While searching to see if there was a thread dedicated to this film, I found the image above.. Thanks, Joe, I thought it would make a lovely start to this.
A friend and I went to see the 2pm screening today. There were only about 35 people in the theater, some my age, some much much younger. The manager assured me the evening performance at 7pm is almost sold out. Those 34 other people and I had an incredible experience.
Robert O introduced the movie (boy is he cute on a big screen!) and had about a 10 minute intro to the film. I started getting nervous, so many of the key points of the movie were shown in the intro, I was afraid it might spoil the actual viewing...nope, it did not. From the opening credits, when that Warner Bros shield appears, to the last, foggy scene with Louie and Rick strolling off, everyone was firmly planted in their seats. Laughter in all the right places, (S.Z. Sakall got the most laughs,) and sniffles from the ladies several times. I even heard some throat clearing from several men.
The most stirring moment for me was when Victor Lazlo leads the band in the Marseillaise. I was ready to leap up and sing along. The next most moving moment was at the Roulette wheel, when Rick tells the young Bulgarian to put it all on 22 and keep it there....S.Z. and I were thrilled.
Ingrid Bergman was unbelievably radiant in this movie. Her eyes glowed, her skin glowed...and her hair. Oh, my goodness, that hair. It had a shiny softness to it, you could almost smell the fresh scent of it. Bogie never ever looked as good as he did today. So many facial expressions, small ones that sometimes go unnoticed when I've seen it on television. When he slams the table and says "Play it, Sam. If she can take it, so can I." my heart just kind of clenched. And his last "Here's looking at you, Kid" sent me reaching for the tissues. When Ilsa says "I wish I didn't love you so much", I heard 2 ladies (not together) sigh...and I sniffled...
Thanks for listening to me gush....
on my face!