Casablanca is not just any old film its iconic and a work of art!! Seen it 3 or 4 times and you see something new in out each time. Bogart is a brilliant actor and Bergman is also beautiful. A wonderful and much loved film.
The scene of singing the Marseillaise was an emotional highlight of the movie. The role of Renault is played by Claude Rains who was a brilliant actor who had a long career. He first became known in 1933 in The Invisible Man.
There are several of them in this movie. "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walked into mine." "Maybe not today or tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life." "Here's looking at you, kid." "Round up the usual suspects." And , one of the most misquoted lines in cinema history (along with "We don't need no stinking badges" and "Luke, I am your father."): "Play it again, Sam."
"What is your nationality?" "I'm a drunkard." Not even a pause. Lines like this really show how solid the writing was. Rick was built up to be an imposing and quick-witted character in the first 20mins of the film, which really contrasted with just how out of sorts he was (and trying to hide) once he laid eyes on Ilse again. Fantastic acting. Bogart could play a level of cool that Steve McQueen would envy.
Many of the European characters in Rick's place in the movie were played by actors who had escaped Nazi occupied Europe. Conrad Veidt, who plays Maj. Strasser, had a Jewish wife and both had to escape from the Nazis. For me this added an entire new layer to the scene when they sang Le Marseillese in counter to the Nazis.
Here's a little something from IMDB about Madeleine Lebeau, the actress who played Yvonne: "Fleeing from the Germans in 1940, she and her [Jewish] husband eventually reached Lisbon, where they obtained visas to Chile, but on reaching Mexico they learned that these were forgeries. They eventually obtained temporary Canadian passports and ended up in the US. Madeleine's escaping from Nazi occupied France almost mirrored her role as Yvonne in Casablanca. During the scene where so many patrons of Rick's started singing La Marseillaise, the French national anthem, many of the actors in that scene were refugees from Europe and their tears were real, including Madeleine's."
It's important to remember that this movie was made in 1942, when the outcome of the war was still very much in doubt. It must have felt as if the world were collapsing all around them.
Crazy that the ending of this movie alone spawned the phrases "the usual suspects", "we'll always have Paris", and "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship". Such an iconic film.
@@jerryp8263 That is correct but, this IS the movie everyone associates that line with. Close, but no cigar ... wait ... no, that phrase came from somewhere else 😁😜🤣🤣🤣
"Kid" was a common term of endearment man to woman back in the day. Paternistic for sure, but intimate and common back then. She loves both of them. A love triangle. Oldest story in the world. Pure? Rational? Nah. She just loves both of them. Rick wasn't heartless. He was heartbroken and bitter. Victor is the perfect human being. A better person than all of us. A symbol. A living embodiment of the ideal. Renault is that guy who dances on the fence just surviving. Love that character so much. This movie is so great.
Lovely reaction! About the young couple: the bride is asking Rick if Renault will be honest and give her the exit visas if she agrees to sleep with him. She then explains a little more when she wonders about what her husband would do if he found out. She says, what would you do if someone loved you so much that she did a very bad thing. (in other words, sleeping with Renault). Rick is triggered by this and says that no one ever loved him that much. I always remember the bride's line "In some ways, I'm so much older than he is." Rick makes the decision to help them by cheating at roulette, and this is the slow, sure start of his turnaround. Victor knows long before Rick says to ask his wife. He tells Rick he knew there was something there the first night, and if you watch Victor's face in that scene where Rick and Ilsa meet in the cafe, you'll see by Victor's expression that he's already putting 1 and 1 together. He's already had a lot of time to feel things through and it's one of the reasons he doesn't push Ilsa when she says she has nothing to tell him. A wonderful tiny moment for Victor is when, at the airport, he asks Ilsa if she's ready to go. Basically, he's giving her the final decision of whom to choose. She chooses him and says to Rick "God bless you".
@@vicc7409 Well, except as we learn, it isn't a "kiss off" letter; it's kind of a desperate farewell: remember she's just learned her husband is alive, escaped from a concentration camp, sick and in need. She needs to hurry, probably to a risky location and take charge of things to a degree until Victor can do that himself.
Awesome that you are finally reacting to these old classics! The people back then might not have had flashy computer effects, but that didn't stop them from making great stories and artful cinematography that could really emote you as a viewer. Besides, I personally love the dreamy feeling that the black and white gives it. Now, if you excuse me, I made a pinky promise about watching this one and I am about to keep that promise 😉🍿🎥
After Maltese Falcon must watch is The Big sleep (1946) and some other '40 Private eye Bogard films after those to sum it up little lighter Dead man don't wear plaid (1982)
I would add "To Have and Have Not" with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. “You Know How to Whistle, Don’t You, Steve? You Just Put Your Lips Together and Blow.”
¨Round up the usual suspects¨ was ,the phrase that inspired the title of the movie ¨The usual suspects¨ So many quotable parts of this film. IA friend came from Australia to visit me. I took her to Seville, Spain, Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Paris for a pop up the Eiffel tower and a glass of champagne. When I said goodbye to her at Heathrow airport she said Ït was wonderful. I will miss you. To which I replied ¨We´ll always have Paris¨. Saw the Wood Allen play ¨Play it again Sam¨ back in the 70´s. Have been known to be noble on occasion...... When the girl I was going to marry told me she was in love with someone else I told her that she should be with him. Otherwise she would regret it. ¨Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But, soon and for the rest of your life¨ Lucky break as it turns out. Bogart was good for me.
Hey Duaffy I love watching movies with you!!!!!!! Polish girls are the prettiest!!!!!!! I come from Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the US and we have a massive population of Polish people here that have been here for many generations, they even created their own type of duplex houses called Polish flats that you really only see between here and Chicago!!! Take care Duaffy, always a blast watching with you!!!!!!!
@@joebombero1I'm not sure, but I bet they probably do!!! I know some good ol Polish fellas down in Chicago that I buy very good real Polish vodka from that you can't buy here if you know what I mean, along with some other good Polish food!!!!!!!
I loved your deciphering of the love triangle and the motivations of all three. I want to add that when Viktor told Rick “now I know we’ll win” we can see it as an indication that if cynical Rick is sacrificing his life for the cause, then the movement is in good shape - but it also indicates that cynical Rick was able to inspire Viktor, an already romantic idealist. Making a bigger difference than either of them would have imagined.
It's not just that Ilsa has a history with Laszlo. It's not only that she feels committed and loyal to Laszlo. She deeply admires him. He is a hero of the French Resistance. She believes in his cause. She would do anything to help him. Laszlo represents "the greater good." But her true love is for Rick. The audience feels the deep conflict in this triangle because we understand that both men are very good men. One of the most important lines is "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." Rick is willing to sacrifice his own true love for Ilsa---not only to keep her safe, but because Rick also cares about the "greater good" of Laszlo's cause. All three characters are willing to make a personal sacrifice to do the right thing. This love triangle is so moving because all three characters are willing to act in a selfless manner. They are all good people. We understand that Rick and Ilsa are in love, but, sometimes, love means sacrificing the personal wants of the individual.
I have always understood the there was true love between Ilsa and Victor. It wasn’t the Hollywood romantic love but the true and abiding love long term partners have for each other.
@@brontewcat Agreed. Ilsa is committed heart and soul to Victor, but she also feels the passionate form of love for Rick. Honestly, the men are so similar, I see why she'd fall for both; the main differences between them are that Rick is wounded in love and he is a wittier conversationalist.
When Victor says I love you and Ilsa simply responds yes, its not that she is refusing to reciprocate, it is her saying she understands that Victor knows she was with Rick when she thought he was dead, but also that she knows Victor still loves her regardless, because he's a grown up and he can understand her situation at the time. Its a very romantically mature and touching moment, I think.
Rick and Victor are both heroic characters. They mirror each other in the storyline. Both willing to sacrifice for the greater good. Due to Rick's experience in losing Elsa and how it broke him....he chooses to sacrifice his one true love so that Victor is not broken as well and so that Victor can continue his vitally important work.
Need to add... Elsa is also sacrificing her true romantic love of Rick. She greatly admires Victor but her romantic heart is with Rick... she also sacrifices her own romantic love so that she can continue to support Victor in the work he is doing.
