Ingrid Bergman desperately wanted to get out of making the film. So did Humphrey Bogart. Nobody knew that Casablanca was going to end up spanning decades and lasting ... At the time, it was just another movie, being churned out by the studio. No big deal, nothing special.
This one had some special problems, though.
Bogart was primarily concerned with the fact that the script, when they began shooting, had no ending. Bergman was concerned about that, too - and with good reason. Without knowing the ending, and who she is supposed to end up with ... how was she supposed to play her scenes? Did she love Rick? Or was she just using him for the Letters of Transit? Did she love Victor? Blah blah ... Of course, the very ambiguity of the whole thing, and Ingrid Bergman not knowing the ending herself is - I think - one of the reasons why the film is so perfect, and still so cherished. None of us know the ending of our own stories. Half of us are running around, thinking we're in love with one, and then we realize: Oh wait, no, I don't love him ... I love him ... How many of us are absolutely clear at all times? (And if you are absolutely clear in your conviction at all times, you would make a terrible fictional character, boring and predictable. In my opinion, the character of Victor doesn't withstand the test of time as well as Ilse and Rick do - because of that absolute black and white clarity at all times.) Ambiguity, mystery, and CONFLICT, above all, is what we remember, and what an audienc relates to. It can't have been a pleasant experience for Bergman, since she was such a specific actress - but I think not knowing the end adds to the mystery of her performance. We never know if we should trust her or not.
But the other reason why Bergman didn't want to do the film, is that she was convinced she was miscast.
She and Bogart had lunch together before they started shooting - and Geraldine Fitzgerald (a wonderful actress, also under contract at Warner Brothers - anyone ever see the great film "The Pawnbroker", with Rod Steiger? She's in that) sat with them.
Fitzgerald describes Bogart's concern and anxiety about the lack of an ending.
And Bergman kept saying, "I am miscast. Why doesn't anyone care that I am so miscast? The script says: 'We have never had a woman so beautiful come to Casablanca'. But I look like a milkmaid. No one will ever believe it."
I kind of love her for that. "I look like a milkmaid."
Posted by sheilaIf that's what milkmaids are like, I just might but a cow.
Posted by: DBW at May 27, 2004 3:37 PMNot sure if that was a Freudian slip, but I meant 'buy' a cow.
Posted by: DBW at May 27, 2004 5:28 PMMilkmaids rule.
Posted by: Ken Summers at May 27, 2004 6:45 PMThere's a two-disc DVD version out that I cannot recommend enough. It has 2 commentary tracks, one by Ebert and another by a film historian. Absolutely amazing. You'd love it.
But I should warn you, Ebert's track poo-poos quite a few stories surrounding the making of Casablanca, particularly the Reagan story and the "lack of an ending" story. So you may be a little disappointed at what he does to some of the legends surrounding the making of Casablanca. For example (warning! poo-pooing ahead): He says the "lack of an ending" story is "not quite true". His argument, IIRC, is that when Bergman talked about how she didn't know who she was in love with/going to get on the plane with, she was talking in terms of her character. "Ilsa" didn't know who she was in love with. I think he also argued that although the ending hadn't been written yet, Ilsa had to get on the plane with Victor, for story/screenplay reasons and for reasons relating to morals of the time, so although the exact dialogue hadn't been written, the end result would've been clear. I'm going to have to watch it again.
Posted by: dorkafork at May 27, 2004 8:24 PMI agree with Dorkafork, the 2-disc set is a must. And he/Ebert is/are correct, the "she didn't know which guy she was going to end up with" is either a fib or a publicity stunt. The Hays production code in effect at the time would not have allowed Ilsa to leave her husband for another man.
The DVD set also has the Looney Tunes short "Carrotblanca" on it. Even without Mel Blanc doing the LT characters' voices, it is a scream. (Pepe le Pew as Captain Renault? LOL.)Must watch.
Posted by: Sasha Castel at May 27, 2004 8:37 PMCarrotblanca is hysterical.
And about the "myth" - I got my information from "The Making of Casablanca", the book. Jules Epstein, one of the writers, did not know how to end the film - what would be more powerful - When he and his brother (co-scriptwriter) came up with the line "Round up the usual suspects", they knew they had an ending, and everything followed after that.
Thank God she got on that plane. The movie wouldn't have been the same without her and his sacrifice.
I'm believing the "legend", people. It's in my nature. If it's fiction, then I make no secret that I prefer fiction to reality. :)
Posted by: red at May 28, 2004 9:53 AMI love when Bugs as Rick says, "Of all the juice joints in all the world..."
Too funny.
And Tweetie as the Peter Lorre character. HA!!
Posted by: red at May 28, 2004 11:34 AM