OT: The eight perfectly made films

[BBallF]

I loved Casablanca, but it’s not my favorite Bogart or Bergman movie. My two favorite Bergman films are “Notorious” and “Gaslight”. She is also memorable in “For Whom The Bell Tolls” with Gary Cooper. My favorite Bogart films and I think his best performances are “Sahara” and “The Caine Mutiny”.

He was great in both but won the Academy Award for The African Queen. "I now pronounce you man and wife. Shoot them".

 

[CL82]

I loved Casablanca, but it’s not my favorite Bogart or Bergman movie. My two favorite Bergman films are “Notorious” and “Gaslight”. She is also memorable in “For Whom The Bell Tolls” with Gary Cooper. My favorite Bogart films and I think his best performances are “Sahara” and “The Caine Mutiny”.

The Maltese Falcon, Key Largo and To Have and Have Not are all pretty good as well. The latter two have the advantage of Lauren Bacall as the female lead. She and Bogie have (not surprisingly) amazing chemistry.

 

[BBallF]

I feel as if the movie is pretty clear that Ilsa respects and admires Laszlo. Certainly she loves him but in the passionate romantic way that she loves Rick.

Oh I think they are pretty clear about it. Even before Isla heads sees Rick for the second time it seems like that's the plan. As Ilsa Isla tells Laszlo that she is going to see Rick about the letters she says, “Victor, whatever I do, will you believe that I, that . . .”. His reply, “You don’t even have to say it. I’ll believe.” That seems to imply that if Isla plans to sleep with Rick and Laszlo indicates that he understands. Later Rick says to Laszlo, “She tried everything to get them, and nothing worked. She did her best to convince me that she was still in love with me, but that was all over long ago. For your sake, she pretended it wasn’t, and I let her pretend.” That's a tacit admission that the he slept with Ilsa. I always thought it was kind of a jerk move by Rick. I guess the best possible to spin is that Rick was trying to explain why he changed his mind on the letters of transit and he felt that a tryst was better explanation than confessing their deep and continuing love for each other.

This "psychic" (as they sometimes referred to it) moment by the Epsteins had less to do with the resolving the romantic triangle than ending the movie on a up note. Another ending had Rick being arrested. A noble, but unsatisfying end. The "suspects" ending redeems not only Rick but Renault as well and leaves the viewers to imagine there continuing adventure. It is a brilliant ending.

Like you I love this movie as well. It is outstanding from start to finish and stands up not only to time but to multiple rewatching.

I agree that the sex was implicitly obvious if that is not an oxymoron but apparently there had been some explicit dialogue that was cut. If you remember, after they are done, she is now fully dressed and he says "And then" and she continues with the story. It was obvious they were now back as one. Was it a jerk move to tell Laszlo what happened? You are right, Rick was covering for Ilsa, so that her infidelity would not be thought of later by Laszlo to be for love and passion but rather for the letters. Laszlo knew better though. He knew they loved each other in a way he could never be a part of with her but could not blame either of the two because it had been told to Ilsa that he was dead when they met. He also knew Rick didn't get seduced into giving the letters. He knew it was for the Cause. "Welcome back to the fight. This time I know our side will win". I'm going to have to watch it again tonight now and read even more about it.

 

[Irishfan]

Knute Rockne, all american

 

[CL82]

Knute Rockne, all american

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[CONN78SEJ]

He was great in both but won the Academy Award for The African Queen. "I now pronounce you man and wife. Shoot them".

He was nominated for The Caine Mutiny but lost out to Marlon Brando for On The Waterfront. Caine Mutiny and Waterfront were the big favorites from 1954. Both had multiple nominations.

 

[uconnfan68]

“Taking Chance”, with Kevin Bacon. He’s a Marine officer escorting the body of an enlisted Marine to what he thought was his hometown out west. Turned out the body was going way out of the way. Very touching. Got a little verklempt a lot.