There's a reason the 30s-50s are called the Golden Age of Hollywood. Casablanca has one of the finest scripts of any American film. In 2006 the Writers Guild of America, West voted it the greatest American screenplay ever. Here are some classic American films anyone who has an interest in cinema should know. _Citizen Kane_ (1941) co-written, directed by, and starring Orson Welles, _Citizen Kane_ has often been called the greatest film ever made. A fictionalized biography, a mystery, and a scathing character analysis, it keeps you guessing the whole time. Welles's performance as Charles Foster Kane is remarkable, the story is beautifully written, and Welles's direction and cinematography was revolutionary. Modern cinematography really begins with _Citizen Kane._ _It Happened One Night_ (1934) The Screwball Comedy by which all others must be judged. Starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, and directed by the great Frank Capra, _It Happened One Night_ won five Oscars: Best Actor (Gable); Best Actress (Colbert); Best Director (Capra); Best Adapted Screenplay (Robert Riskin); and Best Picture. _The Maltese Falcon_ (1941) The first full-length Film-Noir. It stars some actors you've just met, Humphrey Bogart, Peter Lorre, and Sydney Greenstreet, and was based on the mystery novel of the same name by Dashiel Hammett. Written and directed by the great John Huston, it was nominated for three Oscars and is considered one of the greatest films of all time. It was one of the first 25 films selected by the Library of Congress to be included in the National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". _On the Waterfront_ (1954) Directed by Elia Kazan and starring Marlon Branco, _On the Waterfront_ is considered one of the greatest American films. It was nominated for twelve Oscars winning eight, including Best Actor, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Picture. _Some Like It Hot_ (1959) Written and directed by the great Billy Wilder, and starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon _Some Like It Hot_ is one of the funniest romantic comedies ever filmed. In 1989, the Library of Congress selected it as one of the first 25 films for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant," and in 2017 was selected as the best comedy of all time in a poll of 253 film critics from 52 countries conducted by the BBC.
Agree with what you wrote about Citizen Kane. It pioneered a lot of what became modern techniques of cinematography. Unfortunately, the protagonist is such a piece of work that, by the end of the film, I couldn't care less about anything that happened to him. That makes the movie hard for me to like, even though I acknowledge it is, in fact, one of the finest made. I struggle with comedy, so I haven't seen, It Happened One Night. On the other hand, the Maltese Falcon is the sort of film dreams are made of. :) On the Waterfront has almost as many quotable lines as Casablanca, and features Marlon Brando in his absolute prime. While I don't care for most comedies, Some Like It Hot is actually one of the exceptions. It's both clever and funny, and while the situation is ridiculous, none of the characters come across as stupid or inept. In that same vein, another good comedy starring Monroe, Bacall and the sublime Betty Grable, is "How to Marry a Millionaire." Mercenary female characters, brilliantly funny and quotable dialogue, subtle in-jokes (the movie showing on the television in the scene with Lauren Bacall makes the whole thing hilarious, if you recognize that film -- and who stars in it) and amusing twists make for a fun watch.
@@thomashiggins9320 Interestingly, Grable was originally cast as Lorelei Lee but went on strike over a contract dispute, so the studio replaced her with Marilyn.
@@ElliotNestermanYou’re a bit mixed up. Lorelei Lee was Marilyn’s character in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Her character in Some Like It Hot was Sugar Cane.
You should look up movies in the genre called "film noir". In the 40s-50s, they were the most popular dramatic films in America and the best of these movies are usually regarded as cinematic classics. And of course, pretty much of all them have aged pretty well. Double Indemnity (1944), Laura (1944), Sunset Boulevard (1950), and many of Alfred Hitchcock's popular movies are some I'd suggest. For some "feel good" movies, I'd recommend Frank Capra, you literally can't go wrong with any of his films. Also Charlie Chaplin if you want some silent films
I'd add the 1941 Maltese Falcon to the list, along with Key Largo. Both are classic Bogart films. In Key Largo, he starred with Lauren Bacall, his real-life wife.
@@BillTheScribe As another older person, would add that John Huston, who co-starred with Bogart in "The Treasure of Sierra Madre", made his directorial debut with "The Maltese Falcon", possibly the first film noir - and a great movie, as is "Casablanca". And Huston had an important supporting actor role in "Chinatown", one of the more modern noir films. All these movies can reveal more small (and important) details with repeated viewings. If you want to try a comic noir, "The Thin Man" is also a fun watch.
So, a millennial can not just enjoy, but truly grok a black&white movie made in 1942... Gives us all great hope for the future! I just subbed a few daze ago, but being retired, have already seen quite a few of your reactions Duaffy... IMO, this is your best reaction, by far, of the vids I've seen thus far. Truly enjoyable to (re)"watch" this classic WWII film with you! Finally, Duaffy: "We'll always have Paris." (Loved the lightbulb going off over your head when you heard that line!!!)
My wife and I have been together for 20 years. 18 years ago this movie was playing in a small theater on our anniversary. Since then we've watched it every year on our anniversary. As Time Goes By was the song at our wedding for our first dance.
You nailed everything. The great thing about this movie (it's my all-time favorite) is the interplay, as you mention, between duty, moral obligation, and love and self-interest. Louie, as you said, is a complicated one. Perhaps because he switches so easily back and forth between being a creep (e.g. trading visas for sexual favors) and saving Rick. That type of character you see a lot of in films which have WW2 as a background. There is such drama that war can cause in people and the decisions they make. In WW2 you saw it multiplied many times every day. That kind of tension is gut-wrenching in real life, and its what makes movies so good which do a good job of portraying it. You did a great job at grabbing all the loose ends and tying them together. Enjoyed listening to you and will look for more from you.
I watched four 'reaction' youtubes about Casablanca...you are the best. You did good by this classic movie. You understood the sub-plots, appreciated the politics and history...new subscriber.
Hipsters turn Green when confronted with a Black-and-White movie, don't ya know? They think that movies should ALL be in color, even old newsreels from the 1910's. (They'd colorize "The Twilight Zone" just like Ted Turner did to the likes of "It's A Wonderful Life.")
@@Otokichi786 Actually, I think most "hipsters" appreciate black and white films. It's more the masses raised on wizard and superhero franchises who are disinterested.
Claud rains was a great actor. Had a speech inpedament and was gassed during the war but went on to make his voice very iconic . and had played the invisable man.
My grandma was a film technician on the INVISIBLE MAN for Columbia studios and many films and tv series. My father ended up with the bicycle used as a prop in that famous scene of the invisible man riding a bike with no person pedaling it.
Because of when this was made, there's a BUNCH of metaphorical subtext of how the United States should (and eventually would) stop being neutral and help fight in WWII. How Rick is this neutral person who only cares about his business (and coincidentally American), and never takes sides with either countries directly parallels the sentiment of America at the time. It's only after someone personal to him joins the story, where he feels forced to make a decision to take a stance (analogous to Pearl Harbor in real life). There's a lot up to debate on much of this was intentional, but like a lot of films throughout history, real world events can sometimes have a big influence on how some stories are told, where intentional or not.
Yes. At one point Rick says, "I'd bet they're asleep in New York. I'd bet they're asleep all over America." In other words, America needs to wake up to what's happening in the world.
This is inaccurate. The US was in the war. But the nation wasn't fully on board yet to the war ideology. "Casablanca" caught that moment. What also separates this from other WWII films is that even though it has an anti-Nazi slant, it wasn't overly full of war time propaganda.
The scene with the two groups singing, the Germans and then Victor Lazlo singing the "La Marseillaise" with everyone else...most of the actors (like the actress playing Yvonne) were Europeans who had fled from the Third Reich before war started for one reason or another. The emotions of that scene were not acted...just felt deeply. For that reason, this is one of my favorite films of all time. That and the inspired writing, the brilliant casting and acting, the deft and masterful direction, and "As Time Goes By". It was a perfect storm of a movie where everything happened in just the right way to create a classic. Thanks!!!
There was a thought to make a part 2 movie of these characters. Thankfully, they let this one stand on it's own. One of the greatest films of all time. War, love, treachery, heroism, good, evil. And superbly acted by all.
In Casablanca 2, Rick and Victor run away together and get married, Sam and Ilsa become a musical act, and Renault inherits a car factory in France. (If Hollywood made a sequel today, I'm sure it would be something like that.) 🤣
Fun fact-there was a sequel in the works right after the first film came out called “Brazzaville” that would have followed Rick and Captain Reno and ultimately revealed that they were agents for the US government the whole time. Since that would have totally ruined Rick’s character development I’m glad it was scrapped.
