Casablanca Character Overviews
Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart):
From the first scene we see Rick in, he is only spoken of beforehand and is shown through the various characters in his 'Cafe Americain', most of which are doing something dodgy. This therefore makes the audience assume that Rick may not necessarily be a good person. Whilst his cafe is very popular, the main officials discussing his place earlier in the film on their arrival, Rick is more passive and keeps to himself. With the arrival of Isla, a previous lover, this passiveness is shown to have a reason, for he is heartbroken from their past when she never showed up at the train station. Seeing her again has in a way opened him up again, since as the film goes on he becomes more emotional, for example he knows the consequences of a woman getting a visa from Renault and therefore helps the lady, especially since the monologue has a similarity to his story. His double way betrayal at the end of the film shows how he's perceived by others who vaguely know him with what he's really like; when he makes Renault believe that he's going to hand over Laszlo, going off with Isla but instead letting Laszlo and Isla escape whilst threatening Renault and the other officers, completely aware of the consequences.
From the first scene we see Rick in, he is only spoken of beforehand and is shown through the various characters in his 'Cafe Americain', most of which are doing something dodgy. This therefore makes the audience assume that Rick may not necessarily be a good person. Whilst his cafe is very popular, the main officials discussing his place earlier in the film on their arrival, Rick is more passive and keeps to himself. With the arrival of Isla, a previous lover, this passiveness is shown to have a reason, for he is heartbroken from their past when she never showed up at the train station. Seeing her again has in a way opened him up again, since as the film goes on he becomes more emotional, for example he knows the consequences of a woman getting a visa from Renault and therefore helps the lady, especially since the monologue has a similarity to his story. His double way betrayal at the end of the film shows how he's perceived by others who vaguely know him with what he's really like; when he makes Renault believe that he's going to hand over Laszlo, going off with Isla but instead letting Laszlo and Isla escape whilst threatening Renault and the other officers, completely aware of the consequences.
Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman):
Ilsa Lund is first introduced with Laszlo, who we later find out to be her husband in a moment of suspense. She is only first spoken of, only known as the companion of Laszlo, a man of threat to the officers, and is namelessly mentioned in Rick's cafe. This makes her first appearance have a big impact, especially when Sam has a cold response (and shock) to her arrival. She arrives in Casablanca to get exit visas so her and Laszlo can flee to America, however when she finds Rick again, things become more complex, for her and Rick had fallen in love in Paris, when Laszlo had believed to been dead in a concentration camp. Her past relationship with Rick is of high importance to the film, for it reveals more about each character in the film and affects more than just them two.
Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid):
A highly regarded Czech Resistance Leader, Victor Laszlo is of great importance to the affair of the war, especially when he arrives in Casablanca with his wife, Isla. He is a very rebellious character, known to run an underground newspaper in Prague, causing him to have enemies. Since he has escaped from the Nazis three times, he is hunted down by the officers, making sure he cannot escape. However the double way betrayal from Rick enables him to flee (even though the audience is made to believe that he will be captured). His motives never change throughout the film, his cause for freedom for everyone remains and is clearly shown through the major scene where Laszlo chooses to overpower the Nazis singing by singing the French national anthem.
A highly regarded Czech Resistance Leader, Victor Laszlo is of great importance to the affair of the war, especially when he arrives in Casablanca with his wife, Isla. He is a very rebellious character, known to run an underground newspaper in Prague, causing him to have enemies. Since he has escaped from the Nazis three times, he is hunted down by the officers, making sure he cannot escape. However the double way betrayal from Rick enables him to flee (even though the audience is made to believe that he will be captured). His motives never change throughout the film, his cause for freedom for everyone remains and is clearly shown through the major scene where Laszlo chooses to overpower the Nazis singing by singing the French national anthem.
Captain Louis Renault (Claude Reins):
Renault is portrayed as a very sleazy character, though his intentions are never stated, it is known that he has a tendency to sleep with women who can not afford an exit visa. His intentions are purely for the pleasure of himself, and in his mind he's doing everyone a favour. He abuses his level of power of an officer, however at the end of the film, the character makes a turning point and instead of handing Rick over to the officers, sees the good that Rick is doing and then helps him when Rick shoots the officer - 'round up the usual suspects'.
Renault is portrayed as a very sleazy character, though his intentions are never stated, it is known that he has a tendency to sleep with women who can not afford an exit visa. His intentions are purely for the pleasure of himself, and in his mind he's doing everyone a favour. He abuses his level of power of an officer, however at the end of the film, the character makes a turning point and instead of handing Rick over to the officers, sees the good that Rick is doing and then helps him when Rick shoots the officer - 'round up the usual suspects'.
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