Casa Blanca

1. How does the film measure up to your criteria for a good story? What features of successful storytelling does it have or need? How can you account for its enduring popularity?

- This movie was great in my opinion because of it’s great and detailed acting. That brings you into the drama of the love triangle, plus their struggling situations that they must face. It accounts to an an enduring popularity

2. What do you already know about World War II and the political climate of the 1940s? What historical references can you find in the film? What political messages come through?

- I know that the Germans played a big part in this war in huge disastrous ways. Not just at the battlefield, but at home, too. So, did a lot of other countries play a big role in the war. The historical references that were found in the film were the major propaganda of PRO-war. The message is that it is important to get involved in order to help and not plain out give the Germans the chance to take over everything.

3. How are different nationalities and ethnic groups represented in the film? Are any groups notably absent? If so, how might their absence be explained?

- The movie was very detailed of how they were different by their different languages and sitting arrangements. It seemed like there were not as much jewish raced people, that were notably absent. It can be explained because they didn’t want people to get a wrong message in seeing them in the movie in some way.

1. When Rick says, “I stick my neck out for nobody,” Captain Renault calls this “a wise foreign policy.” Later Renault tells Rick, “I suspect that, under that cynical shell, youʼre at heart a sentimentalist.” Ilsa accuses Rick of being self-absorbed.” With so much at stake,” she tells him, “all you think of is your own feeling.” Strasser expresses yet another view: “My impression was that he was just another blundering American.” How do you see Rick Blaine? If your judgment changed during the film, explain when it changed and why.

- At first he seems like he is cruel man at heart that gives no thought to other peoples lives and feelings. But this all changed once he allowed that young couple to get money and thus giving them a great gift to leave to America and be happier. From there on you can start to feel his caring side, especially the feelings towards IIsa.

5. When Ilsa arrives at Rickʼs Cafe Americain, she brings the past with her. How much of the past can you reconstruct from references in the film? What do you learn about Rick and Ilsa in Paris and about Rickʼs earlier life? How does this knowledge help to explain what happens in the film?

- When she arrives at Rick’s cafe she brings a lot of her past because of the fact of the matter of who she is. And how Rick never can stop thinking about her and what happened that night he got stud up and never had seen her. Until that moment with her existing and living husband. he could never not stop thinking of her, but her presence only brought all of the happy feelings and adventures with her. This shapes up the whole movie because of their dwelling and tangled love triangle that they have going on throughout the whole movie.

6. Explore some of the other relationships in Casablanca. What kind of marriage do Ilsa and Laszlo have? How well do Renault and Strasser share the power? What is the basis for Rickʼs association with Renault? Describe the bond between Rick and Sam.

• IIsa and Laszlo have a pretty good relationship between each other. They seem like they love each other and they have great respect towards each other.

7. Contemporary viewers often notice the quantities of alcohol and tobacco consumed in the movie. Compare the use of these products on film in the forties to todayʼs films. What accounts for the differences you find?

- These products are not used not at all. Unless it is specifically dealing with some kind of hard character and characteristics of the movies whole over view. Now a days it is frowned up, especially if it is a twisted love story.

1. At the end of the movie, Rick turns to Renault, saying, “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” What do you think he means? What would you expect to see in a sequel to the movie?

- I think that by this point they can have each others back, when it comes to situations that matter to each other. In a sequel of this movie, I would be expecting to see Rick still working at his Cafe and Renault being chief of the police department. Together running an under cover agency that deals with situations like the ones Rick helped out on.