Very perceptive analysis. Your point about captain Renaud played by the respected actor Claude rains is a good one. The movie was made in 1942 during Second World War. Renaud as a Frenchman would have hated the nazis. He had to go along with them but when the opportunity presented itself he chose to support rick and find a way to leave Casablanca with rick who is someone he respected and liked. In many ways capt Renaud had some of the best lines in the movie. A classic film.
With the line, "I've heard a lot of stories in my time. They went along with the sound of a tinny piano in the parlor downstairs. 'Mister, I met a man once when I was only a kid,' they'd always begin," is Rick calling Ilsa a whore -- brothels had waiting room/lounges downstairs and rooms upstairs, and in the lounge there was often a cheap piano. Jazz music began in New Orleans brothels just like that, and it's a reference the audiences of the time would not have missed. It's difficult to overstate how much Rick *hates* Ilsa at that point in the movie.
Tremendous insight. Not only did you read the characters incredibly well, you were able to read their intentions, loves, and lies. Thank you. Looking forward to sharing another film with you!
Casablanca is one of my favorite movies, and I usually watch it New Year's Eve. For more Bogart movies, I would recommend the four movies he did with Lauren Bacall - To Have and Have Not (1944), The Big Sleep (1946), Dark Passage (1947), and Key Largo (1948). The Maltese Falcon (1941) is another good Bogart film as is Sabrina (1954) with Audrey Hepburn, though the 1995 remake with Harrison Ford is good as well. Humphrey Bogart is one of my favorite actors of all time...
Excellent job on reacting and understanding the nuances of the movie. I love Renault tossing the Vichy water in the trash at the end along with his quote, "Round up the usual suspects." Such snappy smart dialogue and emotions silently conveyed by the camera and the faces of the actors. The pacing also moves quickly without dead spots or unnecessary reactions or teased out drama. All in all a beautifully shot film with excellent acting, drama, natural humor, and smart dialogue. A classic and one of my favorite films.
One of the best movies ever made! My favourite one too. Studied this in film school and wrote a paper on it. Michael Kurtiz also directed "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938) which I highly recommend to watch.
You mentioned that the director and the main actors have "sadly passed away." Actually, every actor appearing in this film and, I believe, every member of the crew as well, have passed away as of September 2021. The character of Yvonne was played by French actress Madeleine Lebeau. She was the last person appearing in this movie to pass away, which happened in 2016. Even the "underage" woman for whom Rick cheats to get the money to buy their exit visas, is dead. She really was underage in the movie! She was only 17 when she got the part. Her name is Joy Page. She was the stepdaughter of Warner Bros. studio chief Jack L. Warner, but that didn't get her the part, she earned it on her own and went on to have a great film career. She passed away in 2008.
Michael Curtiz is one of the great directors of the 30s and 40s. Made some great swashbucklers with Errol Flynn (including Captain Blood and The Adventures of Robin Hood), biopics including Yankee Doodle Dandy (a biography of the multitalented George M. Cohan) and Night and Day (for Cole Porter), and of course this classic. The cast is phenomenal. Humphrey Bogart was already becoming famous - he did The Maltese Falcon (which also has Peter Lorre (Ugarte) and Sydney Greenstreet (Ferrari)) the year before, but this cemented his status as a top-drawer star. Ingrid Bergman is, IMHO, one of the most luminously beautiful actresses of all time (if I were to pick a top 3, the others would be Grace Kelly and Michelle Pfeiffer). Claude Rains is a great actor with an unmistakable voice - which came in handy, because his first big role, ten years earlier, was as The Invisible Man. 23:39 That look Rick gives the cashier when he gives Renault his winnings just as he’s shutting them down. 🤣🤣🤣
My God Duaffy is a pure soul a natural empath and a beautiful young woman. She's also younger than my granddaughter so don't take that the wrong way. You read the love triangle absolutely perfectly and understood the feelings of each character. Remarkable and refreshing
You missed the single best line in all of film history: "If you don' get on that plane, you'll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But soon, and for the rest of your life."
@@frogger1952 That was the best truly feminist line ever spoken. If you're a man and don't wince at the truth of that, you have Zero self awareness. (And I laugh at your "Red Pill" outrage. 😁)
Casablanca is a treasure! Thanks for reacting to it. The bar scene with the singing of La Marseillaise is epic; that scene has made the French national anthem so much more meaningful beyond Representing France as a nation and the French as a people . . . thanks to Casablanca it’s means Freedom on par with the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. What’s an amazing movie!
About the end with Renault, and why he helps rick, I always interpret like this: at the beginning of the film, Rick was a very cynical, broken hearted man, but also a survivor who thrived in Casablanca. Renault, also a cynic and survivor, had a respect and admiration for Rick. At the end, when Ricks belief in right and wrong comes back, Renault sees that, and perhaps feels a little bit of that as well.
It makes this 51yr old Gen-Xer very happy to see a Millennial take interest in the past. Thanks Duaffy, you give me a small ray of hope Try The Maltese Falcon, its another Bogart classic
My favorite movie of all time. Wow, great job reacting. You were so funny, and heartfelt, and understanding of a complex plot. Thank you so much for the great work, and all your other fun videos. So happy to be a subscriber.
Really enjoyed watching your reaction to this classic. F.y.i., the German actor Conrad Veidt, who played the menacing Major Strasser, was actually vehemently against everything the Nazis stood for and donated and raised huge amounts of money in support of the war effort against them. Cheers.
The most heart wrenching moment is while Rick is lying to Victor about him pretending that he still felt for her. She overhears him saying that, and it must have ripped her to pieces knowing he felt the opposite
A real man has to do what is right, even if it costs him the thing or things he cares most about on this planet...his loved ones, his liberty and even, his own life. That is EXACTLY what a real man should when evil is running loose in the world...like we are seeing all over the world at this very moment. Freedom isn't free.
Yes, she may have overheard, but she definitely knew that Rick was still in love with her, and she knew why he was telling Victor that he(Rick) had been pretending with her(Elsa). It was so that Victor could have peace about his marriage, and then concentrate on his important work towards the war effort. Victor probably didn't completely believe Rick, but he took Rick at his word so that he(Victor) could convince himself that Elsa still loved him(Victor).
@@stevejoshua9536 Exactly... the story is about sacrifice during times in which it is needed for the greater good. Rick is a heroic man just like Victor.... they do it in different ways. But both are willing to sacrifice for what is right and what is needed. The belief in things which are greater than ourselves and acting on that at the expense of our personal needs. what a great film.
i just subscribed. This is the first reaction that I have viewed of yours. you are the only person who has watched and listened to the movie, paying attention to the numerous references in the film that defined the relationships. most reviewers have little or no knowledge of the historical context of the film. I am going to your page and hoping that I will enjoy more of your reactions.
Your 1st black & white picture...congratulations on your exquisite choice, this is my very favourite movie of all-time❗🎬 Before video/dvd/internet sources, you could only see these classics at repretory theatres, festivals or the late show, on TV. Many people like myself, missed out on that Golden Era...we had to rediscover the buried treasure. Enjoy the adventure❗
So glad you reviewed this! I'd heard about it my whole life, but never bothered to watch it until my 20s. It instantly became one of my all-time favorites. The comedy, the emotional beats, the intrigue, all blew me away...and Capt. Renault is hands-down my favorite character -- not least because he approaches every situation with a mirthful grin, as if he's constantly amused by the silliness of it all.
You do not realize there are several quotations from this movie that became iconic: "Of All the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine." "Here's looking a you, kid." "Round up the usual suspects" haha-often used by elementary school principals. but the most misquoted is "Play it again Sam" which was was NEVER said. It was actually: " You played it for her, you can play it for me!
This is one of those classics set in stone, it's often quoted. You may have noticed Peter Lorre and Sidney Greenstreet in small roles here, they're in the #1 film noir "The Maltese Falcon" along with Bogart. It's a must-see, among the top 5 on my list. "The Big Sleep" is another one with Bogart and Lauren Bacall who he would marry. Neil Simon wrote a comedy film about all of these movies rolled into 1 called "The Cheap Detective" starring the great Peter Falk (Lt. Columbo from the TV series, also the grandfather in "The Princess Bride") doing his best Bogart immitation. It's hilarious, Louise Fletcher plays Ilsa and Dom DeLuise plays the Peter Lorre role; John Houseman is Greenstreet, there are many others.
