Having just watched this classic, I thought I’d solicit some comments; here are my favorites:
(Capt. Renault): “Ah, Signor Ugarte-we can’t decide whether he died attempting to escape, or committed suicide!”
(Capt. Renault): “I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here”
(Underling): “Your winnings, sir”
(Capt. Renault): “Oh, thank you”
(Patron at Rick’s-to waiter)“is this place honest?”
(Waiter)-“as honest as the day is long”
(Capt. Renault-after Major Strasser was shot)-“Major Strasser’s been shot-round up the usual suspects”
(Rick)-“Of all the gin joints in the world, she has to walk into mine”
(Rick): “I came to Casablanca for the waters”
(Capt. Renault): “Waters? What waters-Casablanca is in the desert”
(Rick) “I was misinformed”
It’s a movie with so many memorable lines it’s tough, but:
Major Strasser: Are you one of those people who cannot imagine the Germans in their beloved Paris?
Rick: It’s not particularly my beloved Paris.
Heinz: Can you imagine us in London?
Rick: When you get there, ask me!
Captain Renault: Hmmh! Diplomatist!
Major Strasser: How about New York?
Rick: Well there are certain sections of New York, Major, that I wouldn’t advise you to try to invade.
I suppose “everything that comes out of Claude Rains’s mouth” is a bit too general?
The “I’m shocked, shocked…” bit is my favorite, but I also like:
Rick: Nine chances out of ten, we’d both wind up in a concentration camp. Isn’t that true, Louie?
Captain Renault: I’m afraid Major Strasser would insist.
Woman: What makes saloonkeepers so snobbish? Banker: Perhaps if you told him I ran the second largest banking house in Amsterdam. Carl: Second largest? That wouldn’t impress Rick. The leading banker in Amsterdam is now the pastry chef in our kitchen. Banker: We have something to look forward to.
Ugarte: You know, Rick, I have many a friend in Casablanca, but somehow, just because you despise me, you are the only one I trust.
Berger: We read five times that you were killed, in five different places. Victor Laszlo: As you can see, it was true every single time.
Annina: Monsieur Rick, what kind of a man is Captain Renault? Rick: Oh, he’s just like any other man, only more so.
“If that plane leaves the ground and you’re not with him, you’ll regret it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life.”
A couple of favourites that haven’t been mentioned so far:
Rick and Renault are making their wager:
Rick: Twenty thousand francs says it isn’t.
Renault: Is that a serious offer?
Rick: I just paid out twenty. I’d like to get it back.
Renault: Make it ten. I’m only a poor corrupt official.
Renault is instructing Carl on how to seat Major Strasser:
Renault: Carl, see that Major Strasser gets a good table, one close to the ladies.
Carl: I have already given him the best, knowing he is German and would take it anyway.
Ugarte: Rick, think of all the poor devils who can’t meet Renault’s price. I get it for them for half. Is that so… parasitic?
Rick: I don’t mind a parasite. I object to a cut-rate one.
Renault: Oh no, Emil, please. A bottle of your best champagne, and put it on my bill.
Emil: Very well, sir.
Victor: Captain, please…
Renault: Oh, please, monsieur. It is a little game we play. They put it on the bill, I tear up the bill. It is very convenient.
Rick: I wouldn’t bring up Paris if I were you. It’s poor salesmanship.
Renault: Come to my office tomorrow morning. We’ll do everything businesslike.
Jan: We’ll be there at six!
Renault: I’ll be there at ten.
Rick: Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
That is the one line I hate. Because the American’s never set foot in Berlin During the War. The German’s still occupied French Soil when the armistice was signed. Yet Renault makes it sound like Germany had been captured rather than capitulated.
Still I love the rest. Especially Renault’s “I’m shocked…” line
Yvonne: Where were you last night?
Rick: That’s so long ago, I don’t remember.
Yvonne: Will I see you tonight?
Rick: I never make plans that far ahead.
Rick: Sam, Ferrari wants you to work for him at the Blue Parrot.
Sam: I like it fine here.
Rick: He’ll double what I pay you.
Sam: Yeah, but I ain’t got time to spend the money I make here.
Seriously, that is the least of the logical problems in Casablanca. Aside from wondering what the Gestapo is doing bossing around the prefect of police in Free French Morocco (perhaps they’re left over from digging up the Ark of the Covenant in British Egypt), there is the whole issue of the vaunted “Letters of Transit”, which despite being described as instruments of permission that cannot be questioned or revoked, are insufficient to prevent Major Strasser from trying to stop the plane and arrest Lazlo.
And then there is Ilsa, who despite ostensibly being the romantic center of the film is a duplicitous, unprincipled dead weight. I mean, she’s seriously willing to toss her husband and great leader of the Resistance over to the Gestapo just bump scratchies with Rick? Renault is wrong when he says to Rick, “Apparently you’re the only one in Casablanca with less scruples than I.” Ilsa has them both beat, and he’s well to be shed of her. Personally, I think she knew all along that it would play out this way, and she used Rick like an old dishrag by guilting him into protecting her and providing safe passage for her and Lazlo without cost, but people get unreasonably upset when you start pointing out all the subtexts and inconsistencies in this “classic”.
It does have some great lines of dialogue, though, like:
Captain Renault: I’ve often speculated why you don’t return to America. Did you abscond with the church funds? Run off with a senator’s wife? I like to think you killed a man. It’s the Romantic in me.
Rick: It was a combination of all three.
Captain Renault: What in heaven’s name brought you to Casablanca?
Rick: My health. I came to Casablanca for the waters.
Captain Renault: The waters? What waters? We’re in the desert.
Rick: I was misinformed.
and my favorite:
Captain Renault: Realizing the importance of the case, my men are rounding up twice the usual number of suspects.
