to cover!

[@nicolasbelloni484]

Thank you for all that you teach us. So glad to have your channel

[@tripencrypt]

9:51 "Or on a few singles to show reaction. In this case, it's mostly with Ilsa. Which, I have to attribute to Ingrid Bergman's face being a camera magnet." You said it and how!

[@InFramesCinema]

Your videos are a great contribution to classic cinema and a tremendous source of knowledge from which you always learn something. I hope you can continue with this excellent work for a long time (english isn't my first language, in case I said something wrong xd).

[@gabriel0961]

Man, you are the best. Really enjoy your videos.

[@paulfrancisjenkins6483]

Beautiful work my friend as always. P.

[@Shah-of-the-Shinebox]

Happy New Year Wise One. Glad to see you bringing more cinematic wisdom to youtube masses. Please analyze The Best Years Of Our Lives.

[@antoinepetrov]

It's not okay to completely ignore films made after 1970. You can just say these are the classics from the era you love, and for the other 60 years after and before we can go to another channel

[@elizabethpalladino8301]

One of my favorite movies. I'm fascinated by these details you point out that are right there to see on film or notice in the screenplay, but I've never noticed these things before. I love the movie even more now and will be seeing it again with fresh eyes.😊

[@bobbyokeefe4285]

"Classics ended in the 60's". The Breakfast Club:Am I a joke to you?

[@BabayChannel]

Great video, I didn't know cassablanca contains so many memes we remember today. I should watch it. On the topic of shadows, I remember hearing an opinion about some modern film how they used lights out of frame of different color to a similar effect, but I can't remember what film it was

[@janerkenbrack3373]

Thank you for this piece on my favorite movie. It is the only movie I can watch repeatedly forever. Even other great films start to wear on me after awhile. But not Casablanca. This is because every viewing shows me something new. Once it's a patriotic thriller, the next time a love story. Then it's an art film, and now I have to watch it just for the shadows, thanks to this review. I have noticed some plot holes that seemed contrived, like de Gaulle's signature. But the film never gives me enough time to think about them. They are dismissed like the sexual innuendos, that even a horny teenager wouldn't notice ("She came to me last night and tried to convince me she still loved me. For your sake I let her pretend.") Characters that go home with you after the film. Peter Lorre is only in the beginning of the film, but Ugarte stays with to the end. No one is forgettable. And the settings are characters themselves. And the script! Nothing is missed. Every important line is presaged or set up. Ferrari buys Rick's when Rick needs to sell, and we don't need to question his willingness because he told us in the fist scene. We get glimpses of Jan and Annina (the Bulgarian couple) throughout the film, so their arrival at Rick's is no surprise. And so many great lines; clever, sardonic, comical, touching, and more, all without being sappy. So much fun to see some of these great aspects of the film pointed out by someone with such an eye.

[@LeoTheGreat63]

I don’t know if you have done a video on this movie or even seen it but The Scarlet and the Black is an excellent film with Gregory Peck and Christopher Plumber that I think you would enjoy immensely.

[@knutvegardlorentzen5712]

Amazing! Really appreciate the work of making this great video! :)

[@shortsio5657]

I love your videos, you're my favourite Movie KZbinr

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Magnifique !! I'm not French but it's the only word that fits !!

[@Kevin_Street]

This is a wonderful video. Just wonderful. Your insight into these classic movies and ability to communicate those insights to us is unrivaled. Thank you once again. This is a video to bookmark and watch more than once. Golden Age Hollywood is a really interesting place, because there were all these incredibly talented people working on films in the same spot, but the rate of production was so high they were just trying to do their best on each picture and didn't have time for other considerations. I don't think they were consciously creating art. Everybody working on Casablanca was just trying to create a movie that would be popular and make money for the studio. They were absolutely doing their best work, but in an unselfconscious way and as quickly as possible. This rapid production model can produce a lot of unremarkable melodramas, but if you leave the creators alone to do their job without interference, it can also occasionally produce classics like this.

[@samuelsnow8714]

Love your channel and your videos. This one is no exception. MAISTRO. I wondering what you thought of Maistro. I was blown away! This film gave me hope for modern cinema. Ya seen it? Thank you for all of your content.

[@Of_infinite_Faith]

While studying for my exam Tomorrow, I started thinking about this channel and decided to procrastinate a bit by paying and visit, and I see that you just uploaded a new video 😂

[@AWinkAndASmile]

Wonderful analysis!

