Nolley- Casablanca (the right one)

The political expediency theory in Casablanca influences the audience’s feelings toward America’s involvement in World War II. The audience becomes sympathetic toward Rick and he is the focus of the film, character wise. He represents America and its transition through World War II. In the beginning of the film, he is indifferent to the events going on around him and he is focused on running his business. But when Ilsa enters the picture, his idea on the issues going on changes and by the end of the movie he does what’s best for everyone. This illustrates how America’s entrance into World War II was a necessity and how in the end it was the noblest thing to do. This change is a commentary on how America was determined not to enter the war, but realized if they did not it would hurt more people in the end. Ilsa was the motivation for Rick to do the right thing, just as Pearl Harbor was the last straw before the U.S. entered the war. The events surrounding Ilsa and Victor showed Rick that he needed to act in a selfless way in order to help the bigger picture. This film is used to justify America fighting in World War II. It showed the viewers that sometimes fighting is okay if one is fighting for what is right. Casablanca allows the audience to feel comfortable with such a huge event in history. It creates confidence in America and shows that with the support of its citizens, things will turn out okay. The political expediency theory gives Casablanca the underlying political message needed for that time in American history.