Rick’s Casino is “home base”—an island of light and pleasure-seeking in a world torn apart by war. Wanderers without stable families and reliable love make do with music and drink.

Rick’s Casino is “home base”—an island of light and pleasure-seeking in a world torn apart by war. Wanderers without stable families and reliable love make do with music and drink.

The singer is bathed in light and radiates a kind of joy. Music reminds people of a better world. . .

The singer is bathed in light and radiates a kind of joy. Music reminds people of a better world. . .

Rick begins the movie tough and disillusioned. Yvonne: Will I see you tonight? Rick: I never make plans that far ahead.

Rick begins the movie tough and disillusioned.

Yvonne: Will I see you tonight?

Rick: I never make plans that far ahead.

The planes overhead in the dark night remind us that Casablanca is a small and vulnerable place in a big and dangerous world. America is safer, but it’s a long, long way away.

The planes overhead in the dark night remind us that Casablanca is a small and vulnerable place in a big and dangerous world. America is safer, but it’s a long, long way away.

Rick: I stick my neck out for nobody. The sudden arrest and execution of an acquaintance brings home how dangerous things are.

Rick: I stick my neck out for nobody.

The sudden arrest and execution of an acquaintance brings home how dangerous things are.

Laslow is a great man, his mind on big and important affairs. Does he miss some of the more personal drama going on around him?

Laslow is a great man, his mind on big and important affairs. Does he miss some of the more personal drama going on around him?

The Nazis have a kind of power. Laslow has another kind. Which figure seems most powerful in the following photo?

The Nazis have a kind of power. Laslow has another kind. Which figure seems most powerful in the following photo?

Rick: Sam, I thought I told you never to play . . .

Rick: Sam, I thought I told you never to play . . .

The two important men in Ilsa’s life come into the same frame, separated by Renault and by talk of the Nazis.

The two important men in Ilsa’s life come into the same frame, separated by Renault and by talk of the Nazis.

The dark night of the soul. Shadows, booze, memories of what was and despair of what might be. . .

The dark night of the soul. Shadows, booze, memories of what was and despair of what might be. . .

The flashback begins with a closeup in the present of the character whose memory we enter. It ends by returning to another closeup of that character, again in the present.

The flashback begins with a closeup in the present of the character whose memory we enter. It ends by returning to another closeup of that character, again in the present.

Was that cannon fire or is it my heart pounding?

Was that cannon fire or is it my heart pounding?

The words dissolve in the rain, like Rick’s hope for the future

The words dissolve in the rain, like Rick’s hope for the future

Ilsa appears in the dark tavern, bathed in white light. She appears pure, honest, and radiant, like an angel.

Ilsa appears in the dark tavern, bathed in white light. She appears pure, honest, and radiant, like an angel.

Rick says he looks out only for himself. But sometimes his actions say something else.

Rick says he looks out only for himself. But sometimes his actions say something else.

Dueling anthems. The German National Anthem is drowned out by the French National Anthem. Laslow is leading an insurrection.

Dueling anthems. The German National Anthem is drowned out by the French National Anthem. Laslow is leading an insurrection.

Laslow understands Ilsa has been unfaithful. He forgives her, loves her, and continues in the important work.

Laslow understands Ilsa has been unfaithful. He forgives her, loves her, and continues in the important work.

Go ahead and shoot. You'll be doing me a favor. Rick looks at someone pulling a gun on him with interest. He does not seem caught up in this world’s concerns.

Go ahead and shoot. You'll be doing me a favor.

Rick looks at someone pulling a gun on him with interest. He does not seem caught up in this world’s concerns.

It's still a story without an ending You have to think for both of us. For all of us. All right, I will. Here's looking at you, kid.

It's still a story without an ending

You have to think for both of us. For all of us.

All right, I will. Here's looking at you, kid.

Do you know how you sound, Mr. Blaine? Like a man who's trying to convince himself of something he doesn't believe in his heart.

Do you know how you sound, Mr. Blaine? Like a man who's trying to convince himself of something he doesn't believe in his heart.

Finally, they see each other clearly.

Finally, they see each other clearly.

Here’s looking at you, kid.

Here’s looking at you, kid.

Two strong men. One beautiful woman.

Two strong men. One beautiful woman.

Good-bye, Rick. God Bless You.

Good-bye, Rick. God Bless You.

Now he faces the world alone, but no longer disillusioned or hiding. He can do what needs to be done.

Now he faces the world alone, but no longer disillusioned or hiding. He can do what needs to be done.

He’s haloed by the airport lights, watching what matters most escape Casablanca, heading toward some safety.

He’s haloed by the airport lights, watching what matters most escape Casablanca, heading toward some safety.

It’s dark and foggy. But two men have found a momentary refuge in seeing the nobility in each that hasn’t been snuffed out. The world will go on and evil will not triumph.

It’s dark and foggy. But two men have found a momentary refuge in seeing the nobility in each that hasn’t been snuffed out. The world will go on and evil will not triumph.