Casablanca Critique

Lighting is used very effectively with contrast and saturation (opaques/hues) throughout the film, from the angelic glow on Ilsa Lund Laszlo, to Rick Blaine's dark lighting used to emphasize his alcohol consumption. The spot lights can also be seen on the walls of the club as the Gestapo run about in the city. Creating a mood of uncomfortness and abandonment.

Music is nostalgic, especially when Sam, the piano player, begins to play "As Time Goes By", and Rick frantically comes and tells him to never play that song, which is when he realizes that he was playing the song for his old love, Ilsa.

Besides the European stereotypes, there were four characters who were not considered to be among the majority European population, Rick Blaine, Ilsa Lund Laszlo, Victor Laszlo and Sam. Although he was African-American, and the U.S was going through a segregation struggle, the emphasis was on the German Nazis. They were considered or perceived as being arrogant. While the four U.S citizens were the perfect person to be or be known as.

The overall structure is definitely a tragedy. The tragedy falls on Rick. Being an exile of the U.S, he has only his night club to show for what he has done over the years. He says Fighting in the war, for his country, did not do him any good. He decides to stay in Africa and outcast himself from the U.S. This in part allows him to open up his very own club. Everyone, including refugees to Nazis, were seen at "Rick's Cafe Americaine." Although it was hard to get answers at the Cafй, it was sure the spot to be seen at.

This film served as WWII propaganda by defamizing the Nazis. The French were obviously seen as cowards and arrogant. The Germans were shown as cold blooded, annihilating anything that was in their way to being the top pillar in society throughout the world.