If you’re doing classic movies you should do “The Third Man” and “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town”. Deeds is by Capra and he has a whole mess of great films like “It’s a Wonderful Life.” “La Strada” and “Seven Samurai” are good “foreign films” to watch with subtitles. I think your audience would get a kick out of seeing any of these films.
My favorite black and white movie is popular at Christmas time.... "It's A Wonderful Life" (1946). My second favorite black and white movie is "Heidi" (1937) starring Shirley Temple (this movie has been restored in HD and can be found on TH-cam - th-cam.com/video/plzbUYHRLco/w-d-xo.html)
Just watched your reaction of ' Casablanca ' . This has been one of my favorite movies of all time. Great reaction. I have noticed that you haven't been posting any reactions as of late. I understand how busy everyone can be as life always seem to get in the way. Hopefully you will post more reactions, you do a great job with them.
I find it so amazing to see people react to older films. There are so many great films out there that people don't watch because they are in Black & White. But "Good" films didn't start with colour. I would recommend, recommend, really recommend, Harvey (James Stewart) and Arsenic & Old Lace (Cary Grant)
Also, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, Sunset Boulevard, and the original Manchurian Candidate. Once you realize that movies don't need pounding music and explosions, there's a whole world of great films out there.
Yes. It started with a terribly stage play called Everybody Comes to Rick's and somehow turned into something brilliant. Nobody on the production thought it would be any good.
@@scapevelocity well, what I would think is what made it work was Bogart's and McCall's obvious chemistry on the screen, then they had Peter Lori, I forget the big chubby guys name but he's also fairly famous, they just had a good cast. They're really carried it
Fun fact...most films are in flux as the cameras are rolling...and, some (like ET and Star Wars) even after the film was already released to the public.
11:25 - "This is a really complex character." I loved that you noticed that so early in the film! He's one of my favorite characters in movie history! This was a great reaction and I am SO excited you watched a movie from this time period! I love when Rick's old girlfriend comes onscreen and you say: "Nice top!". The clothes were so great, right? I really hope you continue to do more from this time period, at least once in a while, there are so many great ones! "Casablanca" isn't even my favorite (although I like it!). Here are some titles from the earlier film eras you might want to hit (the first three are silent!): One Week (1920), Sunrise (1927) The Passion Of Joan Of Ark (1928), King Kong (1933) Of Human Bondage (1934), San Francisco (1934), The Wizard Of Oz (1939), The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1939), Citizen Kane (1941), Shadow Of A Doubt (1943), Jane Eyre (1943), The Snake Pit (1948), Sunset Boulevard (1950), A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), Strangers On A Train (1951), Singin' In The Rain (1952), Roman Holiday (1953), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Forbidden Planet (1956) What Ever Became Of Baby Jane? (1962) The Misfits (1962), A Hard Day's Night (1964), Alfie (1966), Blow Up (1966) The late 1960s - the present is when things got more "modern", with more realism, naturalistic acting, cursing, nudity, and explicit violence. Seemed like a good idea at the time! :P
Good reaction. I think we are meant to understand that Rick's powerful gesture in "choosing a side," motivated the police captain, who also had "always been for himself" - drinking for free at the bar, manipulating all the young women to sleep with him for visas - to also choose a side, to choose to believe in something larger than himself. Louis had been unscrupulous the whole film, but Rick's heroism awakens something in him, so he covers for Rick and decides to become a fugitive with him.
I swear I just saw a reaction to this, my favorite movie, and thought, "I Hope Duaffy does a reaction to this" (It was after mentioning supporting the loyalists in Spain.) Jedi Mind power FTW.
Good heavens you missed out the most famous phrase in a movie at the end when Rick says "Louis, I think this could be the start of a beautiful friendship" If you don't realise how iconic that is watch "When Harry met Sally"
In particular you were superb explaining the conflict in Ilsa in her experience of these two particular men. Really fine work. Looking forward to more work you will be doing with other great classic movies!
Casablanca made during WW2. You might like to try 'The Lady Vanishes' 1938, just as pre war tensions were building. And the 'The Grand Budapest Hotel', a more modern film based in the same period
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! Finally someone reacted to a great classic movie with an amazing cast..Bogart and Bacall, Claude Raines, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre..... Please don't stop reacting to these classic movies. Try The Maltese Falcoln, Robin Hood (Earol Flynn and Claude Raines), Christmas in Connecticut, Captain Blood....
Casablanca is not just any old film its iconic and a work of art!!
Seen it 3 or 4 times and you see something new in out each time.
Bogart is a brilliant actor and Bergman is also beautiful.
A wonderful and much loved film.
The scene of singing the Marseillaise was an emotional highlight of the movie. The role of Renault is played by Claude Rains who was a brilliant actor who had a long career. He first became known in 1933 in The Invisible Man.
"Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
One of the most iconic line's in cinema history.
There are several of them in this movie. "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walked into mine." "Maybe not today or tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life." "Here's looking at you, kid." "Round up the usual suspects." And , one of the most misquoted lines in cinema history (along with "We don't need no stinking badges" and "Luke, I am your father."): "Play it again, Sam."
so is “round up the usual suspects”
Louis does humor with a straight face
And this line was a pure improvisation on set! Which makes it even more iconic.
"I'm shocked. Shocked to find gambling in this establishment."
"Your winnings, sir."
"Thank you very much."
@@bagelj - Great movie, The Usual Suspects.
"What is your nationality?"
"I'm a drunkard."
Not even a pause. Lines like this really show how solid the writing was. Rick was built up to be an imposing and quick-witted character in the first 20mins of the film, which really contrasted with just how out of sorts he was (and trying to hide) once he laid eyes on Ilse again. Fantastic acting. Bogart could play a level of cool that Steve McQueen would envy.
Many of the European characters in Rick's place in the movie were played by actors who had escaped Nazi occupied Europe. Conrad Veidt, who plays Maj. Strasser, had a Jewish wife and both had to escape from the Nazis. For me this added an entire new layer to the scene when they sang Le Marseillese in counter to the Nazis.
I heard all the extras in that Le Marseillese scene were refugees from Nazi occupied Europe.
WoW...
Here's a little something from IMDB about Madeleine Lebeau, the actress who played Yvonne:
"Fleeing from the Germans in 1940, she and her [Jewish] husband eventually reached Lisbon, where they obtained visas to Chile, but on reaching Mexico they learned that these were forgeries. They eventually obtained temporary Canadian passports and ended up in the US.
Madeleine's escaping from Nazi occupied France almost mirrored her role as Yvonne in Casablanca. During the scene where so many patrons of Rick's started singing La Marseillaise, the French national anthem, many of the actors in that scene were refugees from Europe and their tears were real, including Madeleine's."
Not many, most of the cast were refugees from German occupied Europe.
It's important to remember that this movie was made in 1942, when the outcome of the war was still very much in doubt. It must have felt as if the world were collapsing all around them.
A piece of trivia for you.
Dooley Wilson (who played Sam and sung As Time Goes By) was actually a drummer and couldn't play the piano !
Crazy that the ending of this movie alone spawned the phrases "the usual suspects", "we'll always have Paris", and "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship". Such an iconic film.
The most famous line quoted was never said, play it again Sam.
@@jerryp8263 That is correct but, this IS the movie everyone associates that line with. Close, but no cigar ... wait ... no, that phrase came from somewhere else 😁😜🤣🤣🤣
My favorite line: "I'm shocked, shocked to hear there is gambling going on here."
Yep. I RECKON RICK is pimping her out(?????)
@@jerryp8263 statistically, the most played song / TH-cam was Kylie Minogue's /I should be so Lucky (fyi)
"Kid" was a common term of endearment man to woman back in the day. Paternistic for sure, but intimate and common back then.
She loves both of them. A love triangle. Oldest story in the world. Pure? Rational? Nah. She just loves both of them.
Rick wasn't heartless. He was heartbroken and bitter.
Victor is the perfect human being. A better person than all of us. A symbol. A living embodiment of the ideal.
Renault is that guy who dances on the fence just surviving. Love that character so much.
This movie is so great.
The director, Curtiz, was born in 1886. Just 21 years after A. Lincoln was shot.
Lovely reaction!
