1944: Casablanca

I've seen Casablanca several times. My favorite viewing was at the Paramount Theater in Oakland a few years back. Watching it with an audience made me realize what a funny movie it is. I think that every line by Claude Rains as Captain Renault is absolutely perfect in an economy of words and delivery.

Looking through the list of Oscar movies I still need to watch, there will be very few contenders for the top spot after Casablanca. Clearly, my delay in getting to this movie had nothing to do with dread in watching it. In fact, I just watched it and I could happily pop it in again right, perhaps with one of the commentaries (Ebert's is excellent). No, I just forgot about this project for awhile.


NEXT WEEK: 1945 - Going My Way

Oscar Project Rankings:

1. Casablanca (1944)
2. It Happened One Night (1935)
3. All Quiet on the Western Front (1931)
4. Rebecca (1941)
5. Mutiny on the Bounty (1936)
6. You Can't Take It With You (1939) 
7. Gone With the Wind (1940)
8. The Life of Emile Zola (1938)
9. Grand Hotel (1933)
10. Cimarron (1932)
11. The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
12. Broadway Melody (1930)
13. How Green Was My Valley (1942)
14. Wings (1929)
15. Mrs. Miniver (1943)
16. Cavalcade (1934)