 Tagline: They had a date with fate in Casablanca! Casablanca: easy to enter, but much harder to leave, especially if you're wanted by the Nazis. Such a man is Resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), whose only hope is Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a cynical American who sticks his neck out for no one - especially Victor's wife Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), the ex-lover who broke his heart. Ilsa offers herself in exchange for Laszlo's transport out of the country and bitter Rick must decide what counts more - personal happiness or countless lives hanging in the balance. Storyline: In World War II Casablanca, Rick Blaine, exiled American and former freedom fighter, runs the most popular nightspot in town. The cynical lone wolf Blaine comes into the possession of two valuable letters of transit. When Nazi Major Strasser arrives in Casablanca, the sycophantic police Captain Renault does what he can to please him, including detaining a Czechoslovak underground leader Victor Laszlo. Much to Rick's surprise, Lazslo arrives with Ilsa, Rick's one time love. Rick is very bitter towards Ilsa, who ran out on him in Paris, but when he learns she had good reason to, they plan to run off together again using the letters of transit. Well, that was their original plan.... Written by Gary Jackson Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Greg Maltz on December 6, 2008 -- They don't make movies like Casablanca anymore. At the film's climax, the camera lingers on Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) for several moments after her realization that Rick Blaine's (Humphrey Bogart) plan has changed. Her perfect face fills the screen with a priceless expression of surprise and recognition. It is cinematic gold. Few movies in the past 60 years have had the talent, plot or magic to deliver anything so valuable. Yet there are many such moments in Casablanca. Warner's Ultimate Collector's edition brings them all to Blu-ray, along with packaging that includes memorabilia and collectables. The price of admission is a bit steep for any single title, let alone a 102-minute movie. But Warner did a good job transferring the film to 1080p. Depending on your love of Casablanca and use for the keepsakes, the cost is easily justifiable because it isn't just Bergman's performance that is priceless, but of course Bogart's and most of the other actors. Beyond that, the overall story, the music, the message of a greater cause than oneself and the way Casablanca was filmed by Michael Curtiz during World War II make this classic a must-have for any serious Blu-ray collection. The opening of Casablanca shows a chaotic, wartime Morocco, where Europeans fleeing the horrors of German occupation try to acquire visa papers to America. Lisbon, Portugal was a better gateway to the New World, but many Europeans couldn't get there. Instead, they found themselves trapped in a corrupt and crime ridden city that was rapidly falling under Nazi influence. The Moroccan authorities took advantage of the crisis by demanding high sums of money for immigration papers. Pickpockets and opportunists roamed the city, preying on the foreigners. Travel out of Casablanca was very limited, and the immigrants tried to raise enough money to leave by selling jewelry or gambling. It is against this backdrop of desperation that we are introduced to Rick's Cafe Americain and the proprietor, Rick Blaine. A seemingly unscrupulous character who at first glance appears motivated only by survival and money, Rick eventually shows there is more to him than meets the eye. At first, his life seems to consist of warding off a rival club owner, breaking girls' hearts and ensuring the cafe and its backroom casino are running smoothly, the patrons are behaving and the authorities have enough booze and payoffs to keep them happy…all so he can stay in business. One cafe fixture who keeps everyone happy is the piano player, Sam (Dooley Wilson). Though Wilson was a drummer in real life and was in fact banging away on a dead keyboard during the filming of Casablanca, his big voice and a real pianist playing nearby were recorded live and lend an element of authenticity to the soundtrack. Rick seems insensitive to the plight of European resistance figures seeking help to avoid the Nazis. Rather than get involved, he prefers to stay out of trouble. This gets more difficult for him with the Nazis in town, who seem to be well aware of Rick's past record, which is never fully divulged but involves running guns into Ethiopia. His past fully catches up with him when the love of his life Ilsa walks through the cafe door with her husband, well-known resistance figure Victor Lazslo (Paul Henreid). Ilsa quickly finds a reason for Sam to play "As Time Goes By", striking up the main theme and the song's famous lines. Rick soon finds the wounds of his past ripped open again, and sulks behind a bottle after closing hours with Sam pleading for him to stop torturing himself. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn of the love affair between Rick and Ilsa in Paris, the German occupation that interrupted their romance and how she abandoned him moments before he left Paris on a rainy day. At first, Rick is concerned only with filling the hole in his haunted heart. He lashes out at Ilsa and it turns out that she may have deep feelings for him, too. Bogart is masterful as always in playing the hurt but headstrong club owner. As the plot develops, Rick is presented with a choice about whether to take the final step in becoming an opportunist like those around him in Casablanca or to aspire to something greater. The ending is a triumph of complex romanticism, moral clarity and political willpower in which Rick rejects the demands of the Nazis and the Chief of Police in Casablanca rejects French Vichy authority. A more powerful and meaningful ending has probably never been scripted. Casablanca has it all: romance, danger, suspense, phenomenal acting, brilliant camera work and entertaining musical performances. Few of us have been to Casablanca and none can travel back in time to see what it was like at that time, but even viewers who can't relate to the place and time of the film can relate to its timeless elements--especially the themes of trying to exorcise the demons in one's heart and the love for others that sometimes goes unfulfilled. Above all, the story of Casablanca is the story of a man who digs deep inside to overcome his own weakness and pain to make the world a better place. While it's nice to have the bonus content and memorabilia, the real treasure of this set are the timeless element of the film and its 1080p video. The price may be high and Warner's ability to fully capitalize on Blu-ray's advantages may be suspect, but there is no way to justify anything less than the highest rating and recommendation for this Ultimate Collector's edition. Undoubtedly, there will be a stripped-down release of Casablanca without the frills and priced more reasonably, but no such thing has been announced. To get the Blu-ray version, this wonderful set is your only option. Cast Notes: Humphrey Bogart (Richard "Rick" Blaine), Ingrid Bergman (Ilsa Lund Laszlo), Paul Henreid (Victor Laszlo), Claude Rains (Captain Louis Renault), Conrad Veidt (Major Heinrich Strasser), Sydney Greenstreet (Senor Ferrari), Peter Lorre (Ugarte), S.Z. Sakall (Carl, the Headwaiter), Madeleine LeBeau (Yvonne), Dooley Wilson (Sam), Joy Page (Annina Brandel), John Qualen (Berger), Leonid Kinskey (Sascha), Curt Bois (Pickpocket). IMDb Rating (07/24/14): 8.6/10 from 307,445 users Top 250: #28 IMDb Rating (02/06/10): 8.8/10 from 157,452 users Top 250: #13
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