Was that just a plot device, or was there some real reason that the Germans couldn’t just arrest Laszlo? Although the police chief often says “this is unoccupied France”, why would the Germans care? Laszlo is obviously a huge thorn in their side, and is an escaped convict (per German law).
In real life, he undoubtedly would have been arrested on the spot. I can’t believe that a resistance leader who just escaped from a concentration camp wouldn’t have been a wanted man in any country occupied by or allied with Nazi Germany.
From this thread:
Any “letters of transit” would most likely have been signed by this guy:
As I just posted in the parallel thread, any “letters of transit” would probably have been signed by this guy:
One thing I always felt was that Lazlo was in no danger of getting shot or thrown into a concentration camp. They already did that, and it didn’t work. They were hoping he’d do exactly what he did – meet up with the Resistance locally and they’d find him out. Foolishly, they’d assumed sine Ilsa was around, he’d turn pliable like they assumed Rich had. Turns out everyone was out for them self in pro-Vichy Morocco.
As for the letters of transit, I assumed they functioned as diplomatic documents. You wrote in the names, and it was assumed they were representatives of DeGaulle, traveling to Vichy France to negotiate a surrender, or something. Why else would German couriers be carrying such documents? So they’re intercepted by Ugarte, he sells them to Rick, and he a Yvonne use them to leave Casablanca. The guys at the airport aren’t going to think – “Hey, Rick isn’t a diplomat.” The point is everyone – Vichy government, Nazi government, neutral nations respect the documents.
Every so often, in my hometown, I see this minivan with diplomatic plates. I live in a suburb of New York City, but very far from the UN or Washington DC. No cop stops the vehicle and asks – “Just what diplomacy are you doing here?” Its just the document they’re using day to day.
Of course, signing Victor Lazlo to the documents would certainly be questioned by somebody. But they don’t even use them at Casablanca, they just take off. Neutral Portugal isn’t going to stop Lazlo. And I don’t suspect America will refuse him without documents, given his reputation. And if they did, so what, they’re not going to deport him to Germany.
Remember at the end of the movie when Renault says, “Round up the usual suspects”? He could arrest anybody. He protected Rick because he liked Rick, and he defied Strasser when he could get away with it because he didn’t like Strasser.
The screenplay specifically states they are signed by Weygand. “DeGaulle” is a mondegren for “Weygand” (which is pronounced “Vey-gan”).
I’ve seen Casablanca many times (it’s my favorite movie), and I’m as certain as I can be that Peter Lorre says “de Gaulle.”
(I have indeed heard that it was Weygand in both the screenplay and the original play Everybody Comes to Rick’s.)
You may be certain, but you’re quite wrong. It’s clearly “Weygand” (pronounced "Vey-gan) (0:22 in the clip). It’s definitely not de Gaulle.
I had to listen to that clip three times before I heard “Vey-gan,” but damned if you aren’t right! I had to watch his mouth as he spoke, and I saw that the first syllable definitely starts with a “V.” There’s no way he could have pronounced a “D” with his upper teeth in that position.
Another popular myth busted! You really do learn something new every day. :o
I believe the “Letters of Transit” weren’t signed by De Gaulle - he was pretty much a minor figure at the time.
Although it is unclear I believe they were signed by Weygand.
As for holes in the script? Letters of transit that could not be rescinded? Nonsense. Victor Lazlo, the most wanted man poncing around in a white suit so he was readily identifiable? Makes sense I am sure- just not to me.
The whole movie is a B Grade though totally enjoyable watchable film. The plot is full of holes, but we can still enjoy it.
The letters of transit are nonsense. There’s nothing comparable that would have prevented Lazlo’s arrest. Incidentally, Arkcon, the State Department does restrict the travel of diplomats within the U.S. for certain countries and requires the diplomats from certain other countries to give travel plans before they travel within the U.S. It’s possible that your local cops do notice the diplomatic license plates and do check on whether that particular diplomat is allowed in that particular area. Diplomats, just like anyone else, occasionally take vacations or weekend trips during which they travel around the U.S. just visiting places for fun. They’re not doing diplomatic work all the time. I don’t know if there is any list available online of where within the U.S. particular diplomats are allowed to go, but here’s a general statement from the State Department:
Since when did the Germans in WWII care about “official powers”? They had no “official powers” to invade Poland, either.
Moved two posts from a zombie MPSIMS thread that I’m going to lock. The chronology of the convo may be a little wonky as a result.
My assumption was not that he needed the documents to get out of Casablanca but to get into the United States.
That can’t be right. The letters of transit were signed by a French official, not an American one. They wouldn’t be relevant to getting into the U.S.
Question here:
When I was working as a foreigner in Russia under contract to a Russian company, I had to obtain an exit/reentry visa through my employer every time I wanted to leave the country. If they existed, wouldn’t “letters of transit” be pretty much the same thing?
That’s a good point. Even today - and maybe even moreso in the early war years - you had to be permitted entry somewhere if you left (or were permitted exit from) somewhere else. It would do no good to sail out to sea if no other nation would let you in, as at least one shipload of refugees found out.
Is it ever made clear where the flight lands? It’s far too small to be trans-atlantic.
But in the end, remember, the “letters of transit” are a bit of Hollywood mcguffinism. The entire situation of requiring exit/entry papers might be just as distorted.
They were flying to Lisbon.