Griffin, Casablanca

Final Minutes of "Casablanca"

            In the final minutes of “Casablanca,” Rick’s isolationism is broken in the climactic scene where he shoots the senior German military official. If Rick is understood to represent the United States pre-WWII, then the analogy is continued in this scene. Just as Rick could no longer isolate himself in stoicism and denial, so, too, the US could no longer not interfere in the war. This scene extends the nationalist rhetoric of the film because Rick’s ultimate initiation into greater affairs by shooting the German is positively received by the audience, and so, the audience could begin to question America’s isolationist attitude and reexamine the worthy costs for entering the war. Throughout the film, the ideology is neutral but gradually emboldens to a pro-America, anti-isolation stance.

            In the scene in question, the cutting between Rick and the German is quick and jumpy, heightening the intensity and suspense of this dueling moment. Who will back down or shoot first? To increase the suspense, the framing is tight and the shot and camera proxemics are intimate. The dominant figure alternates between Rick and the German. Because of the heavy material of the German’s military costume, his look has a high density. During the stand-off, Rick’s face is in shadows. The camera angle is directly on the faces. Characters are shot from the waist or shoulders up; there is no full—body shot. All of these mise-en-scene elements increase the intensity of the moment, creating uprising action that is broken by the shoot-off. When the German falls, the camera does not go down with him, but maintains a height above him, and the viewer looks down upon him. Rick was successful, and so, too American could defeat the enemy at war.