Casablanca has been named one of the greatest movies of all time. It won three Oscars and ranks within the top 50 of all of American Film Institute’s “100 years…” lists (American Film Institute). The writers, actors and the producers never expected this hastily put together wartime movie to amount to much, but it has become an American classic and a timeless love story. It also has underlying elements of loyalty and patriotism.
Ilsa Lund steps into Rick’s Café Americain and immediately Rick Blaine, Ilsa’s ex lover, is aware of her presence. He remarks to himself “of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world she walks into mine” (Casablanca). The ex lovers are seeing one another for the first time since she abandoned him at a train station in Paris. Ilsa is in Casablanca with her husband, Victor Laszlo. Laszlo is a leader of the European Resistance. He needs to buy letters of transit guaranteeing Ilsa and himself safe passage through Nazi Germany to America via neutral Portugal. Rick has the letters. He was given possession of them when the original owner, Ugarte, was arrested by Captain Renault. Laszlo is told by Signor Ferrari that Rick is the one who has possession of the letters. He goes to Rick and attempts to buy the letters from him. When asked why he will not sell them to Laszlo, Rick suggests that Laszlo ask his wife why he will not sell them the letters. Rick had recognized his name, and knew he was Ilsa’s husband. Before Laszlo could ask what he meant the German soldiers who frequented the café were proudly singing Das Deutschlandied, the German National Anthem. Laszlo, being the freedom fighter he was, led an inspiring rendition of La Marseilles, the French National Anthem, drowning out the voices of the German soldiers. When all of the French supporters stood up and began to sing, the German’s began to sing louder. The amount of patriotism shown proved that they were willing to fight for what they believed in.The German...