Casablanca

I was able to watch this movie online through blockbuster.com and I thought the quality of the movie was terrible!  The movie's volume was hard to hear even at the highest level.  I did like the story line, the love story of Rick and Ilsa during a time of war.  I just have a had time understanding why this is considered one of the most loved movies?  I found the movie to be quite boring.

The theme of the movie according to The Art of Watching Films, is one of universality.  It is one of lasting interest, one that is meaningful not just to people here and now but to all human beings in all ages.  The story is about a beautiful woman and a mysterious man, about war, responsibility, courage, duty and most of all, about doing the right thing. 

The character Rick chose to do the right thing by losing the one he loves for a second time and helping her to leave with her husband.  I did like this ending, showing the commitment of doing the right thing and helping them escape to America.  I did also enjoy the famous quotes from the movie;  Here's looking at you kid and Go ahead and shoot, you'll do me a favor!

I was not able to view the articles listed for this movie but found out according to http://classicfilm.about.com/od/epicswarmovies/fr/CasablancaRevue.htm  the backstory of the movie:  A big-budget film for its day, Casablanca was shot almost entirely on sound stages and the studio lot. Based on the unproduced play Everybody Comes to Rick’s, the screenwriters essentially made the story up as they went along, and no one knew exactly how it would end – which may have added to the film’s very real suspense and freshness. In fact, the famous last line of the film wasn’t even recorded until three weeks after shooting ended.