Why is this film such a classic? Why are audiences drawn to it again and again?
Whenever a movie is considered a classic, it consists of a certain special change in the protagonist. Character development at the core is what moves the movie along and towards the ultimate goal of the film crew. This film does a spectacular job at showing Rick's change from beginning to the end. In the beginning Rick is a cold and selfish person, he has no interest in sticking his neck out for anybody, unless he is somehow benefiting from it. We met Isla, a past lover of Rick and we slowly start seeing his cold exterior melt away. The climax of the transformation of Rick came in the scene when Isla sneaks into his office at the club and demands him to help her and Laszlo. At first Rick is hesitant to show any weakness and would rather be killed than to help Isla, but after she explodes with tears, Rick breaks down and comforts her. This scene is so moving because of the use of flashbacks in the film of Rick and Isla in Paris together. The flashbacks show them as a perfect couple with no problems and worries. The emotional embrace in Rick's office gives us some hope this couple will find each other again. At first, it looks like Rick is going to continue to help himself like he has done for the past years but instead sticks out his neck for Isla and Laszlo. This transformation of Rick is what makes viewers keep watching. It's the fact that he is giving up his true love to make sure Isla didn't stay around in Casablanca to relive Paris, because sometimes memories are better than reality.
In the final scene, Rick's monologue he ends it with here's to looking at you kid, what he use to say in Paris. This line is to show how maybe they'll never be together, they will always show the importance of their love. Something's in life are bigger than selfish intentions and Casablanca is so famous because we see Rick's epiphany on the subject.
I really liked the ideas you brought up about Rick's character, especially how his character transition is what makes this film such a classic. I think that Rick is first portrayed in a cold and selfish light to reflect his emotion and mindset of how the incident in Paris has impacted him, the minute Ilsa comes back in the picture we are exposed to another side of him, which changes the mood entirely. The scene of confrontation between Ilsa and Rick is a perfect example of what their love entails, and I think you described it perfectly. The repetition of the line "Here's to you kid" in the film always caught my attention, and I felt as though it was used whenever Ilsa and Rick needed a reassurance that their love would last. Rick's character shows the different aspects that love can have on someone, and in the end his love for Ilsa proved to be powerful because he let her go to ensure she'd be safe rather than risk both of their lives by staying together in the midst of war.
ReplyDeleteI like everything you said about Rick's character and how he changed throughout the movie and how Ilsa had such a large impact on him and the way his character changed. I like how you also use the scene about how Rick says he doesn't stick his neck out for nobody, but when it comes to Ilsa's happiness he puts his own emotions behind him and worries about hers. I like how you chose to show how Rick's hard shell melts away once he become reunited with Ilsa. Overall Rick had one of the largest transitions in the movie and a major change of character and Ilsa was the reason for his changes. Love is the variable that changes Rick and show how he isn't selfish and self-centered anymore.
ReplyDeleteI like how you included Rick's character and what his actions about calling the plane for his lover, ilsa, said about him as not only a person but his feelings. Ilsa definitely changed Rick throughout the movie, as we saw an emotionless man become this caring character. I like that you used the quote "Rick doesn't stick his neck out for nobody" but then compare it to when he calls the plane for Ilsa. The character development is what makes the film such a success.
ReplyDeleteYou had very specific evidence proving Rick's character change. It also made me wonder if that was why only Ilsa called him Richard, because she knows a different side of him.
ReplyDeleteYou also brought up an interesting remark about how audiences love Casablanca because of Rick's character change. Do you think this is because as viewers, we like to see vulnerability? If what you said was true, do you think that if a movie has no character change, it cannot be successful?