Class:

The History of Narrative Cinema (Film 1102)

Student name:

THOMAS JEMMERSON

Student number: 807000743

ASSIGNMENT: For any of the films studied in class up to week 7, describe what the film says about the larger historical context in which it was made. Film chosen: Michael Curtizs Casablanca (1942).

DATE DUE

27th March 2009

The premiere of migr director Michael Curtizs Casablanca (1942), came one year after the December 7th 1941 (reference) surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and mere weeks after the mass media hype surrounding the Allied invasion of North Africa at the height of World War II (Operation Torch). While the factory like nature of the Hollywood Studio System from which it came meant that the film was one of a large number put out within that same year, it may be argued that Casablancas timely release, combined with its poignant and timeless subject matter, contributed towards establishing its reputation as one of the Classical Studio Eras most important pieces. Set prior to Pearl Harbor, in the then (Vichy) French Moroccan city from which it gains its title, the film comments unequivocally upon the fate of Europeans fleeing the Nazi advance, the United States previous nonchalance in the undeniably global crisis, and acts as an agent of propaganda for the allied efforts in occupied France alluding almost prophetically, that a united global effort, inclusive of the US, against the Germans, would result in their ultimate defeat. The films opening sequence establishes the city of Casablanca as a transient Space, with many desperate European refugees clamoring for the freedom which came with an exit visa and a flight to Lisbon and then The New World, as described by the films narrator. The stampede like exodus of the persecuted as depicted here, is a less than subtle hint of the level of desperation of persecuted Europeans en lieu of the rapid Nazi progression into their territories. By late 1941, Germany and her allies controlled almost all of mainland and Baltic EuropeOn the eastern front, the German Army was at the gates of

Moscow and engaged in a long winter war with the Red Army. (Nazi Germany) Within the chaotic and hopeless environment, Ricks eponymously named caf offered a form of sanctuary to the multiplicity of nationalities, (as there was a certain amount of protection allowed because of his influence), as well as quite literally, the chance of freedom. Refugees, by winning at roulette or other games of chance (and hence earning enough to pay for an exit visa), could escape the Vichy controlled territory. While the cornucopia of citizenships found within Ricks Caf Americain, (as expertly demonstrated by the variety of accents heard in the tracking shot which gives an introduction to its smoke, music and shadow filled interior), is an obvious metaphor for what America represented at the time to European refugees, (including perhaps, the films director, himself a German immigrant (Michael Curtiz ).What is even more striking about this sequence is, what may be taken as commentary about the fate of the average immigrant in their adopted country. A seemingly humorous conversation between a group of presumably Dutch customers and the waiter Carl, (S.Z. Sakall), leads to the revelation that the owner of the largest banking house in Amsterdam is now the pastry chef in the cafs kitchen while his father is the bell boy.

Alluding to the lack of American presence in the Global Conflict that was World War II, the main protagonist of the piece, Humphrey Bogarts Rick, is one of only two United States citizens featured amongst the populus, the other being his significantly less prominent friend Sam, (Dooley Wilson), what is even more interesting, is that while the other characters present, including, a young Bulgarian couple, a Russian bartender, an

implicitly European freedom fighter, Ugarte, (played by the Hungarian-Austrian immigrant actor Peter Lorre), are concerned with the Nazi threat, the overturning of the fascism by proxy that was the Vichy regime, and in fleeing Casablanca, Ricks interests only seemed to lie with remaining neutral and raking in the profits from the illegal gambling which goes on in the cafs private back room. Probably the most telling example of Ricks lack of willingness to get involved happens in the scene where his caf is used as a staging ground for the capture of Ugarte, who is wanted on suspicion of murdering German couriers. Although Rick has prior knowledge of the trap being set and arguably, has enough influence to affect the outcome, he does not. One reading of the leading mans general behaviour leads to a parallel between Ricks concern with finances and the United States concerted efforts to rebuild its economy in Depression era following the stock market crash of 1929 .With its major concern being forging less reliance on the Gold Standard (Stock Market crash of 1929) and the expansion of its liquid assets, heading into war, it may be inferred, was not a concern of then US President Franklin D Roosevelts administration. The US remained neutral and in essence ignored the global nature of the Nazi threat. In the same way, becoming involved in the affairs of fleeing refugees was, at least initially, not high on the list of Ricks priorities, his repetition of the phrase I look out for myself further punctuating this assertion. In addition to this, much like the United States, Rick only becomes involved in the conflict after he is personally affected by it, the arrival of the Czech resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid) and more importantly the Swede Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman), his estranged lover, being the trigger for his emotional turmoil and eventual active participation in their escape. In a similar fashion, the backlash and infamy

