First premiering on November 22, 1942, Casablanca is now considered to be one of the greatest Hollywood films of all time. Set during World War II, it tells the story of American Expatriate Rick Blaine as he must choose between either being with Ilsa, the woman who he loves, or helping her Czech Resistance leader husband escape the city of Casablanca and continue to fight against the Nazis. Released nearly a year after the US joined World War II, the film is notable for its social commentary and symbolism.
Casablanca's overall rating on the review site Rotten Tomatoes remains high to this day
Rick Blaine could in many ways be seen as a metaphor for the United States foreign policy of the era. Rick prides himself on neutrality. People around him are fighting and he openly states his intentions to not get involved and to mind his own business. However, it's shown that Rick is not quite as neutral as he says he is. He ran guns to Ethiopia and fought on the loyalist side of the Spanish Civil War. He also chooses to help a Bulgarian couple win enough money to go to America. Similar to Rick, the United States was officially neutral but leaned towards the Allies, doing things such as supplying Britain, the Soviet Union, and China with war material through Lend-Lease, as well as deploying the US military to replace the British invasion forces in Iceland in July 1941.
The romance between Rick and Ilsa is one of the most famous romances in movie history and plays a role in Rick's sympathy towards the Allies.
Another example of Rick's not so neutral position is shown in the beginning of the film when Ugarte appears in Rick's cafe boasting the possession of "letters of transit" as the result of murdering two German couriers. Although Rick is hesitant at first, he agrees to house the letters, knowing the amount of risk he would be placed into, yet aware of the impact the letters could have on a refugee's life. Similar to the United States, Rick doesn't want to be involved but is unable to avoid his sympathetic leanings toward the allies. America's isolationist policies are portrayed as being morally questionable at best while Rick's choice to help people and intervene is portrayed in a positive light. Some might argue that Rick's cafe itself symbolizes America as a country while Rick symbolizes American policies. Refugees from all over the world wait there while trying to make it to the United States. It's a safe haven for those who wish to get away from the vicious war as soon as possible.
Dooley Wilson as Sam, playing the very important piano
Besides the cafe itself, the film is also notable for Sam, the piano player at the cafe, or more specifically, the piano itself. Sam is the one character without any apparent character flaws and numerous people go to the cafe to see him play the piano. The piano symbolizes general moral decency. In a world plagued by a massive war, people find peace in seeing Sam play the piano because it's so elegant and peaceful. The inability to stay neutral is largely related to the idea of general moral decency. The piano is an escape for many people, but it is also proven to have the ability to bring people together. The most famous example is when the German soldiers begin playing the national anthem on the piano only for the rest of the bar patrons to begin singing "La Marseillaise" in a brave act of defiance.
As Casablanca was released while World War II was still very much alive, it was noted for how politically relevant it was. While U.S. foreign policy has certainly changed, it still deals with pertinent themes of interventionism and sacrifice, and provides 21st century viewers a look at life in the early 1940s. The emotional script and engaging performances also add to the entertainment value that continues to this day.
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