MJB SCRIPT REVIEW | CASABLANCA

So, the script to CASABLANCA (which was still being written after filming had finished, if you can believe it!).

Plot in a nutshell: Rick, a cynical expatriate American tries to stay one step ahead of World War 2 from his French Moroccan cafe. Then his former lover and her fugitive husband come into his life, begging for help to escape the Nazis there. Something that will force Rick to finally pick a side...

Another masterpiece. Flows effortlessly and the characters are so clearly defined. I'm not going to say anymore. It's CASABLANCA. Wonderful.

So…what one essential piece of writing wisdom did I learn from CASABLANCA?

When Rick is approached by one of his casino employees, Emil, Emil hesitantly informs Rick that someone has won a large sum of money in the casino, to which Emil apologises profusely, taking full responsibility. Rick assures him it’s ok and gives him the money. Emil apologises and leaves.

In one exchange, I could see that a supporting character can help show several character traits of a lead protagonist (for the benefit of both audience and story) just by one simple exchange. We discover that Rick cares for his staff, is a savvy businessman (every casino owner knows a casino has to pay out big once in a blue moon to keep the punters returning) and understands that even fate can deal a crappy hand at work on a Tuesday. These all help to build Ricks character and why he does what he does later on in the script. Essential character groundwork in a small but clever piece of scene writing. Both fascinating and a joy to discover. Now even the tiniest characters will have new purpose for me.

This is one of those scripts that's a pre-requisite read. Essential.

Link to the script; https://thescriptsavant.com/movies/Casablanca.pdf