[@CreationBrosZone-km5be]

Bravo. Well said.

[@CamelBack-du5jr]

I would love to see a video on The Sound of Music. It's in my opinion the greatest classic of all time.

[@matm4331]

Thank you for posting, I learn so much here! I love Steve McQueen movies...would you consider study of Sand Pebbles? Thanks again...

[@alexrollinsberg4736]

thank you for these, they are the best

[@SwingingInTheHood]

Love your videos. Always learn something new.

[@JamsODonnell100]

He is foreshadowed, by …his shadow !!!! 😂😂 Just one example of your brilliant style (& analysis) ta very much. ✅

[@slimshady2612]

Your channel is my favorite bro🔥

[@brighdaylen]

Another brilliant, informative, fun video. I find your work so rewatchable - there's always so much to learn and enjoy again.

[@samuelzins5089]

The first time I saw it, I thought it was a neat movie but I'm not huge on romance movies generally so it went down as one of those movies that's well done but I don't necessarily love. The 2nd time I thought much more, and then randomly in the past week, I was convinced it's one of the absolute best ever

[@RH1812]

Loving your work

[@curtdilger6235]

Your superb analysis makes me want to request 'Othello' because of the Eisensteinian way Orsen Welles has of cutting with dynamic blocking over dialog (Welles was also trying to save money on syncing costs). Bogdanovich mentions it in his full length commentary on the film. I also think it's one of the most compelling architectural films. Cheers and keep up being amazingly good at what you do.

[@nimantvardhantanwar3268]

Great video brother. I would love if you would analyse ‘12th fail’s direction. It is easily one of the best technical work in recent Hindi Cinema.

[@BillViall]

Thank you for your fabulous work! I must have watched Casablanca almost once a year over the past 42-I try to pace myself-and yet I had no idea about the fabulous camera work! REALLY fascinating. I’d love it if you did a piece showing where such Curtiz techniques appear in later films. Thank you very much!

[@alexh1681]

You are providing excellent content!

[@melanie62954]

You might say the left side of Ingrid Bergman's face was a camera magnet--she almost always insisted on being photographed on that side because she thought it was her "best"!

[@WildFungus]

I dunno the reason other than it's fucking awesome, but uniquely the first film to use storyboards.

[@byothers11]

Why it's a classic, please: Night of the Hunter!

[@user-ol3xe5fz4u]

perfect casting too!!!!!

[@joaomilhomem956]

Hey, I like your videos! I will love if you talk about “Black God and White Devil” by Glauber Rocha or “Seven Samurais” by Akira Kurosawa, those movies are absolutely classics

[@aannttrrooss]

brilliant!

[@Meleeace1478]

Could you cover the classic that is Lawrence of Arabia?

[@Jilktube]

Since your last video, I've thought hard about what to suggest for the next installment of this series. I've come to the conclusion that you simply *must* talk about Fritz Lang's M! (And maybe the American remake too as a tool of comparison.)

[@PerfectHandProductions]

Would love to see a video on There Will Be Blood.

[@JamesTateWilson]

Great video. Would love to see you do a Hitchcock movie next.

[@szymonskowronski5689]

I genuinely laughed of loud at "such watch?" line 😂

[@paulschilling3117]

Dodsworth next please.

[@tom-vj9lz]

Best of luck for January. It's a harsh month for all

[@rosezingleman5007]

I have to say that I wish you hadn’t clipped the punchline off the joke Cuddles Sakal sets up with the line about the pastry chef.

[@vilagivideos3020]

Would like to analyse “The Cremator (1969)” Thank you

[@MelIssa-rb9mq]

King is back!👑👑👑

[@lazybear236]

If you to more recent decades, please do The Age of Innocence by Scorcese. It seems horribly underrated to me.

[@patrickcosgrove886]

The dark haired Bulgarian girl was studio head Jack Warner's step daughter.

[@treasonouspigeonpeckers957]

Do a video on 1900 by Bernardo Bertolucci. Love your content

[@MarcosElMalo2]

If we do Bertolucci, I hope he chooses Last Tango in Paris. Brando and Bertolucci do something cinematically and theatrically amazing with Brando’s character and it’s a mystery to me how they pull it off.