Casablanca: Film Review
CASABLANCA FILM REVIEW 1. How did the practical constraints imposed by World War II affect this movie? (Give 2 examples.)
Hollywood shifted from an outspoken denial of any overt promotion of the U.S. involvement in the war to an active on-screen support of that involvement. The cast was very international, of all the principle and supporting actors in the film came from Europe, only Humphrey Bogart and Dooley Wilson were born and raised in America. The rest of the actors either cam to U.S. for work or as refugees from the Nazis. By using characters of different ethnic races from other countries allowed the film to give it more of a historical accuracy. Other war time limitations were that of Ingrid’s fashions. They wanted to give her a look that was quite different. Fashions were simple and clean. There was very little outdoor filming due to high costs and a larger concern that the film could reveal important landmarks for the opposition to bomb. Most of the filming was down in soundstages, or on the Warner Brothers lot. Warner Brothers had to use models instead of the real thing, for example in the last scene where they are at the airport, the plane in this scene is actually a model and they skillfully used midgets to make the plane to appear bigger. Also Hollywood accommodated the war effort by having stars sell bonds or provide publicity photos with service man. They even built a canteen for the serviceman to go to so that the stars would serve them their coffee and donuts. Warner Brothers also produced some six hundred training and propaganda films under the supervision of Owen Crump.
2. What message does the film send about neutrality and America’s role in the war?
Casablanca was used as a propaganda vehicle which was designed to support U.S. participation in the Allied Forces’ struggle for global justice and democracy at a time when most Americans believed that U.S. foreign policy should have promoted isolationism and neutrality.
Hollywood shifted from an outspoken denial of any overt promotion of the U.S. involvement in the war to an active on-screen support of that involvement. The cast was very international, of all the principle and supporting actors in the film came from Europe, only Humphrey Bogart and Dooley Wilson were born and raised in America. The rest of the actors either cam to U.S. for work or as refugees from the Nazis. By using characters of different ethnic races from other countries allowed the film to give it more of a historical accuracy. Other war time limitations were that of Ingrid’s fashions. They wanted to give her a look that was quite different. Fashions were simple and clean. There was very little outdoor filming due to high costs and a larger concern that the film could reveal important landmarks for the opposition to bomb. Most of the filming was down in soundstages, or on the Warner Brothers lot. Warner Brothers had to use models instead of the real thing, for example in the last scene where they are at the airport, the plane in this scene is actually a model and they skillfully used midgets to make the plane to appear bigger. Also Hollywood accommodated the war effort by having stars sell bonds or provide publicity photos with service man. They even built a canteen for the serviceman to go to so that the stars would serve them their coffee and donuts. Warner Brothers also produced some six hundred training and propaganda films under the supervision of Owen Crump.
2. What message does the film send about neutrality and America’s role in the war?
Casablanca was used as a propaganda vehicle which was designed to support U.S. participation in the Allied Forces’ struggle for global justice and democracy at a time when most Americans believed that U.S. foreign policy should have promoted isolationism and neutrality.