About the young couple: the bride is asking Rick if Renault will be honest and give her the exit visas if she agrees to sleep with him. She then explains a little more when she wonders about what her husband would do if he found out. She says, what would you do if someone loved you so much that she did a very bad thing. (in other words, sleeping with Renault). Rick is triggered by this and says that no one ever loved him that much. I always remember the bride's line "In some ways, I'm so much older than he is." Rick makes the decision to help them by cheating at roulette, and this is the slow, sure start of his turnaround.
Victor knows long before Rick says to ask his wife. He tells Rick he knew there was something there the first night, and if you watch Victor's face in that scene where Rick and Ilsa meet in the cafe, you'll see by Victor's expression that he's already putting 1 and 1 together. He's already had a lot of time to feel things through and it's one of the reasons he doesn't push Ilsa when she says she has nothing to tell him.
A wonderful tiny moment for Victor is when, at the airport, he asks Ilsa if she's ready to go. Basically, he's giving her the final decision of whom to choose. She chooses him and says to Rick "God bless you".
We'll always have Paris 💯💓💌🥨🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🤗
Victors a bit of a naughty boy by the way,, he's doing some shady sh*t right!!????
And the way she whispers “God bless you.”
Note also … those were the last words of her kiss off letter. 😢
@@bealerDSB In what way?
@@vicc7409 Well, except as we learn, it isn't a "kiss off" letter; it's kind of a desperate farewell: remember she's just learned her husband is alive, escaped from a concentration camp, sick and in need. She needs to hurry, probably to a risky location and take charge of things to a degree until Victor can do that himself.
Awesome that you are finally reacting to these old classics! The people back then might not have had flashy computer effects, but that didn't stop them from making great stories and artful cinematography that could really emote you as a viewer. Besides, I personally love the dreamy feeling that the black and white gives it.
Now, if you excuse me, I made a pinky promise about watching this one and I am about to keep that promise 😉🍿🎥
They had to rely on writing, acting and directing.
Another great classic movie is the Maltese Falcon which features a number of the same actors
Yes! Duaffy needs to see "The Maltese Falcon"...
After Maltese Falcon must watch is The Big sleep (1946) and some other '40 Private eye Bogard films
after those to sum it up little lighter Dead man don't wear plaid (1982)
The African Queen.
I would add "To Have and Have Not" with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. “You Know How to Whistle, Don’t You, Steve? You Just Put Your Lips Together and Blow.”
@@garyr8739 Indeed, you only need to hear two names: Bogart & Bacall
this film should never be remade, it was perfect 1st time, every actor was a character
This is my favorite of all time
I wish I could go back in time and have a first reaction to my favorite movie after having watched it at least 100 times.
¨Round up the usual suspects¨ was ,the phrase that inspired the title of the movie ¨The usual suspects¨
So many quotable parts of this film. IA friend came from Australia to visit me. I took her to Seville, Spain, Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Paris for a pop up the Eiffel tower and a glass of champagne. When I said goodbye to her at Heathrow airport she said Ït was wonderful. I will miss you.
To which I replied ¨We´ll always have Paris¨.
Saw the Wood Allen play ¨Play it again Sam¨ back in the 70´s.
Have been known to be noble on occasion...... When the girl I was going to marry told me she was in love with someone else I told her that she should be with him. Otherwise she would regret it. ¨Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But, soon and for the rest of your life¨
Lucky break as it turns out.
Bogart was good for me.
Top 100 lines ever spoken in movies, or just the lines from Casablanca.
That hand sign is like, what did I tell you? Or, there you go.
FYI. Madeleine LeBeau who played Yvonne was the last living cast member passing in 2016.
Hey Duaffy I love watching movies with you!!!!!!! Polish girls are the prettiest!!!!!!! I come from Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the US and we have a massive population of Polish people here that have been here for many generations, they even created their own type of duplex houses called Polish flats that you really only see between here and Chicago!!! Take care Duaffy, always a blast watching with you!!!!!!!
I remember in the 1980s, Chicago had a Polish language newspaper. Is it still in circulation? Just curious :)
@@joebombero1I'm not sure, but I bet they probably do!!! I know some good ol Polish fellas down in Chicago that I buy very good real Polish vodka from that you can't buy here if you know what I mean, along with some other good Polish food!!!!!!!
the singing of "Les Marseilles" absolutely classic
This beautiful charming lady did not get what this movie is about, It was a happy ending, the best happy ending ever.
I loved your deciphering of the love triangle and the motivations of all three. I want to add that when Viktor told Rick “now I know we’ll win” we can see it as an indication that if cynical Rick is sacrificing his life for the cause, then the movement is in good shape - but it also indicates that cynical Rick was able to inspire Viktor, an already romantic idealist. Making a bigger difference than either of them would have imagined.
It's not just that Ilsa has a history with Laszlo. It's not only that she feels committed and loyal to Laszlo. She deeply admires him. He is a hero of the French Resistance. She believes in his cause. She would do anything to help him. Laszlo represents "the greater good." But her true love is for Rick. The audience feels the deep conflict in this triangle because we understand that both men are very good men. One of the most important lines is "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." Rick is willing to sacrifice his own true love for Ilsa---not only to keep her safe, but because Rick also cares about the "greater good" of Laszlo's cause. All three characters are willing to make a personal sacrifice to do the right thing. This love triangle is so moving because all three characters are willing to act in a selfless manner. They are all good people. We understand that Rick and Ilsa are in love, but, sometimes, love means sacrificing the personal wants of the individual.
I have always understood the there was true love between Ilsa and Victor. It wasn’t the Hollywood romantic love but the true and abiding love long term partners have for each other.
@@brontewcat Agreed. Ilsa is committed heart and soul to Victor, but she also feels the passionate form of love for Rick. Honestly, the men are so similar, I see why she'd fall for both; the main differences between them are that Rick is wounded in love and he is a wittier conversationalist.
My favorite movie of all time. Many people's favorite movie of all time.
When Victor says I love you and Ilsa simply responds yes, its not that she is refusing to reciprocate, it is her saying she understands that Victor knows she was with Rick when she thought he was dead, but also that she knows Victor still loves her regardless, because he's a grown up and he can understand her situation at the time. Its a very romantically mature and touching moment, I think.
Rick and Victor are both heroic characters. They mirror each other in the storyline. Both willing to sacrifice for the greater good.
Due to Rick's experience in losing Elsa and how it broke him....he chooses to sacrifice his one true love so that Victor is not broken as well and so that Victor can continue his vitally important work.
Need to add... Elsa is also sacrificing her true romantic love of Rick. She greatly admires Victor but her romantic heart is with Rick... she also sacrifices her own romantic love so that she can continue to support Victor in the work he is doing.
I'm shocked!! Shocked to see this reaction on your channel!! :)
💘 Bogart, Peter Lorre, Ingrid Bergman and just about anything else in B &W!! :) 💗💗💗💗💗
Maltese Falcon next!!!
Cynics are usually romantics who've been dealt a cruel turn by fate :(
There's a reason the 30s-50s are called the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Casablanca has one of the finest scripts of any American film. In 2006 the Writers Guild of America, West voted it the greatest American screenplay ever. Here are some classic American films anyone who has an interest in cinema should know.
_Citizen Kane_ (1941) co-written, directed by, and starring Orson Welles, _Citizen Kane_ has often been called the greatest film ever made. A fictionalized biography, a mystery, and a scathing character analysis, it keeps you guessing the whole time. Welles's performance as Charles Foster Kane is remarkable, the story is beautifully written, and Welles's direction and cinematography was revolutionary. Modern cinematography really begins with _Citizen Kane._
_It Happened One Night_ (1934) The Screwball Comedy by which all others must be judged. Starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, and directed by the great Frank Capra, _It Happened One Night_ won five Oscars: Best Actor (Gable); Best Actress (Colbert); Best Director (Capra); Best Adapted Screenplay (Robert Riskin); and Best Picture.
_The Maltese Falcon_ (1941) The first full-length Film-Noir. It stars some actors you've just met, Humphrey Bogart, Peter Lorre, and Sydney Greenstreet, and was based on the mystery novel of the same name by Dashiel Hammett. Written and directed by the great John Huston, it was nominated for three Oscars and is considered one of the greatest films of all time. It was one of the first 25 films selected by the Library of Congress to be included in the National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
_On the Waterfront_ (1954) Directed by Elia Kazan and starring Marlon Branco, _On the Waterfront_ is considered one of the greatest American films. It was nominated for twelve Oscars winning eight, including Best Actor, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Picture.
