Billy Shears
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Joined: 26 Jul 2002
Posts: 3633
Location: St. Louis
Post subject: Casablanca
Posted: 07 Nov 2009 16:15 pm
Watched it again last night. An obvious choice, but one of my all-time favorites. But one thing I've never quite understood is how Rick's deception is able to get Lazlo and Ilsa on the plane. Can anyone give me a concise explanation on how his plan was worked?
One thing I love about Raiders of the Lost Ark (which I saw long before I ever watched Casablanca) is how it pays so much homage to the older movie. Spielberg does the same thing with The Maltese Falcon. A lot of it is subtle, but it's clearly there.
sugaree
Forum User
Joined: 10 Jun 2008
Posts: 544
Location: at the jubilee
Post subject: Re: Casablanca
Posted: 09 Nov 2009 18:16 pm
From Spark Notes (parentheticals are mine):
After Ilsa says she'll never be able to leave Rick a second time, she begs that he help Laszlo escape. As for whether she will go with Laszlo or stay with Rick, she says she doesn't know what's right anymore and tells Rick, "You have to think for both of us." (Big time foreshadowing)
Later that evening, Laszlo claims to know that Rick loves Ilsa and asks for the letters of transit for her sake. Just then the German soldiers burst into Rick's and arrest Laszlo. Rick tells Louis that he plans to use the letters to escape with Ilsa. That afternoon, Rick sells his club to Ferrari. (Not for the reason you think at this point in the film.) That evening, back at Rick's, as he hands the letters to Laszlo, Louis emerges from the shadows to make the arrest. Just as suddenly, Rick pulls out a gun and points it at Louis. He orders Louis to call the airport to make sure that evening's flight to Lisbon will take off as planned. Louis pretends to call the airport, but actually calls Strasser.
At the airport, Rick makes Louis fill in the letters of transit for Mr. and Mrs. Victor Laszlo. Ilsa objects, but Rick says he did the thinking for both of them and decided that for Laszlo to continue doing his work, he needs Ilsa by his side. (Not such a selfish b*stard after all.) Rick tells Laszlo that Ilsa visited him last night and pretended to still love him to get the letters. He knew she was lying, Rick says, because it was over a long time ago.
After goodbyes, the Laszlos board the plane. Just then Strasser arrives. He calls the radio tower to prevent the plane's taking off, but Rick shoots him, and the plane leaves. The French police arrive, and Louis, who has seen everything, orders, "Round up the usual suspects."
