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Triple HHH · 04-05-2002, 06:55 PM

I know "classtime" is officially over for Casablanca

, but I just wanted to add a couple things.

[quote]Originally posted by Travis Bickle
Why did Ilsa have to go on the plane with Laslo? I know they were sacrificing their love for the greater cause but was it really necessary? To me, she obviously loved Rick more, she could have stayed behind and Laslo still could have gone to Lisbon to continue his work without her.

I remember Ilsa mentioning she couldn't leave Laslo because Laslo loved her so much he'd "be crushed" if Ilsa stayed with Rick. Laslo was fighting the good fight but he also needed inspiration and support from Ilsa, or there wouldn't be anything worth fighting for. I'm not sure if the screenwriters and Michael Curtiz were trying to abide by the code or not, but I tend to think this ending is more satisfying because it certainly would've been too cruel to see Laslo abandoned like that (and would make Ilsa seem more like a [insert unflattering word here]. But the way Casablanca ends, everyone comes out of it looking good rather than bad. It also counterbalances a lot of the films corrupt (Renaut), seedy, and callous (Rick) nature. At the end, Rick is a sentimental guy after all. Renaut is a loyal friend after all. And Ilsa is faithful in the end. If these characters ended the film as wicked individuals, I don't think the audience would've found anything endearing about them.

That Hollywood code you brought up is interesting because I'm trying to think of other films that may have skirted around these rules to address taboo issues like infidelity. And I can't think of any right now, but I thought that things like infidelity have been shown before. Especially with film noir, where the characters are corrupt and twisted to the core sometimes, I would think Hollywood could be a little more lax on the codes at this point (1940s)

I too think Captain Renaut is one big terrible flirt. Look at how he invites Rick on a honeymoon/vacation, at the end of the film, with the betting money that Renaut must pay up to Rick. "This is the start of a beautiful "friendship".

04-05-2002, 06:55 PM	#21 (permalink)
Triple HHH Actor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Governor of California	I know "classtime" is officially over for Casablanca , but I just wanted to add a couple things. [quote]Originally posted by Travis Bickle Why did Ilsa have to go on the plane with Laslo? I know they were sacrificing their love for the greater cause but was it really necessary? To me, she obviously loved Rick more, she could have stayed behind and Laslo still could have gone to Lisbon to continue his work without her. I remember Ilsa mentioning she couldn't leave Laslo because Laslo loved her so much he'd "be crushed" if Ilsa stayed with Rick. Laslo was fighting the good fight but he also needed inspiration and support from Ilsa, or there wouldn't be anything worth fighting for. I'm not sure if the screenwriters and Michael Curtiz were trying to abide by the code or not, but I tend to think this ending is more satisfying because it certainly would've been too cruel to see Laslo abandoned like that (and would make Ilsa seem more like a [insert unflattering word here]. But the way Casablanca ends, everyone comes out of it looking good rather than bad. It also counterbalances a lot of the films corrupt (Renaut), seedy, and callous (Rick) nature. At the end, Rick is a sentimental guy after all. Renaut is a loyal friend after all. And Ilsa is faithful in the end. If these characters ended the film as wicked individuals, I don't think the audience would've found anything endearing about them. That Hollywood code you brought up is interesting because I'm trying to think of other films that may have skirted around these rules to address taboo issues like infidelity. And I can't think of any right now, but I thought that things like infidelity have been shown before. Especially with film noir, where the characters are corrupt and twisted to the core sometimes, I would think Hollywood could be a little more lax on the codes at this point (1940s) I too think Captain Renaut is one big terrible flirt. Look at how he invites Rick on a honeymoon/vacation, at the end of the film, with the betting money that Renaut must pay up to Rick. "This is the start of a beautiful "friendship". __________________ With fronds like these, who needs anemones? Last edited by Triple HHH : 04-05-2002 at 06:59 PM.