Scene of the Day: Casablanca

I already had this as my favorite scene from Casablanca in my Top 100 but this really might be my favorite scene of all time. I mean, upon some serious thought...really. From me, that's saying something. One of my best friends from college who was a cold-hearted son of a bitch...this scene moved him to tears.

If you've not seen Casablanca...there is something wrong with you...but you should still be able to get this scene. If you have seen Casablanca, please note how well it captures the three main characters, and two of the main supporting characters (Raines and the prostitute girl) in under two minutes.

And I wanna point out one moment in this scene that always sticks out at me. And this is for people who have seen the film; so you philistines better check on out. At 1:03 of the youtube clip they cut to Ingrid Bergman and she seems to be breathing heavily. It's actually kind of weird until one remembers how one feels when they are just awed by something. It is a rare feeling...but something can't, as they say, take your breath away without the body trying to catch up. This is Ilsa (Bergman's character) trying to grasp what is happening, and the fact that her lover Paul (Victor Laszlo), by force of will, just quieted out the Nazis is a little too amazing for her. Then we cut to a shot of Paul leading the song, with a Jeterian fist pump, that shows the character's virtues in one shot.

And then the biggie, the shot that makes this scene for me: Until now we've seen Paul as kinda lame. Uncool. A Boy-Scout. The anti-Rick, and we all know...to be the anti-Bogart... is to be kinda lame. But then this little moment. Bergman, not only one of the most beautiful, but one of the most admirable, actresses of all time, gives Paul that look. That look at 1:10 of this cut that I really don't have the ability to put into words. The only way I can put it is the look one person gives another when they feel love, respect, amazement, appreciation, understanding, all that, for the other. I really don't think I'm looking too much into this moment. This is what makes, in my mind, Bergman the best actress of all time. She has to be this woman who is more in love with one man (Rick) than the idea of another (Paul) but sell the idea that, eventually, she'd leave with the idea over the man. This one shot does it for me. That look she gives, of just...total respect and awe and love...remarkable.

I know a lot of my friends and family (along with you strangers out there) read this old blog of ours but don't have the time or desire to respond or leave comments. Well, this time, I'm throwing down a challenge: Be it on youtube, or via email or text, or however you like...find a more perfect scene than this. I dare you. I double toucan dare you. From my end, you can't find a more stirring, or informative, or better constructed scene than this - my best film scene of all time: