It is no magic trick that enables the astute Warner Brothers to present their picture, Casablanca, practically on the heels of the landing of United States forces in North Africa. It was simply farsighted showmanship that led them — six or seven months ago — to seize upon a stirring spy story with all the ingredients of audience interest in wartime. The picture was produced, cut, edited, and filed away for future release. Suddenly the march of world events made Casablanca a front-page title, and now Warners have a terrific and timely hit on their hands.

Casablanca concerns the refugee problem in French Morocco — the frantic efforts of an unending stream of Europeans to secure visas through influence, guile, the black market, or whatever means so that they can get to Lisbon and the Americas. It concerns, in particular, the adventures of one Rick, picturesque proprietor of the café which is the center of life in Casablanca. Here gather the refugees waiting for their visas, the hopeful and the helpless. There are French colonials, including the debonair prefect of police who suspects that Rick is not as neutral as he seems; officers of the Third Reich tracking down the escaping Free French; and a mysterious new couple, Victor Laszlo and his lovely wife Ilsa (Paul Henreid and Ingrid Bergman). The Nazis' attention focuses on Laszlo, escaped from a concentration camp and important to the underground movement. Rick's interest centers on Ilsa, whom he had known and loved in Paris before the invasion. Though their romance revives, he helps her and her husband to escape. Then with Captain Renault he stages a daring departure himself to join the Free French.

An exciting show, colorfully staged and extraordinarily well acted. Humphrey Bogart makes Rick a credible character. The Bogart trade-mark of smoldering inscrutability is still stamped on his work, but he unbends enough in Casablanca to provide some richly human moments. Especially when Miss Bergman is sharing his scenes. Her Ilsa is a heroine to remember. Claude Rains as the jaunty Captain Renault, Paul Henreid as Laszlo, Conrad Veidt, Dooley Wilson, and Peter Lorre in supporting roles round out an excellent cast.

Publication Date: January 2, 1943