Casablanca (Michael Curtiz 1942) The Complexity of Right and Wrong

[nlipton]

An interesting concept or theme I found had an overriding prevalence in Michael Curtiz’s Casablanca was the complexity of right and wrong. On an unrelated note, I also found that the dialogue and actions of Rick Blaine, played by Humphrey Bogart, was incredibly telling regarding my concept choice considering that the script of this movie was written on a day by day basis. Regardless of that fast fact the mysterious and complex character Rick, coupled with Paul Henreid’s Victor Laszlo, showed how honor, justice, morals, self preservation, and those shady gray areas of life can all combine to create a sense of right and wrong.

Setting this film in the WWII era in French Morroco, which sat under the Nazi thumb, I noticed many moments that focused on what it means to be a good solider, American, and human being. Rick, the hard assed and mostly mysterious exiled American, owned a popular saloon. In his establishment all sorts were allowed to gamble, drink, and enjoy themselves regardless of where their loyalty lay. Rick’s constant assertion that he wouldn’t stick his neck out for anyone showed a sense of self preservation that overrides most human emotions. While Rick may have seemed hard or even evil at times because of his no-interference policy, the choice to act that way was simply his desire to stay under the radar to avoid becoming the next man to be dragged off by the police. At the same time though Rick was seen again and again to be one to help those in need, as long as he could do so in a sly manor. These kind actions out weighed his no-interference policy, and created a character that was seen as a good guy.

Honor also played a role in establishing the complexity of human decision making. Rick was a strong character. One who would not drink or socialize with those he felt were not worthy. You could tell he carried a great deal of pride and when the all-important Laszio showed up in his bar he was quick to sit for a drink and show the man his respect, even if it cost him emotional turmoil. Also, in the closing scene Rick’s choice to let his love go and his choice to kill the Nazi showed a quality of honor rare in most people. The choice to let the lover go showed his respect for the sanctity of marriage and the murder of the Nazi showed that while he was an under the radar kind of character he was a willing protector and patriot when it was necessary. In a sense Rick displayed a true code of honor.

Justice and a sense of moral living also played deeply into the movies characters. Rick was unwilling to interviene in most case’s of “justice” even though they may have seemed unjust to those watching the film. When time came though and duty called Rick took justice into his own hands and made sure that the right outcome would be the only outcome. Also, when the Czech rebel Laszlo found that Nazi’s, his sworn enemies, had begun singing songs of German pride in the bar, a French refugee local, he began to sing a song of independence for the French. This action showed a moral code among all else. Damn the consequences in a way, Laszlo would not allow his sense of morality to be suppressed simply because he could face severe consequences. The danger both men face as a consequence of their actions is real, but neither can be swayed due to their sharp sense of justice and a moral code. Which is just another example of their overriding choice to do right, over wrong.

Lastly, one important piece that completes this complex look at right and wrong are the shady gray areas of the film. Lost love, infidelity, murder, corruption, and the tolerance of all of the above played a very interesting role. The shady areas of each characters actions gave a sense that they are doing something “wrong,” but in truth if one is to look deeper into these actions they can all be justified by the elements listed above. The murder Rick commits, an obvious no-no, was necessary and justified if you look at the greater importance of the action. Human condition and emotions combine to create these odd if not “wrong” actions in life, but when thinking about the overall importance of the actions our characters can be seen as people in the “right” when the movie finally comes to an end.

Casablanca is a complex movie, with many themes running throughout, but when thinking in terms of “what was this movie thinking” I must comment on the complexity of the right and wrong thinking in the movie. While many elements in this film seem immoral or down right terrible they aren’t, and can be explained and justified by the larger actions our characters make. This theme runs through all of our lives. We all have moments that look unsavory, we all have moments that could be considered rebellious or down right wrong, but it is the reasons for our actions that set the tone in our lives, and in the end, when this tone has finally been set, then it can be decided if our actions were right or wrong. I believe Casablanca does an amazing job at portraying that side of the human condition.

[jvanhorn]

I agree with the idea that some of Rick’s actions were based on a sense of honor, like when he helps the Bulgarian couple win enough money to buy off Renault, but I don’t think his decision to sit at the table with Laszlo was because he respected the man. I think it was because of who he was sitting with. Rick certainly has some sort of masochistic personality. This is shown when he stays up drinking all night with Sam, forcing himself to listen to a song that brings him pain. This is also evident in the mere fact that Rick remains in Casablanca for as long as he does; a situation that brings him nothing more than trouble. I believe his main intention for joining Laszlo and Ilsa at the table was because she was there, and he had some sort of self-serving scheme to get her back, and was basically scouting out what he was up against.

