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Film Studies > Casablanca > Flashcards

Casablanca Flashcards

1
Q

Who directed Casablanca and when was it released?

A

Michael Curtiz in 1942.

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2
Q

The use of the searchlight?

A

Searchlight random = key moments

light and shadow = Rick in despair after meeting with Isla again.

The searchlight illustrates the uncertainty of war.

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3
Q

What does the medium to head shot of Rick Isla and Lazlo portray?

A

Trapped
Vulnerable
Doesn’t have a choice in whether she’s stays with Lazlo.

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4
Q

What does the long shot of Rick and Lazlo either side of Isla wiping her tears portray?

Isla wiping away her tears

A

Rick = letting Isla go. ~ idealist = propaganda - change view of American people. It shows him and selfless and strong.

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5
Q

What does the lighting portray about the Rick and Lazlo?

A

Lazlo = high key lighting
FE 🗣Rick in office. L = special beam of light on him.
FE Isla spoke of L light flashed on her = freedom, strong powerful.

Rick noir lighting (one side bright other dark) = weary mind at war.
R = metaphor 🇺🇸 joining war.
Rick shoots Major Strasser faces is completely bright.

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6
Q

How does cinematography portray Rick and Lazlo?

A

Lazlo appears taller Rick (shot reverse shot). Rick = powerless ➕ vulnerable = personal sacrifice ➡️ greater good.

Lazlo position of power.

Lazlo ➕ Rick = same height

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7
Q

What is different between this classic film and others?

A

Rick main character doesn’t win Isla, instead he gives her up for the greater good.

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8
Q

What does the iconic quote “here’s looking at you kid” - Rick portray as gender representation?

A

Noun kid - patronising = Rick to save her.

If = my love.

Rick = 🇺🇸 = powerful, strong. - audience know it’s for the greater good to join.

Isla = Europe = vulnerable, scared and powerless.

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9
Q

Gender representation?

A

Propaganda = America looks good.

Rick = metaphor - America = powerful strong when joins the fight. Before (noir lighting) creates a weary mind.

Isla = Europe - vulnerable and needs help. 
Lazlo = Europe's resistance & needs help.
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10
Q

Does the time period have anything to do with the representation of Isla?

A

Yes = 1942 + propaganda ➡️ change mind - 🇺🇸 = good idea.

Isla = powerless, vulnerable and scared y = Europe.
If not powerful ➕ strong = not have the same effect on viewers.

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11
Q

Why is the editing unknown for this period?

A

As its so fast pace you clips fly past, creates the scene of urgency and danger.

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12
Q

The use of diegetic sound when Major Strasser is driving in the car?

A

Horn creates a faster rapid pace a sense of urgency. This added with the non diegetic music tone drop in music amplifies the effect on the audience.

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13
Q

Why isn’t Isla a strong character?

A

Isla = Europe.
Period = vulnerable time.
Therefore it wouldn’t be authentic for her to be powerful.

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14
Q

What type of lighting (cinematography) is always shone on Rick and what does it convey?

A

Noir lighting (half face bright other dark)

Conveys a mood of war and shows Ricks spilt self.

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15
Q

What angle is Isla mainly shot from and what filters are use?

A

Left side

Gause filter ➕ soft lighting.

Soft ➕ give I’s 👀 a sparkle - sadness ➕ tenderness

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16
Q

Mise en scene?

A

Exotic locations = romantic ➕ glamours feel

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17
Q

What does Paris evoke for Rick and Isla?

A

Paris = romance ➕ nostalgia

Simpler times before Nazi Germany occupied France.

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18
Q

Final sequence at the airport?

A

Shot in a studio lot

Cardboard cut of an aeroplane - in the background ~ magnets for mechanics.

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19
Q

The use of miniatures in the background?

A

Foregrounds creates a forced perspective

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20
Q

The use of editing adheres too?

A

Rules of Classical Hollywood continuity editing.

But the pace is new for this time period = uncertainty of war.

