No One Ever Loved Me That Much

Maybe not the best film ever made, but definitely in the top five (according to yours truly), Michael Curtiz's wartime masterpiece satisfies on all level and clicks on all cylinders. It is a film often overlooked for its suspense while the focus generally shifts to the romance. No doubt the theme song had something to do with this.

Bogart gives one of his finest performances as Rick, the owner of the swinging nightclub that showcases most of the film's action. While pretty much playing himself, Bogart manages to slip into his gruff personality more heart than in a dozen African Queen's. Plus, it doesn't hurt that almost all of his lines are quotable and unforgettable. And to think, George Raft turned down the role prior to filmmaking. And for ten points, name one movie off the top of your head that Raft was in. Not so easy, is it?

The supporting cast is magnificent, with Claude Rains being the standout if one possibly could among this fine group of actors. Ingrid Bergman, Sydney Greenstreet, Paul Henreid, and Peter Lorre bring to life the story originally based on the play Everybody Comes to Rick's, which probably hasn't been produced a lot since. However, some very misguided fellows remade the film in 1980 under the title Cabo Blanco (pretty clever) starring none other than Charles Bronson in the lead role. I would've loved to been there when that idea came together.

The screenplay is first rate, full of shady, mysterious characters and thrillingly patriotic moments that don't have the heavy-handed feeling of a good number of movies from the era. To be able to create scenes that so many viewers can recite line for line is writing on the level of genius. While this can also be a bad thing (see any number of Jim Carrey or Mike Myers movies), to do it without the aid of insane catchphrases and throwaway dialogue is invaluable. Writers Julius Epstein, Philip Epstein, and Howard Koch deserve (and no doubt have received after all this time) major kudos for their masterful adaptation of a mediocre play.

Director Curtiz (of everything from White Christmas to Captain Blood) combines these stellar elements into a film that is truly as great as the sum of its parts. Casablanca is revered worldwide, and with good reason, for movies like this won't ever be made again. Despite its runner up position on the AFI list, it is largely and will forever be considered one of American film's finest.