Locations

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.