Casablanca isn't just about love—it embodies it. Think of any aspect of a romance you could possibly hope to see in a movie. Requited love. Unrequited love. Budding romance. Loyalty to one's husband. A passionate courtship in Paris. Betrayal. Forgiveness. Drawn weapons. It's all here, baby.
But then there's that one little thing that you can never guarantee—chemistry. Fortunately for all of us, Bogie and Bergman had it in spades. We can totally believe that these two were in love once, and we totally don't buy it when they act like that's all water under the Eiffel Tower.
Questions about Love
- Ilsa claims to love two men at the same time. Is such a thing possible, or is she lying to someone here, maybe even herself?
- People around here have some awfully strong feelings about their country or, in Strasser's case, about the Third Reich. Can we qualify such feelings as "love," or is it something different?
- Rick changes his mind toward the end of the film and decides to let Ilsa leave on the plane. Is it because he doesn't love her enough to fight for her to stay, or because he loves her more than he loves himself?
- At one point, Renault claims that, if he were a woman, he might love Rick. Is that just an offhand remark about their bromance, or does Rick give him that lovin' feelin'?
Chew on This
Rick's greatest expression of love is putting Ilsa on that plane with Victor.
Rick and Ilsa met in Paris, the most romantic city on Earth. It was really just a fling, and Ilsa was caught up in the moment—she never really loved Rick.