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21
Q

Sound it “it had to be you” key motif through out the film composed by Max Steiner creates?

A

Score based on popular Broadway song.

Used key moments to remind us of Rick ➕ Isla’s ❤️

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22
Q

When does the orchestral score of “it had to be you” ?

A

Paris flash back scene

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23
Q

The recurrent motifs use of music “As time goes by” why does it appear?

A

Key moments - remind us of R ➕ I ❤️

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24
Q

What does Rick represent?

A

US Foreign Policy

Tough ➕ cynical

1st Rick = isolationist ➕ neutral stance
“I stick my neck out for nobody”

Shifts = self - sacrificing ➕ willingness = join war effort + allied forces.
“This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship”

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25
Q

What were most of the supporting cast?

                               ➕

What were they portraying in the film?

A

Refugees from Europe

Michael Curtiz = Hungarian Jew

In film refugees in Europe wanting to get to America

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26
Q

The aesthetics of the film?

(Look ➕ feel)

A

Romantic longing = smoky bars, exotic location, foggy runway + wartime costumes = classic look to the film.

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27
Q

What does the blinds on Isla face represent when she’s waiting for Rick to arrive and say he has the papers?

A

The blinds look like prison bars on her face representing that she’s trapped

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28
Q

What are the combining elements of the film?

A

Film noir
Expressionism
Melodrama
Documentary

29
Q

How did Warner’s tight budget policy reflect in the films aesthetics?

A

Low key lighting ➕ fog = disguise cheap sets - final scene with the aercraft hangar.

30
Q

Political?

A

Casablanca = 4 days leading up Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour = 7th December 1941.

Attack = America join the WW2

Rick = foreign policy isolationist to intervention

Film = propaganda film - get support from the American people that it’s good to join the war.

31
Q

Institutional?

A

Warner was 1 of ‘Big Five’

Controlled production, distribution ➕ exhibition of their films.

During 1940’s Warner known for tough detective thrillers (film noirs) ➕ melodramas

32
Q

What is Casablanca a result from? Who worked on it?

A

D = Michael Curtiz
Cinematographer Arthur Edeson
Composer Max Steiner

Curtiz = respected ‘journey man’ studio era he could do a variety of genres.

Curtiz attention to detail ➕ rapid pace

33
Q

What does Humphrey Bogart (Rick) reflect in the studio style?

A

Playing a tough detective figure + cynical.

Casablanca established Bogart as a romantic lead.

34
Q

What was the home of the American Film Industry?

A

Hollywood studio system - factory

No longer though moved out of Hollywood into suburbs of LA = cheaper

Unbelievably - now one of the poorest districts of the US

35
Q

What does the term “studio system” refer too?

A

Used in Golden Age of Hollywood

36
Q

How did the studio system work?

A

“Big five “ = 1. MGM
2. Paramount Pictures
3. Warner Brothers
4. 20th Century Fox
5. RKO
= main producers ➕ distributes of films ➕ substantial theatre chains ➕ contracting - performers ➕ filmmakers (actors ➕ actress were owned by the company they could only work with that company. (combining ownership)

37
Q

Studios had control of?

A

Production
Distribution - states ➕ world
Exhibition - 2000 cinemas = owned

38
Q

What was a threat to the studio system?

A

Independent cinemas favour non - Hollywood films = threatened business.

39
Q

How did Hollywood make sure that independent cinemas wouldn’t be a threat?

A

Block booking - selling a package of films “all or nothing basis”

Blind Bidding - not seeing the film therefore not knowing the success rate.

Run zone clearance system - cities 1st then trickle down to smaller areas ➕ towns.

40
Q

Positives of the studio system?

A

✅ studios = money
✅ profits for new props
✅ guaranteed sales - using well known actors ➕ actresses. Having the cinemas pay for multiple films and not know what they’re

41
Q

Negatives of studio system?

A

❎ cinemas having no control over what they buy ➕ show
❎ independent films being moved out
❎ lack of imagination ➕ standard lacking
❎ not knowing what you’re watching
❎ competition saturated
❎ actors + actress being owned by a company, no control over the roles they play
❎ lack of variety
❎ soulless films

42
Q

What was the Paramount decree?

