Made at the height of World World II, Casablanca centers on a group of drunks, gamblers, criminals, refugees, cops, and Nazis contending for a valuable set of papers that can ensure one safe transit out of the reach of the Third Reich. These documents wind up in the hands of saloon owner Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), meaning that everyone from corrupt police Captain Renault (Claude Rains) to Rick's old flame Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) suddenly take a serious interest in his actions and motives.
While a moderate success with critics and audiences upon release, Casablanca cleaned up at the Oscars and became a popular screening favorite at independent cinemas for decades to come. This has caused Casablanca to rise to esteem until it's routinely argued as one of the finest Hollywood films ever made. It's a personal favorite of Ryan; he's joined by Cheryl for an in-depth discussion about Casablanca's impact and longevity. Thematic topics include Casablanca's effect as a propaganda film, how its production defies auteur theory, and why nobody has had the means or ability to produce a direct sequel or remake in the nine decades since Casablanca's release.
Ryan and Cheryl do touch upon the numerous forms of media that either homage or parody Casablanca, including that time Bugs Bunny did it.
