Top 250. Casablanca charm
"The whole world is crumbling, and we chose this time to fall in love."Everyone has their own favorite moment in Casablanca . Someone likes the scene when Ilsa says his famous:"Play it again Sam ". Someone is re-living the farewell of Ilsa and Rick at the airport. Someone loves the pretentious scene of the Marseillaise singing. Still, the last shot turned out the best - Rick and the captain Louis Renault go into the fog along the runway ... Men without women."Louis, I think this is the beginning of a wonderful friendship".  1942 Casablanca, controlled by the French collaborationist government from Vichy. The American Rick , seemingly indifferent to the war and generally showing cynicism towards everything in the world, runs one of the best restaurants in the city - Rick's. Local authorities gather there, refugees from all over Europe, wealthy city dwellers. It seems that the war is somewhere far away. Drinks are pouring in, wonderful music is playing, beautiful smart women are enjoying the life ... But one day a beautiful blonde with a companion comes into the restaurant. And everything changes. The man needs documents and the opportunity to leave Morrocco, because the Nazis are looking for him. And his girlfriend ... Ilsa is the ex-girlfriend of Rika , with whom they lived before the war in Paris. But now she is with someone else."So many pubs are scattered around the world, and she chooses mine". This is how an eternal story begins - a love triangle against the backdrop of the end of the world.  It was another planned film by Warner Brothers . They didn't expect anything from him, they didn't make any bets on him. The studio even refused to invite movie stars.  But other stars - those in the sky - sometimes shine very strangely ... Or the cards are laid down as they please.The performer of the role of Rick , one unpopular actor named Ronald Reagan, was replaced by another, also not very famous - Humphrey Bogart. The role of Ilse was played by a young Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman. The historical alignment turned out as follows - the performers of the main roles became cult superstars, and the person affected by the studio became the President of the United States. The mediocre director was replaced by the famous European - Hungarian Michael Kertits. For the rest of the roles, many European actors were invited, who at that time were in exile in the United States - Victor Laszlo , Ilse's companion , was played by the German Paul Henried. Probably the most famous actor in this film was Claude Raines (Captain Louis ) - he already had a Oscar nomination . As a result, to their own surprise, The Warners made a film that has become a legend in world cinema. Casablanca has received eight Oscar nominations , three of which areBest Film,Best DirectorandBest Screenplaywere won. But everything was just beginning. As the years passed, the popularity of Casablanca only grew. We will not list all the tops in which the film is listed, because it appears in almost all, and in each - closer to the top. But it is worth noting that all attempts to shoot a remake ended in retreat to pre-prepared positions. There must be at least something sacred. Is there a secret in Casablanca ? There is no secret. Just a woman named Ilsa performed by the stunning Ingrid Bergman walks up to the piano and asks Sam (Dooley Wilson) to playthatsong ... And Sam reluctantly, because the owner of the restaurant will be very unhappy, starts playing "As Time Goes By" . From the darkness appears a really very displeased Rick ...  There is nothing unusual about this story. It's just very well told, and the script is written in real literary language. Bogart and Bergman were incredible in 1942. And 70 years later, they still have not lost their charm. And, most likely, after another 70 years, they will be just as good. It's not even about the chemistry that arises between the main characters. The main chemical reaction happens between the screen and the audience: we fall in love with Casablanca every time anew, as if it were our first love. And mentally ask Sam :"Play it again". And again ...  How many times you do not watch the film, there, at the airport, in the fog, you look at the face of Bergman and wait for an alternative ending. But when the traditional ending comes, it becomes clear - he is damn good. That's right - a good story doesn't have to be told to the end. She should leave a question. And give hope: maybe someday, after the war, in Paris ... After all“Paris is always Paris”. It's good that the sequel was never filmed. We part with Casablanca like this - two men go into the fog.  Previous reviews-annotations for films from Top 250 : 1. Ode to Requiem for a Dream 2. Leafing through the "Memory Diary" 3. In the "Society of Dead Poets" To be continued ... The Topic of Article: Top 250. Casablanca charm. |