Even at the end of the movie when he puts Laszlo on the plane in his place, he and Renault both agree that if Rick had gone, there was a good chance of them getting stopped. At this point it could be argued that it was a decision made on morals, but I still think he was acting out of self-preservation. He had just reconnected with the girl he loves and, to spare him the pain of losing her again, doesn’t want to see her captured. Also, he simply doesn’t want to be captured himself, and has realized his best means of escape at that point was on foot.

There may be elements of Rick that are right or good, or decisions he makes to try to reflect these qualities, but on the whole I think he remains pretty self-serving through the film.

[kwallace]

Casablanca presents an interesting view on the creation of one’s moral identity. Throughout the film we see people shifting and altering their beliefs, ultimately molding their truest selves at the end of the film. Captain Renault and Rick are the obvious candidates of this fact. It takes people time to create their own moral compass, as well as an issue that shakes them to the very core. I believe it took Rick until he saw his lost love again to realize his place in the war and to take a stand for it. Where I respectfully disagree with your argument is the notion that Rick sat with Lazlo because he was of utter importance to the Free French. I believe at this point in the film, Rick is still doing this because of Ilsa and the pain she caused him. I feel it was more of an attempt to create discomfort for her, and an opportunity to reassess their situation from a lost romance. Dr. King once said, “I submit to you that if a man hasn't discovered something he will die for, he isn't fit to live.” It takes Rick seemingly years, when Ilsa returns to him, to discover what it is in life is the moral right and what he is willing to stick his neck out for.

[carriaza]

I agree that there is that continual question about what is considered right and wrong. I don't necessarily agree with you on that the characters actions were based on their code of honor. I believe in some of their actions there was no thought to them at all, it was just an act of desperation and emotions took over. If anything, we decided for them what was right and wrong with our own personal perspective. Like Steven said, he didn't personally like Victor when in reality Victor was the "good guy" and I personally did like Victor. I suppose some of their actions reinforced their love for their causes or past lovers but maybe there was no honorable code behind any of them. Like the saying goes, "desperate times call for desperate measures."

[N Dyer]

I agree that Casablanca has many themes running through it and that one of the more prominent ones would be what is considered right and wrong. However I do not feel that the characters acted on honor, although honor did come into play part of the time. Mainly I feel that the characters were about making all the right moves in order to escape Casablanca, and remain free while stuck in the city. Rick claims that he won’t stick his neck out for anyone, a no interference policy that he would occasionally break, under the table of course. He wants to keep an illusion that he is harmless. That was until his old lover walked back into his life at which point his cover is quickly dissolves. Breaking his number one rule he drinks with the couple and without fail the officer notices and comments. Next he helps a couple who were trying to win money through gambling to get passes out of Casablanca. Again the officer notices. At this point I don’t believe that Rick is acting on honor merely on morals that because Llsa has dragged the morals through the gates of Casablanca and back to Ricks attention.

Llsa is another example she acts not on honor but on how best to get her husband and herself out of Casablanca unscathed. And while she realizes that she still loves Rick she respects that she is married to Laszlo. With all of her strength and hopes she tries to remove Laszlo so that he would be able to continue his work, and to continue bringing hope to those who need it. Because she tries so hard, Rick is brought completely back to his morals at which point he decides to do all he can to get the two of them out of Casablanca including shooting a Nazi officer. Overall, the movie comes down to the morals that are checked at the gates to Casablanca, and how slowly they come back to the characters and enables them to act with honor.

[whughes]

Without a doubt Rick Blaine has proven himself to be an honorable man. He seems to be a very sly and secretive character. Yet he seems to pop up whenever he gets the chance in this film. Something that caught my attention was how everyone seemed to know who Rick was. Yet he seemed to spend little time interacting with his guests. Were as some would probably say it would be “wrong” not to get to know your customers. In Rick’s situation I guess it would be the “right” thing to do. If the Nazis were breathing down my shoulder I would probably keep a low profile too. This has allowed Rick to keep his personal beliefs and his background to himself. That is until the beautiful Isla Lund and Victor Laszlo walked through the doors of his saloon.
Something I would have to disagree with you on is his friendship with Victor Laszlo. I believe the main reason he befriended Mr. Laszlo was to get at Isla. He didn’t wave goodbye Victor before take off, he just interacted with the woman he loved. Clearly, their history was something that Rick never forgot about.
So at the end of the movie was love enough to kill a man. Obviously the killing of the Nazi leader was breaking the law and morally wrong. That is where the question of what is right and wrong comes in. I believe that in “Casablanca” a lot of these characters decisions were based off of pure emotion. Not necessarily what was legally right but what felt right to them.