A

1948 = Paramount decree - legal ruling = system deemed operating illegally.
Vertically integrated studios (Big 5) = had to sell their cinemas.
Studios could no longer own them (US = not anymore but in GB = do ➕ other countries.

43
Q

What added to the decline of cinemas?

A

Arrival TV = social sense

Introduction 1950’s = increase dramatically. 1st few homes ~ whole world

New form of convenient entertainment changed - habits of cinema audience

44
Q

Why did the studio system have a negative effect on the film industry?

A

Bad for independent producers - difficult to sell theirs

Budget low quality films

45
Q

Casablanca quotes have been voted some of the most memorable film quotations of all time, what are they?

A

“Play it, Sam”

“We’ll always have Paris”

“I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship”.

46
Q

When was Casablanca first screened in New York?

A

26th November 1942

47
Q

The release on 26th November 1942 in New York coincides with?

A

Allied invasion - North Africa ➕ capturing of Casablanca

48
Q

When was the wide release?

A

23 January 1943 during the high profile meeting of Churchill ➕ Roosevelt in Casablanca

49
Q

What was the reception of the films?

A

Good critically

50
Q

What awards have Casablanca won?

A

Nominated for 8 Academy Awards 3 won

Awards for best picture, directing ➕ writing: adapted screenplay

‘As time goes by’ became a hit

51
Q

Who are the Vichy government?

A

Vichy (1940-1944)

🇫🇷 gov ➡️ “power agreement”. With 🇩🇪

🇫🇷 pay costs of German troops in the country

➕ German army could arrest who they wanted.

52
Q

What is featured during the flash back to France?

A

Nazi’s marching through Paris - forcing Sam and Rick to leave.

53
Q

What was the result of the vice government who were respectful and loyal to the Germans?

A

The French people joining the resistance

54
Q

What are The Resistance?

A

Name = French Nationals fighting against oppression ➕ suffering from Vichy Gov ➕ Nazi’s

Who carried out information ➕ missions

55
Q

What is Victor Laszlo?

A

An important figure in the resistance movement (Czech National).

Isla’s role is supporting Laszlo

56
Q

Who, when, why? Nazi Party

A

Nazi party 1920-1945

Eradication Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, mentally ill , physically ill, communists (anyone who doesn’t agree with them)

Believed Aryan race ‘Master race’

Major Strasser represents Nazi party in Casablanca

57
Q

What was Casablanca used for in WW2?

A

The place of displaced people going to America.

58
Q

What is Casablanca essential to the narrative?

A

Casablanca connection to France
Geographical distance Vichy France ➕ resistance ➕ Nazi party behaviour in ways not have been possible
Co-exist = tensions ➕ dangers

59
Q

The opening sequence

what cinematography device?

A

Graphic match history and location

60
Q

Mise en scene ➕ sound introduce customers into Ricks bar?

A

Lighting - entrance
Searchlight travelling across the frame
Diegetic piano ➕ singing from Sam

61
Q

How is lighting used for symbolic effect when Renault and Rick are in Rick’s office?

A

Oppression of the Germans as the high key lighting casts an over casting shadow of Strasser

62
Q

What does the singing of Les Marseillais in the bar symbolise?

A

Sung by resistance fighters when captured

Laszlo uses it to drown out the Nazi’s singing Da Vach an rime.
Laszlo’s = louder symbolic drowning them out

63
Q

Who is the leading man?

A

Rick Blare

Played by Humphrey Bogart

64
Q

Who is love interest?

A

Isla Lund

Played by Ingrid Bergman

65
Q

The resistance fighter!

A

Victor Lazlo

Played by Paul Henreid

66
Q

Who’s the Vichy policeman called?

A

Renault

67
Q

Who plays the piano!

A

Sam

68
Q

The German one?

A

Major Strasser

Film Studies (13 decks)

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