editing style- Casablanca uses continuity editing in the film. so the audience can understand the conversation in their point of view.
here is an example of a shot reverse shot. this happened at about a quarter way through the film where the two characters are having a conversation about something serious, so you can see the point of view.
the shot here is a reaction shot where you can see the two characters having an upset conversation and you can see how Ilsa reacted to Rick telling her no towards leaving with another man. they used a reaction shot so they can really see how what Rick said effected her deeply, and you can really see the sadness in her eyes.
The style of edit for this sequence and entire film is continuity editing which produces a logical and straightforward narrative. Casablanca does not bring attention to and purposely hides its editing in unique ways that reaffirm the Hollywood film style.
The use of editing in this shot sequence has a moving and dramatic effect in the spectator, Casablanca uses straight cuts or fades when changing a scene. The first scene at Ricks Café, where the audience is subdued to how many foreigners want to leave Casablanca, we as spectators understand that the conversations are taking place at the same time.
The cut used to depict Ricks hand signing a check then informs the audience that the Café belongs to him, and that he is the most prominent character in the movie.
The numerous medium long shots also convey the popularity of Ricks Café, and the success of his business amongst the panic and desperation of war.
Casablanca editing is so seamless that is doesn’t bring attention to when the scene changes- this allows the spectator to become immersed, and engaged, in the movie.
Casablanca uses continuity editing to provide an easy flow across the narrative, so the audiences can easily progress through the film without questioning the storyline.
Example –
For example In this scene, a master shot is used to establish the presence of Ricks bouncer at the door. Looking towards Rick to check weather they may enter the gambling room. Turning into a medium shot, the desired guests enter and one is held back, checking with rick, the undesired guest is in the same position of ricks eye in the next scene, This shows an eyeline trace as ricks eyeline matches the angle he is facing.
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.
