Cassablanca

Classical Hollywood Cinematic Techniques in “Casablanca (1942)” Student Name Institution Course Professor Date Classical Hollywood Cinematic Techniques in “Casablanca (1942)” One sequence that demonstrates the classical Hollywood approach to storytelling in the film Casablanca (1942) is the moment at the airport where Rick and Ilsa face each other before her departure. Camera Angles and Movement The scene unfolds with Rick and Ilsa standing with a medium shot, focusing on them. By setting the camera on a person at the level of the eyes and with neutrality, it makes it possible for the viewer to look at each other's movements in private. It is populated by the chatter most of the time, where one often sees close-ups of the "participants" aimed at the faces to see the movements in tears, or wants, or anger, or a crying inner battle. An example of this is Rick, who gets up close to his already obvious face because of his suffering, while holding his head in despair with the other hand. The slow dollies and little shifts direct attention to very specific moments, such as Rick's expression when he understands that Ilsa is leaving, or to his tearful intercession (Sharman, 2020). The camera motions integrate fluidly with the rhythm of the scene; a Hollywood technique to align an audience with its characters. Lighting and Mise-en-scène Lighting in this shot is emotionally high-stakes and high-contrast. The characters' faces are lit with soft, almost diffused key lights, which creates a sense of intimacy. Rick's eclipsed sorrow is concealed by the shadow that is dominated by the internal strife. The background is dimly lit, which is a Hollywood style aimed at focusing on the characters and actions. The p...