Last night it was another trip to Cineworld in Llandudno, but not for a new movie release but for a classic movie re-release with a chance to see Casablanca on the big screen for the very first time for its 80th Anniversary!
Casablanca is directed by Michael Curtiz and stars Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Peter Lorre and Claude Rains, it’s a film with so many quotes that most people know and one which has been miss-quoted more times than you can imagine!
The movie was released in the USA in November 1942, but here in the UK in January 1943 and it’s set during World War II in Morocco – a viper’s nest of corrupt French police, spies, fleeing émigrés, gamblers and drinkers. It’s the perfect place for weary American expatriate nightclub owner Rick Blaine to hide out. Rick’s Cafe is the gathering place for the good, the bad and the ugly, but he doesn’t care, as long as they spend their money.
One day, of all the bars in all the world, Rick’s long-lost love, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) walks in with her resistance leader husband, Victor (Paul Henreid), and Rick (Humphrey Bogart) is pulled into both a love triangle and a web of political intrigue. Ilsa and Victor need to escape from Casablanca, and Rick may be the only one who can help them.
Many of you will know that I have a passion for classic movies and to be able to see Casablanca on the big screen for its 80th anniversary has been a sheer joy, for me, this is one of those films that I can watch over and over again. It is one of those films that pulls you in right from the start with a stellar cast.
Casablanca was shown in its original 4:3 screen ratio with a mono soundtrack, but having the film shown on a cinema screen with a good sound system really doesn’t distract you from the huge widescreen that it is being projected on.
I don’t think that the screening was the 4K releases, but it certainly seems like it had been remastered as I’ve never seen the film look so good and clear. The black and white looked fresh and sharp, showing off the wonderful 80-year-old cinematography that uses the use of lighting for the mood of the 1940s bar in Morocco.
There are so many memorable moments that we can take away from after seeing Casablanca and many people will know of the track “As Time Goes By” which is the song that Ilsa and Rick share between them for their love in Paris and performed at Rick’s Bar by Sam. Over the years the famous line, “You played it for her, you can play it for me. If she can stand it, I can. Play it!” has been miss-quoted as “Play it again, Sam”, a line which is never said in the film.
I have to say that it’s a shame that not many people turned up for this superb film during last night’s screening, sadly there were only four of us, but hey that’s fewer people to munch on noisy popcorn or slurp loudly with drinks. I have to say that couple that was in the screen with us last night was lovely to chat with before and after the film and they certainly seemed like fellow classic film fans.
If you are a fan of classic movies and Casablanca (80th Anniversary) is showing at a cinema near you, then go see it, this is how a film like this should be seen to appreciate a well-made movie that is certainly a joy to watch from start to finish.
Massive thanks to Cineworld for showing this amazing classic.
You Must remember This...
Movie title: Casablanca (80th Anniversary)
Movie description: A cynical expatriate American cafe owner struggles to decide whether or not to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco.
Date published: December 3, 2022
Country: UK
Duration: 1h 42m
Director(s): Michael Curtiz
Actor(s): Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid,
Genre: Drama, Romance, War
Summary
Casablanca is an all-time classic movie and one that deserves to be watched on the big screen.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
