Conversion narratives are crucial to World War II films. They were a regular part of Hollywood movies featuring cynical, self-centered antiheros who only cared about themselves. The selfish hero in the face of absolute need converts to a selfless wartime activist dedicating time and resources to the cause and war effort. Casablanca, released in 1942, is a film that portrayed the consequences of having to convert to war. The movie can be seen as giving purpose to war and encouraging the American people to support the mobilization of their troops. The need to convert to war was imperative at this moment in time. Casablanca brilliantly explained to Americans the reason for the fight through the fictional conversion of Rick Blaine and corrupt Vichy police Captain Louis Renault to self-sacrifice and war.
The opening scene for the movie sets up establishing shots of imprisoned Europe. A roundabout refugee trail sprung up in order to get to Lisbon, which was the disembarkation point to the new world. The narrator, in a newsreel format, says people looked for freedom in the Americas. The Moroccan city of Casablanca attracted people from all over as many refugees were trying to get out of Europe. They wait in Casablanca. The first scene shows Casablanca as a very police state with a great military presence. The busyness of the exotic open market the camera frame shows the city as being very walled in. People are trapped and they can’t move or go anywhere. The murder of two German couriers carrying transit papers is being investigated as the police are “rounding up the usual suspects.”
Most of the people in Casablanca – refugees, gamblers, Nazis, and resistance fighters – make their way over to Rick’s Café Americain the nightclub owned by American expatriate Rick Blaine. Rick is cynical and bitter and professes to be neutral in all matters. In a conversation with Louis Renault, Rick states, “I stick my neck out for nobody.” In reply, Renault says, “A wise foreign policy.” Both men are seemingly alone. Rick follows a neutral path while Louis goes with however the wind blows. In this scene, the audience learns that Rick was not always detached and selfish. He once had enough idealism risk fighting fascism. Louis says, “My dear Ricky I suspect that under that cynical shell you are at heart a sentimentalist.” It is at this point that the viewers learn that Rick ran guns to Ethiopia to combat the Italian invasion and fought on the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. The viewers wonder how did someon who believed in a world without fascism end up running a saloon in Casablanca with a strict isolationist policy.
The reason for Rick’s bitterness re-enters his life as she and her husband walk through the door of his saloon. Ilsa Lund and her renown Czech Resistance leader husband, Victor Laszlo come to purchase letters of transit in order to escape to America to continue his work. It is in this particular scene that the viewers hear the song “As Time Goes By” which is symbolic of the love story in the film. Sam plays the song for Ilsa and there is a long close up of Ilsa experiencing a flood of emotions and memories. When she and Rick reunite, there is a look in both of their eyes of seeing a lost love. The following dialogue from the scene foreshadow the softening of Rick’s exterior and his eventual self-sacrifice and return to the war effort. Rick says to Victor, “I congratulate you.” Victor replies, “What for?” Rick says, “Your work.” Victor replies with a short, “I try.” Rick answers with, “We all try, but you succeed.” Rick is acknowledging the fact that Victor is a great man to the resistance. He has made a difference for the people in Europe. Louis notices the difference in tone and action by Rick with the appearance of Ilsa and Victor. As observant as he is, Louis states, “Rick you are becoming quite human, I suppose we have you to thank for that mademoiselle.” He is softening up and letting love dictate his actions.
“As Time Goes By” makes another dramatic melodic appearance when the club has closed down and Sam stays by Rick’s side. Through the song, the viewers get a glimpse of how life was in Paris for the two lovers by way of flashbacks. They were happy, carefree, in love, and no longer seem to have a sad melancholy personality that they currently do in Casablanca. There are establishing shots in the flashbacks of the invasion of Paris. The Germans are coming to occupy the symbol of France with their tanks coming directly for Paris. We realize that Rick must get out because he is already on their blacklist with a price on his head for his particular fight against fascism. A completely different side of Rick is shown to us. He is made human with feelings. Their love affair is representative of a more passionate and free life with an underlying commitment to social reform.
With the return of Illsa to his life, Rick starts becoming the man he once was in Paris. The poor Bulgarian couple do not have much money in order to get their exit visas. The wife implies that she is contemplating sleeping with Louis in order to get an exit visa. Rick helps the poor couple win at roulette. It is the romantic and sentimentalist side of him and it is the first time the viewers see him sticking his neck out for someone other than himself. This subplot shows how Rick can preach cynicism and practice something completely different.
Most of the scenes in the film are shot in Rick’s Café . Everybody in Casablanca comes to Rick’s – it is the waiting room to find an exit visa to a better life in America. Rick knows what goes on in his Café. He does not stop it but he also does not join so it is an interesting turn of events that Rick should end up being the holder of the letters of transit from the 2 German couriers. Victor Laszlo tries to buy the visas from Rick but he unwilling to part with them. Rick says, “the problems of the world aren’t in my department.” Victor points out his previous help with running guns and fighting the fascists in Spain. To Victor, it seems that Rick is always fighting on the side of the underdog and must do what he can to help them now.
One of the most moving scenes is the dueling of the two songs. A group of German Nazis led by Major Strasser begins to sing a German patriotic song by the piano. Infuriated, Laszlo orders the house band to play “La Marseillaise” the song of the Free French. Rick gives his consent and soon enough the patriotic fervor inspires the crowd and everyone sings drowning out the Germans. People are standing up to the Germans. In his own way, Rick is no longer neutral but slowly being converted to the “cause.”
The last scene of the movie, Rick says he has done a lot of thinking and it all adds up to Ilsa getting on the plane where she belongs. They both know that she belongs with Victor since she keeps him going and is apart of his work. It is in this scene that Rick truly converts to the war and self-sacrifice through the love of a good woman. Rick has restored his faith in love and ideals and now acts to fight against tyranny and oppression. Rick realizes that there are bigger problems than the three of them and they do not matter in the scheme of things. He sacrifices their dream of being together for a job that they both have to do. Rick must go his way and Ilsa must help her husband. In order for the war effort to be effective, women were supposed to channel their effort into the home. Laszlo recognizes Rick’s change of heart and says, “Welcome back to the fight. This time I know our side will win.” The more people the resistance can round up, the better chance they have of winning.
Casablanca must have resonated with viewers when it was released. It was a typical war movie of the time but it’s the love story and the idea of self-sacrifice that gave it eternal fame. The idea of self-sacrifice for the greater good and the necessity for personal commitment to the war effort were lessons that the film tried to impress upon audiences. Rick learned that in the world today isolationism is no longer a practical policy. Rick can be equated to FDR who is the stubborn isolationist who refused to get involved in someone else’s battle. The film can be seen allegorically as Rick and Roosevelt stand by as Americans and at the proper time step up and turn the tide in favor of the Allies. In the film, Rick gambles with the future until circumstances change and he is forced to commit himself and shift from isolationism to involvement in the war.
There is a two part conversion at the end of this film. Rick’s eventual conversion has been foreshadowed throughout the whole film and the viewers suspect that he will join the cause once again. Louis says, “Well Rick, you’re not only a sentimentalist, but you’ve become a patriot.” Rick replies, “Maybe, but it seemed like a good time to start.” Louis unexpectedly answers, “I think perhaps you’re right.” It is the interesting twist of corrupt Captain Louis Renault joining the fight that is surprising. Louis throws out the Vichy water bottle into the trash can effectively dismissing Vichy Casablanca and joining the Free French and the cause. Rick and Louis both convert to war patriots and go to a Free French gathering in Brazzaville. They are inspired to fight against the brutality and cruelty of the fascist regime led by Hitler and Mussolini.

Casablanca’s Conversion Narrative