They had a date with fate in Casablanca!

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You know, Rick, I have many a friend in Casablanca, but somehow, just because you despise me, you are the only one I trust." - Ugarte

Why watch this? This is film noir's holy grail. It has all the classic elements.

Plot Summary: Rick Blaine is an expatriate running a seedy bar in Casablanca. In walks Ilsa Lund, an old love, who is now married to Victor Laszlo, a secret Czech resistance leader trying to escape the city. The love triangle heats up as Ilsa clearly still has feelings for Rick. However, World War II is also heating up, and although Rick claims to be neutral, he certainly has no love for the Germans.

Dad's Preview: I once could not understand all the hype for this film. The reason lay in when I viewed it. I was already familiar with Bogart and Bergman from their other films. I was also "Meh" on the noir genre. So Casablanca felt kinda been-there-done-that. However, after taking time to re-think my perspective, I now get it, and am elated. I love discovering what makes a film great.  This noir classic is a quality, ground-breaking, and very politically-complicated, film. It's forbidden love angle makes is a splendid romance. You also can't say enough about Bogey's performance as Rick. Nobody is better at portraying the man-in-control, gaming his surroundings for profit or to stay alive - that's always been his sex appeal. So, "Play it once, Sam, for old times' sake." and embrace this film as the gem it is.

Warner Bros. Pictures Inc.