The classic and much-loved Casablanca, a 1942 Warner Brothers film directed by Michael Curtiz, won three Academy Awards - including Best Picture - and it is considered one of the best films ever made. With a wartime romantic story focused on lost love, honour and self-sacrifice, a superb musical score and unforgettable characters, the film has some of the most memorable lines of dialogue and scenes of all time.
Rick: Louis, have your man go with Mr Laszlo and take care of his luggage.
Renault: Certainly, Rick. Anything you say ... Find Mr Laszlo's luggage and put it on the plane.
Orderly: Yes, sir. This way, please.
Rick: If you don't mind, you fill in the names. That will make it even more official.
Renault: You think of everything, don't you?
Rick: And the names are Mr and Mrs Victor Laszlo.
Ilsa: But, why my name, Richard?
Rick: Because you're getting on that plane.
Ilsa: I don't understand. What about you?
Rick: I'm staying here with him 'til the plane gets safely away.
Ilsa: No, Richard. No. What has happened to you? Last night we said ...
Rick: Last night we said a great many things. You said I was to do the thinking for both of us. Well, I've done a lot of it since then, and it all adds up to one thing: you're getting on that plane with Victor where you belong.
Ilsa: But, Richard, no, I... I...
Rick: Now, you've got to listen to me! You have any idea what you'd have to look forward to if you stayed here? Nine chances out of ten, we'd both wind up in a concentration camp. Isn't that true, Louis?
Renault: I'm afraid Major Strasser would insist.
Ilsa: You're saying this only to make me go.
Rick: I'm saying it because it's true. Inside of us, we both know you belong with Victor. You're part of his work, the thing that keeps him going. 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.
Ilsa: But what about us?
Rick: We'll always have Paris. We didn't have, we, we'd lost it until you came to Casablanca. We got it back last night.
Ilsa: When I said I would never leave you.
Rick: And you never will. But I've got a job to do, too. Where I'm going, you can't follow. What I've got to do, you can't be any part of. Ilsa, I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you'll understand that. Now, now... Here's looking at you kid.
Renault: It might be a good idea for you to disappear from Casablanca for a while. There's a Free French garrison over at Brazzaville. I could be induced to arrange a passage.
Rick: My letter of transit? I could use a trip. But it doesn't make any difference about our bet. You still owe me ten thousand francs.
Renault: And that ten thousand francs should pay our expenses.
Rick: Our expenses?... Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
One of the lines most closely associated with the film—"Play it again, Sam"—is, however, a misquotation.
Ilsa: Play it once, Sam, for old times' sake.
Sam: I don't know what you mean, Miss Ilsa.
Ilsa: Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By.'
Sam: Why, I can't remember it, Miss Ilsa. I'm a little rusty on it.
Ilsa: I'll hum it for you ... Sing it, Sam.
You must remember this
A kiss is just a kiss
A sigh is just a sigh
The fundamental things apply
As Time Goes By
And when two lovers woo
They still say 'I love you'
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As Time Goes By
Rick: Sam, I thought I told you never to play...
