Casablanca uses continuity editing in order for the scenes to flow seamlessly, so that the audience can focus on the story without interruptions.
For example, this scene in the film begins with Sam sitting down while speaking to Ilsa, then to a medium close-up of Ilsa encouraging Sam to play a piece of music. Another medium close-up is then used to show Ilsa’s disappointment when Sam turns down the request, although in the same shot Sam agrees to play the song. The film cuts between a medium close-up of Sam playing, a close-up reaction shot of Ilsa getting reminiscent and emotional, and a medium long-shot of Rick walking through the doors, getting annoyed and walking towards Sam. The intention here may be to show the audience how one simple thing can evoke different emotions for different people.
Rick is always seen wearing a white suit. This shows signs of class and is also classic attire of the 1940s. the fact that he’s is the only person wearing white outlines him as the main character
in Casablanca Capitan Renaldas is seen wearing his army uniform with his medals on show. this is because he is proud of his achievements
props:
this is a plane in the 1940s. you can see that the plane is smaller and looks more rickety. it has propellers instead of engines as they were not invented yet
in the film the actors are mostly all smoking. this is because in this time it was normal to smoke inside and wasnt frowned upon
locations:
sets:
sets can be used to give us information about the film that is not said or given. for example the weather at the runway shows us that rick is sad Lisa is leaving and that it will be a dangerous journey
sets are used as a story telling device in Casablanca, we can see this with Ricks bar, as it is used to show a place where people find solitude, can make deals, and distract themself from their troubles.
another set that is used as a story telling device is the train station as the rain shows rick’s heartbreak and allows us to sympathize with him having to leave the person he loves.
locations:
the location of the town in the opening scene shows what kind of place Casablanca is and what it is like to be there
the location of the airport is used to show that the end is near, and that the film is ending, also showing us how rick has changed as now he is staying and ingrid is leaving, contrasting the train station scene where he leaves and ingrid stays
costumes:
costumes are used as a story telling device as it tells us about a character, we see this with Major Strasser as he is always wearing his badges and is always in uniform while on screen, showing how he is a prideful person.
we see this with rick’s costume aswell, as he wears a white tuxedo in the film, white usually being a colour to show purity, showing that despite his cynical shell, inside he is a sympathetic person.
Q. Explain how mise-en-scene is used as a story telling device in Casablanca
Location
The romantic drama, Casablanca was set in Morocco, however the filming location was entirely filmed at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California with the exception of the beginning of the film in which they use the old Metropolitan Airport at Van Nuys near Burbank. At the time, filming in a studio was more affordable and practical to shoot in, though it still tells the story and was a very realistic set back in that time in Hollywood.
Sets (Interiors)
The set was in Warner Bros. Studios in California as stated with the main features being ‘Rick’s Café Américain’, this set reinforces Rick’s mysterious persona as it’s a very glamorous interior, like Rick himself. It links to each characters sophisticated lifestyle and the need for the nightclub to be closed because of the popularity which is shown in the scenes featuring Rick’s café Americain.
Costumes
In Casablanca, the costumes suit each character and their role and job in the film. Rick wears mysterious trench coats, implying he himself is mysterious with a touch of sophistication (such like his place of work). The police and guards wear their suits and it makes the film more realistic and professional in a way. Ingrid’s character, Ilsa, wears typical classy clothes which shows her elegance and high-status.
Props
The props used in Casablanca consists of typical alcohol and usual things that go in classic nightclub and gambling dens. It brings the story to life. Again in Rick’s cafe, there are many performers such as (shown in the image) the guitar and piano performers added to give a sense of suaveness and refinement to the nightclub. Another prop used is the gun that Rick ends up using to shoot Strasser in order for Ilsa and Laszlo to escape, this creates an authentic appearance for the characters and the film itself.
Rick’s Café is arranged through the Mise-en-scene as a wealthy and popular area to locals. This is exampled by fancy cars pulling up outside do drop of wealthy dressed patrons as well as busy doors of people entering, furthermore the bright neon sign pulls in the viewers attention as from the years 1920- 1960 Neon was used commonly for areas with a busy purpose, such as Vegas or time square for example.
Another example of location in the mise-en-scene can be with the footage recovered from the Nazis advancements into Europe and by association to the capture of France, French Morocco. In addition filming in Morocco was impossible as Nazis had generally inhabited the country and closed of its borders to foreign travellers, especially the US who from December 7th 1941, were now at war with Germany and Japan.
