Goldberg casablanca

To pick the film Casablanca's intended direction between romanticism and political expedience, would suggest one didn’t see the film, for both are present. There is an underlined political statement masked my romanticism. Who does not like a good love story? And has love ever not been the best mask of all? People had to be drawn to the film somehow. If Casablanca had been seen as just a radical film based around present political issues, chances are the box office’s numbers would dwindle in comparison. So how do you romanticize a radically political film? By selling Humphrey Bogart romantically of course, that would automatically draw a crowd.

So what big ideological issue was defined in this film? The movie creates the idea that there is something bigger than “three little people.” The "three little" people being Germany, Japan, and Italy, who formed an alliance creating the major axis of power. The film wanted to exemplify something bigger than the war itself. The films message showed though there were many issues at hand, we had to pull together. Yes, we were at war with Nazi progressions, because in 1935-1939 Adolf Hitler invaded Poland. No, Wilson did not want to get involved because most American's roots were in Europe, but he had no choice. There had been too many outward attacks inflicted on U.S. naval ships. But what were we fighting for? Was it actually the progression of the Nazi regime? Troops were coming back asking that very question. So the idea to the message was propagating, or conserving American value. That was the underlined political side of the film.

The love story is based around two characters Rick and Elsa. This side to the film was introduced in the second thread. This showed that Rick the main character, was able to be permeated, and was not just a cold businessman. The love was the first insight we had to his collapse of his stern demeanor. We now know that since he is able to love, he is able to be passionate. The film camouflages patriotism with love. The viewer is always wondering is Rick really leaving to be with Elsa or is he going to stay? He has to maintain an image of egocentricity in order to get Elsa, his heart in terms of young love, safely away from his passions he adapted with age for civility. He has inner-turmoil between the love he once knew and the love he came to know. So he protects the love he knew by sending it away and keeping it as a memory; saying, “we’ll always have Paris.” He can protect the love he has internally, but he can’t have an Achilles heal. In fact Rick exuberates so much passion at the end of the film, that he effortlessly alters the most cynical character in the film, Captain Louis Renault, to his fellow companion on his newfound mission. Louis was jaded and disheartened with right and wrong, but when he saw Rick rise about, it inspired Louis to follow in his footsteps. The film ends with Rick saying to Louis, “This isthe beginning of a beautiful friendship,” as both characters walk off into the fog; fog being symbolic of doing the right thing.