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Parents' Guide to

Casablanca

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Brief violence and lots of tension in top-notch classic.

Movie NR 1942 102 minutes
Casablanca Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 11+

Based on 18 parent reviews

Michelle L.
Michelle L. Parent of 4 and 6-year-old
July 21, 2023
age 17+

A good film marred by the casual racism of the period

Coming back and watching this now with a broader and more critical view of American history and American involvement in WW2, and what America did after left me far more conflicted about this film than I once was. Rick as a metaphor for neutrality on the eve of WW2 - the view of the conflict as largely a spat between Europeans with "undesirables" caught in the crossfire (notice how carefully the film elides anti-Semitism and the persecution of Jews, notice the latent racism of even the "good" white Americans towards the sole black character, notice how even Rick plays "ownership games" with him and how all of this is intended to reassure *white* audiences of the time that he's a good, loyal, smiling black man, who respectfully addresses all the whites by their last names and honorifics as they casually refer to him by his first). It's too racist and too sanitized and too flattering to American whiteness and 1940s-era white majority racial insouciance for me to call it "the best film ever" or recommend it as good material for young people - but it is a remarkable artifact of its time, at least, and few films have more effectively and intelligently portrayed the dynamic between two people who love each other but will not ever be together than this one.
BrigidArmbrust
BrigidArmbrust Adult
May 7, 2021
age 12+
See all 18 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Set in French-controlled Casablanca, Morocco, in the early part of World War II, CASABLANCA follows hardboiled American nightclub owner Rick (Humphrey Bogart), who agrees to hide some stolen (and highly coveted) transit letters, which are used by refugees to leave the country and escape from the Nazis. Police Captain Renault (Claude Rains) and Nazi Major Strasser (Conrad Veidt) are tipped off that Rick might have the letters, and they put pressure on him to return them. Strasser is also hunting escaped Czech resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), who arrives at Rick's with Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman). Rick and Ilsa have a history, and Rick is still deeply angry at the woman who disappeared from his life years before. What ensues is a story of love, betrayal, sacrifice, narrow escapes, and the most memorable airport tarmac scene in film history.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (18 ):
Kids say (49 ):

This is probably the most famous Hollywood classic of all time, and for good reason. Certainly the most quoted and the most frequently cited as an all-time favorite, Casablanca won Best Picture, Director, and Writer awards at the 1943 Oscar ceremony. The definitive rebuttal to notions of the "auteur" (one author) in film, the romantic drama was put together in pieces by many different sources, with some script pages completed just moments before the cameras rolled. The performances by Bogart and Bergman are so subtle and complex because the actors themselves had no idea how it was going to end. Almost every frame of the movie is iconic, and it has been endlessly copied and parodied.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what makes a movie like Casablanca stand the test of time. Is it the characters? The themes of good and evil? The unforgettable dialogue? Which contemporary movies do you think will last?

  • How does the historical context affect the film? In what ways does the backdrop of WWII influence the characters and their actions?

  • How do the characters in Casablanca demonstrate integrity and courage? Why are these important character traits?

  • How does Sam, the pianist, help move the plot forward? Why is it important to see an empowered Black character in a 1940s film?

  • How are the film's themes relevant to today? What are some parallels between the refugees in the film and refugees escaping violent countries in the modern age?

Movie Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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