_Some Like It Hot_ (1959) Written and directed by the great Billy Wilder, and starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon _Some Like It Hot_ is one of the funniest romantic comedies ever filmed. In 1989, the Library of Congress selected it as one of the first 25 films for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant," and in 2017 was selected as the best comedy of all time in a poll of 253 film critics from 52 countries conducted by the BBC.
Agree with what you wrote about Citizen Kane.
It pioneered a lot of what became modern techniques of cinematography.
Unfortunately, the protagonist is such a piece of work that, by the end of the film, I couldn't care less about anything that happened to him.
That makes the movie hard for me to like, even though I acknowledge it is, in fact, one of the finest made.
I struggle with comedy, so I haven't seen, It Happened One Night.
On the other hand, the Maltese Falcon is the sort of film dreams are made of. :)
On the Waterfront has almost as many quotable lines as Casablanca, and features Marlon Brando in his absolute prime.
While I don't care for most comedies, Some Like It Hot is actually one of the exceptions.
It's both clever and funny, and while the situation is ridiculous, none of the characters come across as stupid or inept.
In that same vein, another good comedy starring Monroe, Bacall and the sublime Betty Grable, is "How to Marry a Millionaire."
Mercenary female characters, brilliantly funny and quotable dialogue, subtle in-jokes (the movie showing on the television in the scene with Lauren Bacall makes the whole thing hilarious, if you recognize that film -- and who stars in it) and amusing twists make for a fun watch.
@@thomashiggins9320 Interestingly, Grable was originally cast as Lorelei Lee but went on strike over a contract dispute, so the studio replaced her with Marilyn.
On the Waterfront - "I coulda been... somebody". Amazing moment.
And almost anything from 1939….
@@ElliotNestermanYou’re a bit mixed up. Lorelei Lee was Marilyn’s character in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Her character in Some Like It Hot was Sugar Cane.
You should look up movies in the genre called "film noir". In the 40s-50s, they were the most popular dramatic films in America and the best of these movies are usually regarded as cinematic classics. And of course, pretty much of all them have aged pretty well. Double Indemnity (1944), Laura (1944), Sunset Boulevard (1950), and many of Alfred Hitchcock's popular movies are some I'd suggest.
For some "feel good" movies, I'd recommend Frank Capra, you literally can't go wrong with any of his films. Also Charlie Chaplin if you want some silent films
Great list...and let's throw in The Big Sleep - I don't care if I can't understand it, it's a great ride.
@@markalleneaton honestly any movie with Bogart, really
I'd add the 1941 Maltese Falcon to the list, along with Key Largo. Both are classic Bogart films. In Key Largo, he starred with Lauren Bacall, his real-life wife.
@@BillTheScribe As another older person, would add that John Huston, who co-starred with Bogart in "The Treasure of Sierra Madre", made his directorial debut with "The Maltese Falcon", possibly the first film noir - and a great movie, as is "Casablanca". And Huston had an important supporting actor role in "Chinatown", one of the more modern noir films. All these movies can reveal more small (and important) details with repeated viewings. If you want to try a comic noir, "The Thin Man" is also a fun watch.
@@jamesburgess2k Yeah, The Desperate Hours, In a Lonely Place, Two Mrs Carrolls, Dark Passage.
So, a millennial can not just enjoy, but truly grok a black&white movie made in 1942... Gives us all great hope for the future!
I just subbed a few daze ago, but being retired, have already seen quite a few of your reactions Duaffy... IMO, this is your best reaction, by far, of the vids I've seen thus far. Truly enjoyable to (re)"watch" this classic WWII film with you!
Finally, Duaffy: "We'll always have Paris." (Loved the lightbulb going off over your head when you heard that line!!!)
My wife and I have been together for 20 years. 18 years ago this movie was playing in a small theater on our anniversary. Since then we've watched it every year on our anniversary. As Time Goes By was the song at our wedding for our first dance.
That’s awesome!
You nailed everything. The great thing about this movie (it's my all-time favorite) is the interplay, as you mention, between duty, moral obligation, and love and self-interest. Louie, as you said, is a complicated one. Perhaps because he switches so easily back and forth between being a creep (e.g. trading visas for sexual favors) and saving Rick. That type of character you see a lot of in films which have WW2 as a background. There is such drama that war can cause in people and the decisions they make. In WW2 you saw it multiplied many times every day. That kind of tension is gut-wrenching in real life, and its what makes movies so good which do a good job of portraying it.
You did a great job at grabbing all the loose ends and tying them together. Enjoyed listening to you and will look for more from you.
I believe you're confusing Lazlo with Louie.
@@stevejoshua9536 Yes, thanks. Changed it.
"Play it again Sam" !!!! 👍 😊
I watched four 'reaction' youtubes about Casablanca...you are the best. You did good by this classic movie. You understood the sub-plots, appreciated the politics and history...new subscriber.
It's a crime people don't get to see masterpieces like this anymore.
Hipsters turn Green when confronted with a Black-and-White movie, don't ya know? They think that movies should ALL be in color, even old newsreels from the 1910's. (They'd colorize "The Twilight Zone" just like Ted Turner did to the likes of "It's A Wonderful Life.")
@@Otokichi786 Nah, I prefer them just the way they are.
@@Otokichi786 Actually, I think most "hipsters" appreciate black and white films. It's more the masses raised on wizard and superhero franchises who are disinterested.
🤠 This is one of my top 5 movies of all time! Remember, it's not an old movie if you've never seen it. 👍
The sounds like a (slight) misquote about old movies on Turner Classic Movies.;)
Well, it's also not an old movie, JUST cause you haven't seen it but, I guess that fact WOULD make it new ... to the person watching it 😊.
Great reaction, you are very insightful. Subscribed.
Claud rains was a great actor. Had a speech inpedament and was gassed during the war but went on to make his voice very iconic . and had played the invisable man.
My grandma was a film technician on the INVISIBLE MAN for Columbia studios and many films and tv series. My father ended up with the bicycle used as a prop in that famous scene of the invisible man riding a bike with no person pedaling it.
Because of when this was made, there's a BUNCH of metaphorical subtext of how the United States should (and eventually would) stop being neutral and help fight in WWII.
How Rick is this neutral person who only cares about his business (and coincidentally American), and never takes sides with either countries directly parallels the sentiment of America at the time. It's only after someone personal to him joins the story, where he feels forced to make a decision to take a stance (analogous to Pearl Harbor in real life).
There's a lot up to debate on much of this was intentional, but like a lot of films throughout history, real world events can sometimes have a big influence on how some stories are told, where intentional or not.
Well prior to the war, American businesses, Banks most notably, were doing business with the Nazis.
Yes. At one point Rick says, "I'd bet they're asleep in New York. I'd bet they're asleep all over America." In other words, America needs to wake up to what's happening in the world.
Good story, but the US had already been in the war for six months when they started filming and for a year when it was released.
This is inaccurate. The US was in the war. But the nation wasn't fully on board yet to the war ideology. "Casablanca" caught that moment. What also separates this from other WWII films is that even though it has an anti-Nazi slant, it wasn't overly full of war time propaganda.
@@stevemccullagh36 True, but the movie was set just a few days prior to Pearl Harbor.
You are a far better reviewer than I've seen on TH-cam. Well done.
The scene with the two groups singing, the Germans and then Victor Lazlo singing the "La Marseillaise" with everyone else...most of the actors (like the actress playing Yvonne) were Europeans who had fled from the Third Reich before war started for one reason or another. The emotions of that scene were not acted...just felt deeply. For that reason, this is one of my favorite films of all time. That and the inspired writing, the brilliant casting and acting, the deft and masterful direction, and "As Time Goes By". It was a perfect storm of a movie where everything happened in just the right way to create a classic. Thanks!!!
There was a thought to make a part 2 movie of these characters. Thankfully, they let this one stand on it's own. One of the greatest films of all time. War, love, treachery, heroism, good, evil. And superbly acted by all.
In Casablanca 2, Rick and Victor run away together and get married, Sam and Ilsa become a musical act, and Renault inherits a car factory in France. (If Hollywood made a sequel today, I'm sure it would be something like that.) 🤣
you're a goof, and i love you!
Fun fact-there was a sequel in the works right after the first film came out called “Brazzaville” that would have followed Rick and Captain Reno and ultimately revealed that they were agents for the US government the whole time. Since that would have totally ruined Rick’s character development I’m glad it was scrapped.