Sets (Interior):
Through the sets interior, the busy and crowded Mise-en-scene of Ricks Café is shown with people in seats being almost shoulder to shoulder to with each other. This connotes Rick’s Café is highly popular.
With the use of projection of Paris within a set, it creates the illusion that the actors are generally driving and additionally allows for filming and sound recording to be done easier. By having it set in Paris it provides to the storyline where these characters originally met and fell in love, the decision for it to be set in Paris is cleverly used for a love basis being the ‘city of love’ but also acts as propaganda for the war as the love from Paris is brought to a halt under the Nazis, as shown with Rick and Ilsa.
Costumes:
As seen here, the use of costumes add to the storyline to create context of the time period. Filmed and set during the war, French Morocco was taken under German control in 1940 when France had fell to the Nazi’s. This is shown with the characters in a French police uniform and a German Majors uniform.
Reminiscent to the ideas of wealth, a white tux symbolises confidence and sophistication, something we can see with the way Rick acts when confronted with problems such as the Nazis or dealing with his very popular business.
Props:
Props such as alcohol connote how, in proportion, Ricks emotions are in the storyline. When in love Rick is less reliant on alcohol as he is intoxicated on love with Ilsa, however when she leaves him, the viewer can see how he becomes more reliant on it to make him happier.
The pistol is a prop that creates the drama elements of the storyline as up until this point, Ricks character hasn’t resorted to a weapon to solve his issues, when it comes to a matter of love however he is willing to do anything to ensure Ilsa’s safety.
The use of set design in Casablanca communicates to the spectator important story-telling aspects, such as Rick’s bar being the most popular and active place in Casablanca. Because of this, the spectator is encouraged to understand Ricks presence in the Casablanca community, and subsequently his status regarding the level of standard he upkeeps in his bar.
Locations
The use of filming on Location in the ending scene of Casablanca firstly ensures the verisimilitude of the movie itself, its presence during WW2 and the weather as a vehicle of pathetic fallacy mirroring the moving and dramatic final moment between Rick and Ilsa. The fog behind them effectively represents the clouded judgment of Ilsa, and how she, at first, values her and Ricks relationship over her safety. The bad weather also suggests to the spectator how fleeing Casablanca is a rare privilege, and wont be delayed or interrupted by the fog.
Costumes
The use of costumes in Casablanca is also used to tell the story of love and devotion and heartbreak. Ilsa and her husband Victor wear similarly coloured/ shaded clothing in the penultimate sequence, foreshadowing how they leave together in the end, rather than separated like Ilsa and Rick. Rick appears to wear darker clothes, more sophisticated, aligning with his mysterious and dark persona.
Props
Casablanca also uses props in a way that tells a story. The scene where the police arrest a man in Ricks Bar causes commotion and worry amongst the people in the bar, the movie also depicts Rick picking up a glass in order to restore some normality in the war-ridden, politically dangerous time the movie was set.
Similarly, in the flashback Rick has about his old relationship with Ilsa, the night where the Nazis invade Paris, Ilsa knocks over a glass. By connecting these two shots using props the spectator is forced to think about the carnage the war has caused, and how it forcibly separated the two. The way Rick picks up the glass in his own Bar also suggest how he didn’t get the opportunity to fix the relationship between him and Ilsa in the first place.
The town area, used to introduce the area of Casablanca to the audience at the beginning of the film, is overpopulated and people are clustered together. This suggests that since Casablanca was an occupied area, nobody was allowed to leave unless they either got permission from Nazi officials, or attempted to escape.
In the brief appearance of Paris, we see real newsreel footage of Nazi soldiers travelling through it in horses and tanks, implying it is too dangerous for Ilsa to return to.
Sets (Interiors)
The interior of Rick’s Café is shown throughout the film to be busy and crowded, suggesting to the audience that Rick is a very successful businessman and his café is a popular destination in Casablanca.
Renault’s office being as spacious as it is while accommodating only him suggests his high ranking and significance in the police force.
Costumes
Rick wears suits for the entirety of the film, connoting to the audience his professionality and high social class.
Renault wears a police uniform throughout, perhaps implying his loyalty to his position.
Props
Once Ilsa is introduced, the audience see Rick become more and more reliant on alcohol, suggesting he is ‘drowning his sorrows’ to block out his emotions towards Ilsa.
