Casablanca Themes

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Casablanca Sequence 12 Betrayal As the leitmotif - 'As Time Goes By' plays, the searchlight sweeps over Rick's cafe. Rick worries that Laszlo is late, but once again Renault shows that he watches over everything: he knows where Laszlo is. Laszlo and Ilsa arrive, and Ilsa tells Rick that Laszlo thinks he is going with her. Rick tells her that they'll tell him all at the airport. As Rick hands over the letters of transit to Laszlo, Renault appears. Ilsa moves to stand by her husband. They believe they have been betrayed by Rick. Renault says 'Love, it seems, has triumphed over virtue'. He immediately finds out how wrong he is when Rick points the gun at him. There is witty interplay between the two again as Renault recovers his…show more content…
Renault appears to do so, but actually rings Strasser. This is another moment of dramatic irony: we know more than do Rick, Ilsa and Laszlo. Strasser is confused, but quickly orders a car to take him to the airport. The tension increases as we wonder if anyone will escape the Nazis' clutches. Explanation The small group arrives at the airport. To Ilsa's surprise, Rick orders Laszlo's luggage put on the plane. Laszlo and Renault's assistant walk towards the plane, leaving Rick, Renault and Ilsa alone. Rick tells Renault to put Ilsa and Laszlo's name on the letters. The love theme plays as Rick reveals his true plan to Ilsa. (At this stage you should read the final scene in the screenplay notes.) Rick has become an idealist once more. 'But what about us?' 'We'll always have Paris.' Ilsa sacrificed her love for Rick to support her husband in Paris. now he is doing the same. Rick's decision is a metaphor for America's entering the war. Rick modestly claims he's no good at being noble, but he clearly is. He explains that their love cannot take precedence in this crazy world. Laszlo appreciates Rick's return to the fight. Beautiful
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