bam (12/02/82)
I saw Casablanca on TV about three weeks ago and have since gotten into discussions with several people on why it is such a good movie. (I recall that it won the poll taken in this newsgroup a few months back.) Most people queried responded that the acting and the direction were both superb. I agree but there are some movies with at least as good acting and direction which don't fair as well. Most people mention the story or plot also. This seems to strike me as closer to the key. I've always thought that the ending makes Casablanca. Having Bogart and Bergman who are more intensely in love than most mortals will ever be, sacrifice their relationship for the good of society just eats me up. Of course several people told me hogwash. The ending could be completely different and Casablanca would still be great. Well, I wasn't convinced. About a week after these discussions, another thought hit me. Most of us probably saw Casablance for the first, (and next several), time on TV. Maybe Casablanca is so popular because it adapts better to television than most other movies. Is Casablanca the greatest made for TV movie ever? I would love to see comments on this from anyone, especially those tired of the E.T. JC discussion. Let's get this channel moving again. Bruce McLean
trb (12/02/82)
There is quite an interesting documentary study of the making of Casablanca which you can catch on public tv sometime. I have no references for it, perhaps someone could come to my aid. The following is all from vague memory, but is essentially, if not exactly true: One interesting point was that the famous ending of Casablanca was conjured up the day it was filmed, Bogart got arrested in the original (or some other equally unthinkable end). Another interesting point is that Bogart and Bergmann were at each other's throats off the camera (this according to Bergmann and others). I agree, it's one of the very greatest movies, even on TV. Andy Tannenbaum Bell Labs Whippany, NJ (201) 386-6491
port (12/04/82)
The reason Casablanca is so good has nothing to do with it's adaptability to TV. First, the initial 3 times I saw it were on large movie screens. Second, remember that it won an Oscar. The real reason is that Rick (Bogie's character) has emotions that I, for one, can identify with. I've often been confronted with the problem of how to deal with old flames and I feel that I can see my emothions re- flecting across Bogie's face. Perhaps this too is the reason that the Bogart character was so successfully translated years later in Woody Allen's movie/play "Play It Again, Sam".
peschman (12/15/82)
#R:eisx:-45600:uicsovax:4000042:000:741 uicsovax!peschman Dec 15 10:46:00 1982 Casablanca has long been my favorite movie. I have seen it 9 times all togeather (5 on screen, 4 on tv); and I like it just as much every time I see it. It is great for all of the reasons that have been mentioned here! That's what makes it such a wonderful movie: EVERYTHING! The characters, the acting, the direction, the plot, the universality, the intrigue....on and on and on. I think that the reason Casablanca stands out from many other pictures is that everyting is very good. One can't put a finger on simply a single aspect of the movie and say, 'This is why it's great!'. One must consider the picture as a whole and realize that it is very well done in every possible aspect. Tom Peschman (uiucdcs!uicsovax!peschman)