Sam’s piano is important to his character, as when Ilsa asks him to play a song and he begins to, Rick questions why since he told him at some point in the past never to play the song again. This gives the audience the idea that Sam has known Rick for a long period of time and that the two are very close.
Overall I found the mise en scene absolutely beautiful within Casablanca, from the luxuries of silk and table runners sold on Morocco’s streets to the outfits for the actors and light and shadows illuminating Ingrid’s beautiful facial features. This produces diegsis for the world back in 1941 in Morocco during WW2.
Interior Set& props
The atmosphere of Ricks club comes to life through the interior set, designed so the balance and composition of the screen fills up to show how popular and loved this site is by the people of Morocco. This also works well to enhance a contrast for when Rick is alone in his club, sometimes with Ilsa. This works so well that even though the film is in black and white, you can imagine the variance of bright colours of Ricks club. Understandable props such as maps of Morocco and older telephones help bring the authentic feel of the 40’s to the viewers, however this only applies to the more modern days as this was considered normal to those who watched this when it first came out. Viewers feel as is Ricks club feels like this is the café they go to every evening with the same crowd of people enjoying their time there.
Lighting and Shadows
Black and white film heavily relies on lighting to produce a contrast that is most pleasant to the spectators, but also produce anticipation, and especially in the following picture, seclusiveness as we can see Rick’s shadow take valuables out of a safe that we cannot see, but the other character can representing their relationship with one another, as well as the spectators relationship with Rick- a man who is unreadable and unpredictable. This brings more excitement to viewers as there is a slight feel of exclusivity to see ricks actions, but also a pull away from who he really is as a character, subconsciously letting doubt of mind take over.
Costumes
Costumes really bring together the feel of Morocco’s heat and era of time which explains the particular dress code that is seen. Spectators may also also notice the variance of costumes due to travellers and natives who seek refuge in Morocco.
Exterior Location
This also brings together the feel of Morocco, even though it was filmed in California. Verisimilitude is created as the spectators are reminded of the busyness and bustle of the streets, taking away the sad idea of having to seek refuge in America due to Nazi’s invading.
The location of the Casablanca market is shown to be rural, exotic and busy to give off the chaotic feeling as people were rushing in and out of the city to escape the Nazis.
The location of Paris is made to look light hearted and romantic to reflect the good times Rick and Ilse had there. People back then were unable to visit Paris so it was seen in a higher light make this scene more desirable to the audience.
Sets:
Ricks café is seen to be expensive and glamorous being one of the busiest places in Casablanca. This is done to make Rick look important and mysterious.
The set of the hanger near the end of the film is made dark, open and foggy to give a sense of danger being chased by the Nazis as well as sadness as the two characters will never meet again.
Costumes:
The suit the main officer wears is dark coloured with overexaggerated features like the collar to give off a powerful and menacing feeling reflecting people views of Nazis in WW2.
The white formal suit Rick wears throughout the film makes him feel important standing out from the crowd to the audience as he takes an important role being the café owner.
Props:
The gun pulled by Ilse on Rick is one of the only times a gun is seen within the film making it more dramatic to the audience to see her threaten someone she’s had a close connection to.
The note from isle to Rick gives a strong emotional beat within the film with the note being smudged for added effect making it seem more tragic.
Conrad Veidt was a British-german actor, some examples of his movies include: the man who laughs (1928), Casablanca (1942), Waxworks (1924). he was famous for his silent films as well as horror films. in Casablanca he was chosen to play a Nazi which was risky at the time as he was German as well as WW2 going on whilst it was being filmed.
Humphrey Bogarts performances in classic Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film Institute selected Bogart as the greatest male star of classic American cinema. Bogart began acting in Broadway shows. example of his films are: The Maltese Falcon (1941), The African Queen (1951), Sabrina (1954). He was given the role in Casablanca because he appears cold and standoffish .
Ingrid Bergman was a Swedish actress. With a career spanning five decades, Bergman is often regarded as one of the most influential screen figures in cinematic history. films: Gaslight (1944), Notorious (1946)
Paul Henreid was an Austrian-American actor, director, producer, and writer. He is best remembered for two film roles: Victor Laszlo in Casablanca and Jerry Durrance in Now, Voyager, both released between 1942 and 1943.
William Claude Rains was a British actor whose career spanned almost seven decades. After his American film debut as Dr. Jack Griffin in The Invisible Man, he appeared in The Adventures of Robin Hood
