A perfect pairing of sound and vision. The duelling anthems in Casablanca.

One of the all time great uses of music in a film. If this doesn't move you....well I'm sorry but you are dead inside.

Rick's bar. 1941. Vichy French occupied Casablanca. A room full of expats on the run from the war. Rick (Humphrey Bogart) is a fence sitter, he plays both sides. Laszlo (Paul Heinreid) who is a resistance fighter needs his help but Rick refuses to piss off the nazis. One night in the bar Laszlo hears the German song Die Wacht Am Rhein being sung. He can't take it. He marches through the bar. His wife (Ingrid Bergman) looks on terrified. Laslzo demands the band plays the French national anthem, a song banned in the city. The band leader looks to Rick. They'll do whatever he wants. Rick makes the biggest decision of his life. A classic scene is made.

The looks on Ingrid Bergman's face, first of fear and then pride. Rick's simple nod. The realisation that this simple action is going to be a massive game changer. The palpable anger and disgust on the face of the Nazi bloke to the left of the screen. The look of resignation on Conrad Veidt's nazi officer. He knows what's going to happen next. The raw intensity in Laszlo's singing. Yvonne's heart bursting out of her chest as she sings and every other French person in the bar who is sick of being under the thumb of an oppressive regime absolutely giving it welly. It's a symbolic victory but it's one that will fill your heart.

"Aux armes citoyens, formez vos bataillons. Marchons, marchons!"

"To arms citizens, form your battalions. March, march."

It's like it was written for the film. Play the below video with the sound up high.



Perfect ain't it. Look at the faces of the people in the bar. That's real emotion. A lot of the extras in this film were actual war refugees from France. They weren't acting.

If you haven't seen this film I'm genuinely jealous. If you have, this scene will make you want to watch it again. 

Previous parts

Zodiac
Jackie Brown
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
Deliverance
The Omen
Copland
Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Once More With Feeling
The Mission
Before Sunset
Carlito's Way
A Knight's Tale
Platoon
Before Sunrise
Rushmore
An American Werewolf In London
Dazed And Confused
Boogie Nights
Raging Bull
Almost Famous
Once Upon A Time In The West
Goodfellas
Last Of The Mohicans