Ten Movies "Everybody" Saw -- Including Me: Casablanca (#1)

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And so this part of the quadruple feature has the curtain come down. Next up will be "classic" and/or critically-acclaimed movies that I suffered through. First, though, is the "king" of the classic movies in my books...one that "everybody" has seen, including me. Here it is. #1: Casablanca On a morning from a Bogart movie, in a country where they turn back time You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre contemplating a crime (Al Stewart, "Year of the Cat") On the next list there will be a movie that I feel is horribly dated. This movie, despite being set in a very specific time, is the complete opposite of that. This movie is one of the great, timeless romance films. And yes, I know it's hokey to the modern eye, especially the back-drop projection screen in the flashback scenes. Too bad. Ingrid Bergman didn't think this movie would amount to much. It's not much....except the "best picture" Oscar for 1943, the #2 film on the American Film Institute's "100 Years, 100 Movies" list (second only to Citizen Kane), and the #1 romantic movie on the AFI "romantic movies" list. And, of course, the quotes: "we'll always have Paris," "here's looking at you, kid," and "round up the usual suspects" are just some of the lines that are part of American popular culture. Until I ditched cable I watched it every time it was on Turner Classic Movies. Now I watch the DVD whenever I feel like it. With apologies to another great Bogart film, this classic is the stuff that dreams are made of. Thanks for reading. Casablanca Directed by Michael Curtiz Released in 1942 Play it, Sam: