Casablanca: Final Scene, Part I
Casablanca is an American classic. If someone hears that one hasn’t seen Casablanca, it’s usually followed by a gasp and an “OH MY GOD! We have to fix that immediately.” A huge part of it’s mass appeal and classic status is the final scene of the film. It wraps everything up in a way indicative of the genre and the though process at that point in time. The first half of the final scene – before the plane takes off and action starts to take hold – has a lot to offer in terms of quick shot cuts and the way camera use is used to show how intimate an exchange is (more close-up shots are usually more intimate moments), and the use of Over-the-Shoulder shots to make the audience feel more like they’re watching this conversation in real life.
Shot # Shot Type Movement Description Timing
1 WS We see an officer standing in the rain. 3 seconds
2 Pan Right We see a car turn around the corner. 3 seconds
3 Zoom/WS We zoom in closer on the car and rest on it as Rick, Ilsa, and Victor hop out. 4 seconds
4 WS Louie gives another officer orders to get Victor’s luggage. 5 seconds
5 WS Victor looks back at Ilsa, not facing the camera, and walks towards the plane. 4 seconds
6 MCU Ilsa looks, panickedly, towards Rick (out of frame) 3 seconds
7 WS/Zoom out Rick gives Louie orders with Ilsa in the background.
8 M Ilsa asks why she has to get on the plane. 3 seconds
9 Zoom Rick moves closer to Ilsa in order to explain to her why she has to get on the plane, grabs her arm and pulls her in. 2 seconds
10 MCU Rick and Ilsa talk at a fast-pace, back and forth, arguing about Ilsa getting on the plane. The two argue back and forth, interrupting each other constantly. 25 seconds
11 M Louie addresses Rick’s question towards him – “Isn’t that true Louie?” by agreeing with him. 4 seconds
12 OTS/WS After Louie’s answer, we see the scene from behind Louie’s shoulder: the foggy, misty airway with Ilsa and Rick standing close to each other right near Louie. 3 seconds
13 Zoom We zoom from the previous OTS shot back into Rick and Ilsa’s conversation, in a MCU. 3 seconds
14 MCU We get re-adjusted and situated into Rick and Ilsa’s conversation, now switching to Victor, Ilsa’s to-be flight companion. 3 seconds
15 OTS We see Ilsa’s reaction to Rick’s words about Victor while he is talking, able to see the emotional turmoil currently going on in her head. 5 seconds
16 OTS We move to behind Ilsa’s shoulder, looking up at Rick and seeing the intensity of his face as he continues his diatribe. 4 seconds
17 OTS We see Ilsa’s response to Rick’s speech about the regret she’ll feel if she’s not on that plane from over Rick’s shoulder. 5 seconds
18 OTS We see Rick’s response to Ilsa’s. 5 seconds
19 OTS Ilsa responds. 3 seconds
20 OTS Rick stands strong about her getting on the plane. 3 seconds
21 CU We see Ilsa growing emotional over Rick’s words that she can’t be a part of the mission he has to go on and tasks he must complete; and as her eyes begin to tear, we see Rick’s hand lift up her chin. 13 seconds
22 OTS Rick tries to cheer Ilsa up – “Here’s lookin’ at you, kid.”5 seconds
23 CU We close up back on Ilsa’s face – with those words, her face becomes a little brighter and she seems to understand the situation. 5 seconds
24 OTS We see Rick’s face looking at Ilsa before the scene fades to the second half of the final scene. 3 seconds
This scene is a superb example of the Hollywood Classics Genre we’ve discussed inc lass. The scene is chock-full of Over-the-Shoulder shots to reel the audience in, and camerawork is used often to make us feel more intimately there with the characters. Transitions are quick and fluid, keeping the pace of the film moving. The camerawork alone isn’t what makes this scene so classic – the themes involved are also staples in Hollywood. The men are strong, sturdy archetypes, while women are emotional messes who don’t understand the layers of the situation until it’s explained to them. While Casablanca is a somewhat milder version of this – Ilsa is, overall, a strong and independent woman – during the final scene, she doesn’t understand why things must be this way until Rick explains it to her.
