CASABLANCA SONG BAR MOVIE

(Rick is a constant source of curiosity for Louis throughout the film.) This expression is the first and barest foreshadowing we receive of Louis’s eventual turn. Even the ever-compliant Louis looks on at the singing with an expression that could be construed as disapproval, before glancing toward Rick to see what he’ll do. As Rick and Victor are ending their disagreement, they hear the German soldiers in the bar below, joyfully and triumphantly singing “Die Wacht am Rhein.” The rest of the bar is made up largely of refugees from the German war machine, so the anthem feels almost like taunting, a callous display of German power over people seeking to escape their conquering. Everything kicks into gear, as now Rick, Ilsa, Victor, and Louis are all forced into unpleasant decisions that will push the film toward its climax.Īnd it all begins with the anthems. Strausser uses Ilsa to increase the pressure on Victor. Strausser orders Renault to find a pretense to shut down Rick’s - leading to arguably the film’s best exchange of dialogue.

The uneasy stalemate between Victor Laszlo and Major Strausser can no longer continue in the face of such open defiance of German power. The Germans, led by Major Strausser (Conrad Veidt), have established a de facto control over Casablanca, acting through the openly self-interested French Captain Louis Renault (Claude Rains).Īfter “La Marseillaise,” everything changes. Rick’s refusal is essentially a Nazi victory, despite his careful attempts at framing his (in)actions as simple neutrality. The letters of transit are the only hope of freedom for Victor, and his only chance at returning to his efforts at insurgency against the Nazis Rick knows this, but is still too hurt and bitter that his lost love Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) has chosen Victor over him. Directly preceding this scene, the bar owner Rick (Humphrey Bogart) refuses to give or sell letters of transit to the war hero/revolutionary Victor Laszlo (Paul Heinreid). The scene marks a major turning point in the film. So now, at a time when people are once again turning to “La Marseillaise” for comfort in the face of adversity, I wanted to revisit what makes this scene so powerful.

CASABLANCA SONG BAR MOVIE

For me, it’s always “La Marseillaise” - the dueling anthems between French refugees and their German occupants singing “Die Wacht am Rhein.” I’ve never found a movie scene yet that can match it. Even now, more than 70 years after its 1942 release, few movies have ever produced as many enduring quotes.īut when I think of the film, the first thing that comes to my mind isn’t “Here’s looking at you, kid,” or “We’ll always have Paris,” or the song “As Time Goes By,” or any of the other often best-remembered parts.

You can quibble with its exact rank, but it’s at least undeniable how iconic Casablanca remains. And what with all your firm liquid favourites stocked behind the bar at pocket friendly prices, you wont be breaking the bank by treating your lugholes either.Casablanca is widely remembered as one of the greatest films of all time, coming in at #2 on the AFI’s top 100 list and similarly regarded by many other critics. From their live Wednesday evenings to their Casa Jam night on a Thursday, there's a fun filled air of community where musicians come from far and wide to spread their musical fare across this heralded, if not intimate, stage. Those with a love of live music in Brighton, local jazz and raucous DJ nights will be hard pushed to miss out on an evening at the Casablanca Jazz Club. From their low ceilings and basement stage area to their charmingly shabby style, Casablanca is giving basement clubs a good name thanks to their late night atmosphere and renowned jazz nights. Spread over two floors, a basement and a first floor room, Casablanca Jazz Club is a thoroughly intimate affair. Something of a late night institution in Brighton, Casablanca Jazz Club is a live music lounge just shy of The Lanes known for its raucous party nights, premium Jazz acts and luscious live music.

Casablanca song bar