of the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor was the trigger that led to US involvement in WW II. The war had reached its shores and the Administrative forces responded by declaring war on The Empire of Japan. (Pearl Harbor Attack) Probably the most obvious example of the film being a propaganda tool for rallying allied efforts in the liberation of France, comes from the duel of the songs which takes place in Ricks caf. The preamble to the virtual battle features a German officer walking into Ricks caf with a French woman, Yvonne (Madeleine Lebeau), on his arm. This leads to an altercation between the Officer and a French Policeman in uniform. Again, this is a fairly obvious (and overtly sexist) representation of the struggle between Germany and France over French territory. The conflict rears its head again as the German Officers led in song by Major Strasser (Conrad Veidt) are confronted in song by Laszlo and the multi national patrons of Caf Americain with their Rendition of La Marsellaise defeating the Germans and figuratively recapturing France as Yvonne tearfully sings along. Beyond the obvious implications of the images and sounds of this sequence is the underlying impetus of American influence. The initial conflict between the German officer and French enforcer is quelled through Ricks intervention. In a similar manner, it is not solely through the will of Victor Laszlo, that the French National Anthem is played. Rick, who is observing in the background, gives the band an approving nod which is their signal to follow the freedom fighters lead. In this manner a motif of impending German defeat due to a united global effort being led by America is propagated throughout the piece. Bearing this in mind, Strassers comment to the Prefect of Police Renault (Claude Rains), regarding the danger of leadership to Germanys stranglehold on Casablanca, after his forces are defeated musically, may be interpreted

as a tongue in cheek reference to the threat American involvement in the war posed to the Third Reich. It was essentially Ricks leadership that led the charge in the caf and the implication here is that it will be the same which leads the allies to victory. This motif is reiterated in the climactic scene of the film as Bogarts character orchestrates Ilsa and Lazlos escape to Lisbon. In the first instance, it is he who holds their proverbial tickets to freedom indicating the hegemonic position of the American and by extension America in the allied war effort. Additionally, it is a coalition between Renault and Blaine that leads to the ultimate defeat of Strasser with the American landing, in a literal sense, the killing blow. This of course is punctuated by Renaults almost comical dumping of the bottle of aptly named Vichy water into a waste bin. Considering the release date of the film, the propagandistic nature of its ending is quite obvious and ultimately prophetic, championing the cause of the alliance and heralding the position of leadership that the United States would take in the war.

While there is truth to the assertion that, the production line nature of the Hollywood Studio System made Michael Curtizs Casablanca, just another one of many released during 1942, it would be fair to say that its subtextual and contextual commentary on World War II was one of the factors which contributed toward its retrospective greatness. In addition to propagating the idea of a triumphant American led alliance, the film, in essence, was an expository piece on the oppressive nature of the Nazi advance through Europe, and in particular what it meant for fleeing refugees, the lack of US involvement in the war and until the period just before the films release, the ruling Administrations disregard for the global scale of the problem.

Bibliography Michael Curtiz The Internet Movie Database. IMDb.com, Inc. 20 March. 2009 < http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002031/ Michael Curtiz> Murray, Williamson. "Operation Torch: Allied Invasion of North Africa."

HistoryNet.com. 2008. Weider History Group. 20 March 2009 < http://www.historynet.com/operation-torch-allied-invasion-of-north-africa.htm >. Nazi Germany. AbsoluteAstronomy.com. AbsoluteAstronomy.com 20 March. 2009 < www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Nazi_Germany -> Pearl Harbor Attack. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc.. 20 March. 2009 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/448005/PearlHarbor> "Stock Market Crash of 1929." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. 20 March. 2009 < http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/566754/stockmarket-crash-of -1929>