Very perceptive analysis. Your point about captain Renaud played by the respected actor Claude rains is a good one. The movie was made in 1942 during Second World War. Renaud as a Frenchman would have hated the nazis. He had to go along with them but when the opportunity presented itself he chose to support rick and find a way to leave Casablanca with rick who is someone he respected and liked.
In many ways capt Renaud had some of the best lines in the movie. A classic film.
One of the best films ever made.
Try The Maltese Falcon 1941, The Big Sleep 1946, Hobson's Choice 1954, We Dive at Dawn 1943, Mrs Miniver 1942.
With the line, "I've heard a lot of stories in my time. They went along with the sound of a tinny piano in the parlor downstairs. 'Mister, I met a man once when I was only a kid,' they'd always begin," is Rick calling Ilsa a whore -- brothels had waiting room/lounges downstairs and rooms upstairs, and in the lounge there was often a cheap piano. Jazz music began in New Orleans brothels just like that, and it's a reference the audiences of the time would not have missed. It's difficult to overstate how much Rick *hates* Ilsa at that point in the movie.
You didn’t show the best part. I hope you got to see the whole thing.
Tremendous insight. Not only did you read the characters incredibly well, you were able to read their intentions, loves, and lies. Thank you. Looking forward to sharing another film with you!
In many ways Rick's neutrality parallels that of the US before it's entry into WWII.
Casablanca is one of my favorite movies, and I usually watch it New Year's Eve. For more Bogart movies, I would recommend the four movies he did with Lauren Bacall - To Have and Have Not (1944), The Big Sleep (1946), Dark Passage (1947), and Key Largo (1948). The Maltese Falcon (1941) is another good Bogart film as is Sabrina (1954) with Audrey Hepburn, though the 1995 remake with Harrison Ford is good as well. Humphrey Bogart is one of my favorite actors of all time...
"Deadline--USA" (1951) is also a great film starring Humphrey Bogart--a journalism classic.
This is my #1 all-time favorite movie, I'm so glad you watched it!
Excellent job on reacting and understanding the nuances of the movie. I love Renault tossing the Vichy water in the trash at the end along with his quote, "Round up the usual suspects." Such snappy smart dialogue and emotions silently conveyed by the camera and the faces of the actors. The pacing also moves quickly without dead spots or unnecessary reactions or teased out drama. All in all a beautifully shot film with excellent acting, drama, natural humor, and smart dialogue. A classic and one of my favorite films.
One of the best movies ever made! My favourite one too. Studied this in film school and wrote a paper on it. Michael Kurtiz also directed "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938) which I highly recommend to watch.
I really love your take on Elsa’s two different loves, her admiration love for Lazlo, and her passionate love for Rick.
You mentioned that the director and the main actors have "sadly passed away." Actually, every actor appearing in this film and, I believe, every member of the crew as well, have passed away as of September 2021. The character of Yvonne was played by French actress Madeleine Lebeau. She was the last person appearing in this movie to pass away, which happened in 2016. Even the "underage" woman for whom Rick cheats to get the money to buy their exit visas, is dead. She really was underage in the movie! She was only 17 when she got the part. Her name is Joy Page. She was the stepdaughter of Warner Bros. studio chief Jack L. Warner, but that didn't get her the part, she earned it on her own and went on to have a great film career. She passed away in 2008.
As a French citizen , I seriously CAN'T explain how much the " La Marseillaise " scene gets into me ...
Michael Curtiz is one of the great directors of the 30s and 40s. Made some great swashbucklers with Errol Flynn (including Captain Blood and The Adventures of Robin Hood), biopics including Yankee Doodle Dandy (a biography of the multitalented George M. Cohan) and Night and Day (for Cole Porter), and of course this classic.
The cast is phenomenal. Humphrey Bogart was already becoming famous - he did The Maltese Falcon (which also has Peter Lorre (Ugarte) and Sydney Greenstreet (Ferrari)) the year before, but this cemented his status as a top-drawer star. Ingrid Bergman is, IMHO, one of the most luminously beautiful actresses of all time (if I were to pick a top 3, the others would be Grace Kelly and Michelle Pfeiffer). Claude Rains is a great actor with an unmistakable voice - which came in handy, because his first big role, ten years earlier, was as The Invisible Man.
23:39 That look Rick gives the cashier when he gives Renault his winnings just as he’s shutting them down. 🤣🤣🤣
My God Duaffy is a pure soul a natural empath and a beautiful young woman. She's also younger than my granddaughter so don't take that the wrong way.
You read the love triangle absolutely perfectly and understood the feelings of each character. Remarkable and refreshing
You missed the single best line in all of film history: "If you don' get on that plane, you'll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But soon, and for the rest of your life."
My favorite is "i came for the water's...I was misinformed"
Hill of beans, here's looking at you kid and play it Sam. Very competitive
"I am shocked! Shocked to find out that gambling is going on."
"Your winnings, Sir."
"He's like any other man, only more so"
@@frogger1952
That was the best truly feminist line ever spoken.
If you're a man and don't wince at the truth of that, you have Zero self awareness.
(And I laugh at your "Red Pill" outrage. 😁)
Casablanca is a treasure! Thanks for reacting to it. The bar scene with the singing of La Marseillaise is epic; that scene has made the French national anthem so much more meaningful beyond Representing France as a nation and the French as a people . . . thanks to Casablanca it’s means Freedom on par with the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. What’s an amazing movie!
About the end with Renault, and why he helps rick, I always interpret like this: at the beginning of the film, Rick was a very cynical, broken hearted man, but also a survivor who thrived in Casablanca. Renault, also a cynic and survivor, had a respect and admiration for Rick. At the end, when Ricks belief in right and wrong comes back, Renault sees that, and perhaps feels a little bit of that as well.
It makes this 51yr old Gen-Xer very happy to see a Millennial take interest in the past. Thanks Duaffy, you give me a small ray of hope
Try The Maltese Falcon, its another Bogart classic
Dude. These were old when YOU were a kid. ;)
@@arandomnamegoeshere Ha! Goteem!!!! : D
My favorite movie of all time. Wow, great job reacting. You were so funny, and heartfelt, and understanding of a complex plot. Thank you so much for the great work, and all your other fun videos. So happy to be a subscriber.
Wow, thank you! 💖
Really enjoyed watching your reaction to this classic. F.y.i., the German actor Conrad Veidt, who played the menacing Major Strasser, was actually vehemently against everything the Nazis stood for and donated and raised huge amounts of money in support of the war effort against them. Cheers.
The most heart wrenching moment is while Rick is lying to Victor about him pretending that he still felt for her. She overhears him saying that, and it must have ripped her to pieces knowing he felt the opposite
A real man has to do what is right, even if it costs him the thing or things he cares most about on this planet...his loved ones, his liberty and even, his own life. That is EXACTLY what a real man should when evil is running loose in the world...like we are seeing all over the world at this very moment. Freedom isn't free.
no, she knew he didn't feel the opposite. but was letting her go . the best for everyone but himself.
@@thomast8539 Except when in your brainwashing and overconfidence, you've misidenfied the source of the evil.
Yes, she may have overheard, but she definitely knew that Rick was still in love with her, and she knew why he was telling Victor that he(Rick) had been pretending with her(Elsa). It was so that Victor could have peace about his marriage, and then concentrate on his important work towards the war effort. Victor probably didn't completely believe Rick, but he took Rick at his word so that he(Victor) could convince himself that Elsa still loved him(Victor).
@@stevejoshua9536 Exactly... the story is about sacrifice during times in which it is needed for the greater good.
Rick is a heroic man just like Victor.... they do it in different ways. But both are willing to sacrifice for what is right and what is needed. The belief in things which are greater than ourselves and acting on that at the expense of our personal needs.
what a great film.
Great movie. You should also watch Its A Wonderfull Life and Mr Smith goes to Washington for more great classics.
i just subscribed. This is the first reaction that I have viewed of yours. you are the only person who has watched and listened to the movie, paying attention to the numerous references in the film that defined the relationships. most reviewers have little or no knowledge of the historical context of the film. I am going to your page and hoping that I will enjoy more of your reactions.
