Before watching <i>Casablanca</i>, I had always assumed that the film was a typical love story. However, the film proved to be anything but that. There was so much more to the film than the love story between Rick Blaine, played by Humphrey Bogart, and Ilsa Lund, played by Ingrid Bergman. While the plot of the film does transcend a typical love story, it also seemed to place a fair amount of importance on what we’ll do for the people we care about.
What surprised me most was Sam’s loyalty to Rick. Sam refuses a better paying job, making a joke about not having time to spend the money he makes now. Sam also stays with Rick after the club closes the night Ilsa returns. This scene reflects how much Sam cares about Rick and his wellbeing. Rick is, for all intents and purposes, a mess after seeing Ilsa and hearing Sam play “As Time Goes By” for her. Demanding that Sam play the song for him, Rick reveals that he is still in love with Ilsa or at the very least still cares for her. This is demonstrated through Rick’s reluctant agreement to help Ilsa and Victor escape the Nazi regime. He doesn’t necessarily want Ilsa to leave with Victor but he helps her nonetheless.
One of the most famous quotes to come out of the movie is, “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.” This quote stuck out to me because it exemplifies Rick’s journey as a hero. Ilsa walking into his bar and Rick seeing her represents Campbell’s idea of the threshold of a hero’s journey. Rick, at this point, has begun a journey that will change everything for him.
The movie concludes, not with Rick feeling sad because the girl he loves has left with the man she loves, but with him looking toward the future. Rick is no longer the cold, bitter man he was at the beginning of the film before his journey began. Rick’s final line, which also ends the movie, “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship” illustrates the extent to which Rick has changed throughout the course of the film. He now recognizes the importance of friendship and allows himself to accept the friendship of others. Rick Blaine is truly an American film hero.