Bring on the tough stuff. There’s not just one right answer.
- Nearly the entire film takes place in a single location—Rick's Café. What effect does that decision have on the feel of the story?
- Rick makes a shocking decision at the end of the film not to leave with the woman he loves, even after she's confessed she still loves him. Is he a complete loon? Or did he do the right thing?
- Renault proves himself throughout the film to be an unprincipled, scheming, self-interested character. Why does he soften up at the end and let Rick off the hook for the murder of Major Strasser?
- The song As Time Goes By has obvious sentimental value to both Rick and Ilsa, but is there anything else in those lyrics that should give us some insight into their romance?
- Did Ilsa really still love Rick, or did she just tell him that so he'd save her and Victor…or at least one of them? After all, she did point a gun at the guy. That's usually something you stop doing after a third or fourth date.
- When Victor finds out that there used to be a thing between Rick and Ilsa, he doesn't seem all that bothered by it. Was he just frontin'? Or, if he was bothered, why was he hiding the fact that it bugged him?
- Does the ambiguous ending add or detract from your enjoyment of the film?
- What advantages does the black-and-white format have in this particular film?