This has been my favorite movie since I saw it as a kid it may be what inspired my love of history
Your 1st black & white picture...congratulations on your exquisite choice, this is my very favourite movie of all-time❗🎬
Before video/dvd/internet sources, you could only see these classics at repretory theatres, festivals or the late show, on TV. Many people like myself, missed out on that Golden Era...we had to rediscover the buried treasure. Enjoy the adventure❗
So glad you reviewed this! I'd heard about it my whole life, but never bothered to watch it until my 20s. It instantly became one of my all-time favorites. The comedy, the emotional beats, the intrigue, all blew me away...and Capt. Renault is hands-down my favorite character -- not least because he approaches every situation with a mirthful grin, as if he's constantly amused by the silliness of it all.
Your analysis of this film is spot on. Just found your channel. This was an exellent intro to it. I like your style.
You do not realize there are several quotations from this movie that became iconic: "Of All the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine." "Here's looking a you, kid." "Round up the usual suspects" haha-often used by elementary school principals. but the most misquoted is "Play it again Sam" which was was NEVER said. It was actually: " You played it for her, you can play it for me!
That was a great reaction. Watching you piece things together was lots of fun.
This is one of those classics set in stone, it's often quoted. You may have noticed Peter Lorre and Sidney Greenstreet in small roles here, they're in the #1 film noir "The Maltese Falcon" along with Bogart. It's a must-see, among the top 5 on my list. "The Big Sleep" is another one with Bogart and Lauren Bacall who he would marry.
Neil Simon wrote a comedy film about all of these movies rolled into 1 called "The Cheap Detective" starring the great Peter Falk (Lt. Columbo from the TV series, also the grandfather in "The Princess Bride") doing his best Bogart immitation. It's hilarious, Louise Fletcher plays Ilsa and Dom DeLuise plays the Peter Lorre role; John Houseman is Greenstreet, there are many others.
If you’re doing classic movies you should do “The Third Man” and “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town”. Deeds is by Capra and he has a whole mess of great films like “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
“La Strada” and “Seven Samurai” are good “foreign films” to watch with subtitles. I think your audience would get a kick out of seeing any of these films.
Don't forget Mr. Smith Goes to Washington!
If this goes all Capra, then "Arsenic and Old Lace", and to repeat some of the cast of Casablanca "The Maltese Falcon". So many good movies.
Highly recommend Sunset Blvd.
@@gylmano oh that’s so good too
Mr Deeds Goes to Town is a criminally underrated film. I think it's one of the greatest movies of that era.
Beautiful analysis. You caught the essence of the love between Rick and Ilsa and had faith in both of them (in spite of his hard shell). Bravo.
thank you for watching this. it’s always a joy and delight seeing someone watch my favorite film for the first time.
A great review. Bogart is my all time favourite actor. "Here's looking at you kid."
My favorite black and white movie is popular at Christmas time.... "It's A Wonderful Life" (1946). My second favorite black and white movie is "Heidi" (1937) starring Shirley Temple (this movie has been restored in HD and can be found on TH-cam - th-cam.com/video/plzbUYHRLco/w-d-xo.html)
Just watched your reaction of ' Casablanca ' .
This has been one of my favorite movies of all time.
Great reaction. I have noticed that you haven't been posting any reactions as of late. I understand how busy everyone can be as life always seem to get in the way. Hopefully you will post more reactions, you do a great job with them.
A few recommendations...
Humphrey Bogart...
Drama: Treasure Of The Sierra Madre
RomCom: Sabrina
Claude Rains...
Mr Smith Goes To Washington
I find it so amazing to see people react to older films. There are so many great films out there that people don't watch because they are in Black & White.
But "Good" films didn't start with colour.
I would recommend, recommend, really recommend, Harvey (James Stewart) and Arsenic & Old Lace (Cary Grant)
Also, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, Sunset Boulevard, and the original Manchurian Candidate. Once you realize that movies don't need pounding music and explosions, there's a whole world of great films out there.
@@hamletksquid2702 12 Angry Men
@@hamletksquid2702 Oh, Sunset Boulevard is great!
"Sergeant York", another great black and white movie with zero reactions from TH-camrs. It's a true story that includes a love interest.
Both of those are really outstanding movies.
A fabulously written screenplay with these great actors. Good description by you of the component parts and threads of this film. Thank you.
Very insightful review. When Ilsa responded to Victor with "I know" it reminded me of The Empire Strikes Back when Han responded to Leah.
Fun fact: the script for Casablanca was being written as the movie was being filmed.
Yes. It started with a terribly stage play called Everybody Comes to Rick's and somehow turned into something brilliant. Nobody on the production thought it would be any good.
@@scapevelocity well, what I would think is what made it work was Bogart's and McCall's obvious chemistry on the screen, then they had Peter Lori, I forget the big chubby guys name but he's also fairly famous, they just had a good cast. They're really carried it
Fun fact...most films are in flux as the cameras are rolling...and, some (like ET and Star Wars) even after the film was already released to the public.
@@thomast8539 the Lord of the rings was also that way. But from what I come to learn is not even the actor's new how Casablanca was going to end.
Always the best. The greatest directors synergize their art with the actors' art.
Soooo happy to see an older movie reaction!
11:25 - "This is a really complex character." I loved that you noticed that so early in the film! He's one of my favorite characters in movie history! This was a great reaction and I am SO excited you watched a movie from this time period! I love when Rick's old girlfriend comes onscreen and you say: "Nice top!". The clothes were so great, right? I really hope you continue to do more from this time period, at least once in a while, there are so many great ones! "Casablanca" isn't even my favorite (although I like it!). Here are some titles from the earlier film eras you might want to hit (the first three are silent!): One Week (1920), Sunrise (1927) The Passion Of Joan Of Ark (1928), King Kong (1933) Of Human Bondage (1934), San Francisco (1934), The Wizard Of Oz (1939), The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1939), Citizen Kane (1941), Shadow Of A Doubt (1943), Jane Eyre (1943), The Snake Pit (1948), Sunset Boulevard (1950), A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), Strangers On A Train (1951), Singin' In The Rain (1952), Roman Holiday (1953), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Forbidden Planet (1956) What Ever Became Of Baby Jane? (1962) The Misfits (1962), A Hard Day's Night (1964), Alfie (1966), Blow Up (1966) The late 1960s - the present is when things got more "modern", with more realism, naturalistic acting, cursing, nudity, and explicit violence. Seemed like a good idea at the time! :P
I am so impressed with your analysis... amazing... I say this as someone who has seen this film many times!!!! Magnificent work.
Good reaction. I think we are meant to understand that Rick's powerful gesture in "choosing a side," motivated the police captain, who also had "always been for himself" - drinking for free at the bar, manipulating all the young women to sleep with him for visas - to also choose a side, to choose to believe in something larger than himself. Louis had been unscrupulous the whole film, but Rick's heroism awakens something in him, so he covers for Rick and decides to become a fugitive with him.
I swear I just saw a reaction to this, my favorite movie, and thought, "I Hope Duaffy does a reaction to this" (It was after mentioning supporting the loyalists in Spain.)
Jedi Mind power FTW.
Good job with Casablanca, now another B/W challenge, watch Random Harvest with Ronald Coleman and Greer Garson.
"she was getting a brace put on her teeth" ingrid was married to a dentist living in Rochester, NY at the time
Good heavens you missed out the most famous phrase in a movie at the end when Rick says "Louis, I think this could be the start of a beautiful friendship" If you don't realise how iconic that is watch "When Harry met Sally"
Or “Your winnings, sir.”
In particular you were superb explaining the conflict in Ilsa in her experience of these two particular men. Really fine work. Looking forward to more work you will be doing with other great classic movies!
Casablanca made during WW2. You might like to try 'The Lady Vanishes' 1938, just as pre war tensions were building. And the 'The Grand Budapest Hotel', a more modern film based in the same period
Add “The Third Man”, the anti-Casablanca from immediately after the war.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! Finally someone reacted to a great classic movie with an amazing cast..Bogart and Bacall, Claude Raines, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre..... Please don't stop reacting to these classic movies. Try The Maltese Falcoln, Robin Hood (Earol Flynn and Claude Raines), Christmas in Connecticut, Captain Blood....
You may also enjoy The Maltese Falcon, The Guns of Navarone and North by Northwest
Holy moly, Duaffy, you watched Casablanca??!
Can I recommend another black & white great, "Sunset Boulevard"
Great job outlining the structure of this movie and it's wonderful qualities.
Amazing smart reaction loved watching this movie again through your eyes thank you😎
couldn't stop laughing at your imitation of "knock on wood"...superb reaction