|
Posts: 7054
Location: so cal
Joined: September 24, 2003
|
As you know, the audiences of that time knew they were dealing with a heavily censored product , and were expected to know what the clues were, and then DIY connect the dots about the missing sex.
It was a time of double standards, grown women were supposed to be virginal, the church was much too powerful to cross in those days, if you wanted your film on the screen.
Movies had to get a bigger standard format, and color film before the word damn, in wide screen, stereo sound, and technicolor, passed the censors, what was that , about twenty years after casablanca?
This movie, like many other old ones, contained a musical number to make it have culturally redeeming qualities, that it wasn't just all a sex and murder show that would generally corrupt society.
The music was supposed to be cultural, and was worked in so seamlessly, it hardly seems a trade off to power and censorship. Most movies had dropped the stick in a dance or musical number by then. Perhaps it was only written in because it provided a great line, and great musical entertainment as a bonus. An all time classic scene, perhaps the strongest of all, in a collection of classic scenes strewn across the screen with this movie.
I like the movie, always a lot of fun, so thought I would just reinforce your thoughts for my own pleasure.
I heard they had a lot if problems with the newly wed blonde story line, the one who was offered papers by the rival rat nightclub owner, and she came to ask rick if the guy would keep his word and give her papers if she went through with her end.
Too close to prostitution for the censors, and they really tore up the scene to where it hardly has impact, but the audience of the day knew what she was going to have to do for love and papers. Really established how exotic and far from comfort casablanca was, when a good girl is forced to save herself with sex.
Just like they all knew rick and old flame had sex during their reunion, and after that, she wanted to stay in casablanca (!) of all places, until our hero has to man up and cut her loose, for the good of all
hero male leads in general, and to put one over on the nazis, for the happy ending.
I have to smile just thinking of some of those dialogue lines, and who couldn't like a movie with peter lorre?
The supporting cast was so great in that one, and then, throw in some stars. and it all came together, according to the audience, and me, the studio just considered it product, at the time .
Bogie could act, and could pass for a guy who was casablanca tough, and smart enough to own the best nightclub in the toughest border town in the world. Some leads would have to have to win a fight to show the audience they were believable tough guys, they didn't have the same advanced skill set. I've seen tough towns depicted in a lot of movies, but you have to bow up if you want to step to a town with its own nazis.
|
