Casablanca (U)
Certificate:
Dir:
Michael Curtiz
Year:
1942
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Length:
103 mins
Cast:
Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Peter Lorre
Format:
b/w 35mm
An undisputed classic, Casablanca's appeal never fades. Master of laconic cool Humphrey Bogart (African Queen) is Rick Blaine, an expat American running a bar in wartime Casablanca, and trying to uphold good relations with Vichy and Gestapo forces while doing so. Conflict is never far away; with desperate refugees arriving daily to source illicit visas to flee.
However, all this becomes background noise to Rick when his old lover Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) returns with her new husband Victor Laszlo (Paul Heinreid), a Resistance fighter – but Rick and Ilsa's bittersweet, nostalgic reunion is inevitably interrupted by Laszlo's need for flight.
Perfect casting, a wonderful balance between romance and cynicism, and an oft-quoted script make this a truly brilliant film.
Casablanca is showing as part of our romantic Valentine's Day offer on Tuesday 14 February.
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