Casablanca

Every time there is a 'Favourite Films Of All Time' list compiled, you will find 'Casablanca'. It is one of the rare classics that has endured.
Most people probably know this film and they have not even seen it. This is because there are so many lines that are quoted from it. Such is the brilliance of the script by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and Howard Koch. They have taken the original play and crafted a screenplay which is one of the most romantic stories of all time. It is not a nice and sweet romance with a happy ending. Instead it is a heart-wrenching love triangle with a bitter sweet ending. While that does not sound like a good thing, it makes it more original. Adding to the wonderful romantic story is the clever political subplot. The writers have taken a  fairly unique situation during World War II and turned it into a gripping romantic drama. And into this story we have a series of characters that feel so incredibly real. A man who is so torn up by a woman who left him that he feels no need for any more social interaction. Leaving him cold hearted and cynical. The woman then returns with the man she left him for and draws him into her life again. You come to care for these characters so much and what happens to them. Then to top it all off you have one of the most beautifully written songs as its anthem.
Humphrey Bogart is the prefect actor to play Rick. He is brilliant at playing the cool, calm collected character who dispenses the clever an witty lines. But he can also show his softer and more romantic side. It is these two sides which Humphrey manages to play so well. You can literally see the man softening as Ilsa re-enters his life. As the woman who he loves, Ingrid Bergman is wonderful. You can really see the torment she is going through when she must ask a favour of the man whose heart she broke in order to be with the man she loves. Paul Henreid is excellent as the man in the middle. You can see why Ilsa loves him and why she needs to save him. Claude Rains is brilliant as Rick's friend Louis. His willingness to be persuaded by anyone wielding power is what provides much of the film's humour. Conrad Veidt is nicely menacing as the bad guy. Peter Lorre has a small but pivotal role which he uses to great effect.
This is the kind of film that defines the word classic. One of the few examples of a perfect film which we sadly do not see much of these days.