Wednesday, July 19, 2017

"We'll Always Have Paris"

Just watched "Casablanca." Including the great line in this classic scene: "We'll always have Paris."
I've seen "Casablanca" quite a few times before this. Such a classic! Full of lines that people quote all the time. Of course the real line (maybe the most famous one of all) is just "Play it, Sam, play 'As Time Goes By.'" Not "Play it again, Sam." But also: "Round up the usual suspects." And: "I'm shocked, deeply shocked." Not to mention: "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine." Above all: "We'll always have Paris."
We just bought this Blu-Ray disc.

Paris haunts this film. I had forgotten how many Paris images there were in the flashbacks envisioned by Rick (Humphrey Bogart). It's painful to imagine how these scenes must have affected the audience at the time the film was released (1942), the moment when Paris was occupied, war was raging, and freedom was utterly threatened.

In the flashback, Rick recalls his few happy moments in Paris with Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman). Outside a cafe, newspaper headlines stated that Paris was an open city -- that is, undefended. From the room where Rick and Ilsa were meeting, they heard cannons -- the Germans were only 35 miles away, said Rick. Quickly tanks rolled into Paris, circling the Arc de Triomphe.

Ilsa agreed to meet Rick to escape on a train to Marsailles. He waited in a desperate crowd on the station platform in the rain. Sam (Dooley Wilson), the piano player, handed him a note: she wasn't going with him, would never see him again. And the flashback is over; the film returns to Rick's present life in Casablanca.

But almost at the end, when he gives her up so that she can stay with her husband the resistance fighter, Rick says "We'll always have Paris."

6 comments:

Kitchen Riffs said...

I haven't seen this in years. Now I'm dying to see it again -- such a great film. Wonderful post -- thanks.

Unknown said...

Mae, we just returned yesterday from Paris, and like you and Len, we have made several trips over the years to the Ville Lumiere. Each trip to France, especially Paris, has brought so many special moments. I'm sure it's the same way for you, since your wedding was in France. On the last two trips to Paris, we took our sons and daughters-in-law, and I have a feeling that the young lovebirds are also gathering many magic memories in that beautiful setting. It's hard to explain the magic of Paris to anyone who has had negative experiences there, but as for me, it's beyond beautiful, and it's always a wonderful feeling to return. We love the film Casablanca, and whenever it comes on, we think we'll just watch a little of it, and we end up watching it all the way to the end. One of our favorite lines is "Round up the usual suspects..." I read once that Ingrid Bergman was not told in advance of filming the last scene, how it was all going to end. Thanks for your post! I enjoy all of them.

~~louise~~ said...

One of my classic favorites Mae. I think it's wonderful Miriam is taking an interest in the classics too. My grandchildren are arriving tomorrow and boy oh boy do we have a list of catch up movies. Don't forget Breakfast At Tiffany's, one of Tabitha's favorites:)

Thanks for sharing, Mae...hope all is well by you:)

Jeanie said...

One of the best lines ever! But then, Casablanca has a lot of them!

Lisbeth said...

I love Casablanca and have seen it numerous times. So many classic lines! It is really a classic and can be enjoyed today as well, after all these years. Not many films survive their own time. The Paris scenes make it even more romantic.

Mel u said...

I love Casablanca. I get chills during the dueling national anthems scene at Rick's cafe. My favorite Paris film is Noticika starring Greta Garbo, filmed in Paris. It is wonderful, centering on Russians in Paris. I am also very fond of Gigi.