Casablanca

[FilmBuff33172]

One of my favorite "classics" of all time is Casablanca, which starred Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, Paul Henreid, and Peter Lorre. It's mostly remembered for its love story involving the triangle of Bogart, Bergman, and Henreid, and its classic lines (Rick: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine. ), but it's also a movie with a bit of everything for everyone - vintage songs, wartime suspense, and even snappy comedy. Sure, it's dated somewhat and it has a few goofs, but how can anyone not like a film that has bits like:

Captain Renault: My dear Ricky, you overestimate the influence of the Gestapo. I don't interfere with them and they don't interfere with me. In Casablanca I am master of my fate! I am...
Police Officer: Major Strasser is here, sir!
Rick: You were saying?
Captain Renault: Excuse me.

[skatss]

Casablanca is also one of my favorites.

As much as I love the whole movie and can quote lines at the drop of a hat, and think about scenes from time to time, I don't know why but every time I see the scene where the patrons in the restaurant start singing La Marseillaise I tear up.

I'm not that big a fan of France, but to sing your anthem in the face of the enemy who has taken your country over -- just gets me every time!

I just looked the song up. I have never known what the words were in English. WOW! It's even more moving to know what they were singing! Bloodthirsty but brave.

Think of the meaning of the song next time you watch the movie. It's even more powerful'

What a great movie!

La Marseillaise

La Marseillaise was composed by Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle in 1792 and was declared the French national anthem in 1795.

Let's go children of the fatherland,
The day of glory has arrived!
Against us tyranny's
Bloody flag is raised! (repeat)
In the countryside, do you hear
The roaring of these fierce soldiers?
They come right to our arms
To slit the throats of our sons, our friends!

Refrain

Grab your weapons, citizens!
Form your batallions!
Let us march! Let us march!
May impure blood
Water our fields!
**




~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This horde of slaves, traitors, plotting kings,
What do they want?
For whom these vile shackles,
These long-prepared irons? (repeat)
Frenchmen, for us, oh! what an insult!
What emotions that must excite!
It is us that they dare to consider*
Returning to ancient slavery!

What! These foreign troops
Would make laws in our home!
What! These mercenary phalanxes
Would bring down our proud warriors! (repeat)
Good Lord! By chained hands
Our brows would bend beneath the yoke!
Vile despots would become
The masters of our fate!

Tremble, tyrants! and you, traitors,
The disgrace of all groups,
Tremble! Your parricidal plans
Will finally pay the price! (repeat)
Everyone is a soldier to fight you,
If they fall, our young heros,
France will make more,
Ready to battle you!

Frenchmen, as magnanimous warriors,
Bear or hold back your blows!
Spare these sad victims,
Regretfully arming against us. (repeat)
But not these bloodthirsty despots,
But not these accomplices of Bouillé,
All of these animals who, without pity,
Tear their mother's breast to pieces!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sacred love of France,
Lead, support our avenging arms!
Liberty, beloved Liberty,
Fight with your defenders! (repeat)
Under our flags, let victory
Hasten to your manly tones!
May your dying enemies
See your triumph and our glory!

Refrain

We will enter the pit
When our elders are no longer there;
There, we will find their dust
And the traces of their virtues. (repeat)
Much less eager to outlive them
Than to share their casket,
We will have the sublime pride
Of avenging them or following them!

Refrain