As discussed in my previous entry on this list, No. 8: All About Eve (Mankiewicz), I have made a conscious decision to eschew what might be called, "show offy" or "artsy fartsy" picks for my ballot. Still, sitting here today, and getting further through my list, I am getting just the teensiest bit worried that my ballot is boring, too traditional.
Whatever. How can I say no to Casablanca, perhaps the finest distillation of Hollywood commerce and American art ever produced? Plus, like many of my other ballot choices the script is fantastic and infinitely quotable. And, the perfect Ms Ingrid Bergman is in it. This also allows me to finish including all three of my personal, "Holy Trinity" of movie stars: Barbara Stanwyck, Bette Davis, And Ms Bergman.
It is a miracle Casablanca was finished, at all, much less turn out a Masterpiece. There was so much meddling by the producers, the script was constantly doctored, and the actors themselves had no idea how the film would end until right up to shooting. But the Epstein Brothers, Julius and Phillip, somehow navigated every hair pin turn with their script, and got the thing brilliantly home at the finish line, apparently dreaming up the famous, "Round up the usual suspects," line simultaneously whilst driving to the lot. (The "beautiful friendship" line is believed to have been written by producer, Hal Wallis, and was dubbed by Bogart after the film had been wrapped.)
(It is a bit corny, and dated, but the Lauren Bacall hosted, making of documentary, You Must Remember This, is essential viewing for Casablanca zealots.)
We have to give due credit to director, Michael Curtiz, as well. Generally, whenever a bunch of old Hollywood studio types get together and talk about Curtiz, they can not seem to get past Curtiz' accent (he was born in Budapest) and his halting English. Curtiz is woefully under rated as a director, still. Curtiz did a masterful job of holding Casablanca together, too, and with cinematographer, Arthur Edeson, created a superb world of shadows and light that was perfect for the story and Bogart and Bergman's romance.
Honorable Mention, Michael Curtiz division: Captain Blood, Angels With Dirty Faces, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Sea Hawk, and Mildred Pierce.
Top Seven moments, quotes, from Casablanca:
1. The La Marseillaise sequence, naturally. I still crank the sound up when this plays and still get goose bumps.
2. "I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!" followed by, "Your winnings, Sir." This quote is a staple now for every single political blog in existence.
3. The almost one-hundred per cent European cast, including Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Peter Lorre, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Madeleine LeBeau, and the marvelous Marcel Dalio (star of two of Renoir's masterpieces: The Rules of the Game and Grand Illusion.) Dalio and LeBeau, both French, were briefly married.
4. The fact that this film and Bogart's legend have inspired two other v good films that I treasure: Play It Again Sam and Looking for Eric.
5. Ingrid Bergman's perfectly sculpted, exquisite, magical face.
6. "Are my eyes really brown?"
7. The sure-fire crowd applause moment that always happens right after "Round up the usual suspects."
Honorable Mention, Ingrid Bergman division: Under Capricorn, Notorious, Walpurgis Night, Swedenhielms Family, Intermezzo, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Gaslight, Spellbound, Stromboli, Indiscreet, Murder on the Orient Express, and Autumn Sonata. Despite being essentially blacklisted from working in Hollywood at the peak of her career, Ms Bergman still managed to be nominated for seven Oscars and won three. (Gaslight, Anastasia, and Murder on the Orient Express.)
All my love,
Ardent
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