12 Reasons Why Casablanca is the Greatest Film of All Time

9. Atmosphere

Why do we watch movies? For most of us, movies are an escape from everyday life. It's a chance to briefly and vicariously live out a fantasy existence. Casablanca provides this fantasy on many levels, not the least of which is its exotic locale. The town of Casablanca has always been a mysterious place, and even more so during World War II when Casablanca takes place. The opening monologue sets the mysterious and exotic atmosphere quite brilliantly.

With the coming of the Second World War, many eyes in imprisoned Europe turned hopefully, or desperately, toward the freedom of the Americas. Lisbon became the great embarkation point. But, not everybody could get to Lisbon directly, and so a tortuous, roundabout refugee trail sprang up - Paris to Marseilles... across the Mediterranean to Oran... then by train, or auto, or foot across the rim of Africa, to Casablanca in French Morocco. Here, the fortunate ones through money, or influence, or luck, might obtain exit visas and scurry to Lisbon; and from Lisbon, to the New World. But the others wait in Casablanca... and wait... and wait... and wait.

How can you not be intrigued by that opening?
Contributor

Tim is a varied character. He's lived on three continents. He hates ice cream. He has been a highly-paid computer programmer. He invents collectible card games. He is a coffee shop owner. He has had fantasy stories published in magazines. Eventually he wishes to retire from life and become a professional 10-pin bowler who writes articles while living in his RV and traveling from bowling tournament to bowling tournament with his faithful wife in tow. And of course, Tim is a major horror and science fiction fan.