'Casablanca'

Another example of a film noir was 'Casablanca', directed by Michael Curtiz, 1942. The film was set in the early years of World War II and is a romantic drama. It follows the story of a man called Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), an American expatriate, who owns a night club in Casablanca, Morocco.
The film begins with a man- Urgate who has come into the possession of transit letters after killing two Germans. Later that evening, Urgate is arrested by police. Urgate leaves the letters with Rick and the story unfolds based around the letters. Following the story, a surprise reunion occurs when his 'only love' walks into his club. The woman is Ilsa Lund (a possible femme fatale) and has come with her husband to buy the letters. The tension between Rick and Ilsa rises as he is bitter towards her after she left him in Paris. We are shown flash backs to when they were together, and an establishing shot helps us realise where they were. She does her best to try to explain to Rick why she left him, as there is a valid reason. The romantic times that Rick and Ilsa shared were shown to the audience as they both asked the club's pianist, Sam to play a song they loved, "As Time Goes By". As the song is played, close ups show the expressions on their faces as certain emotions are triggered.
During 'Casablanca' we are shown very film noir mise-en-scene. The places in which are the settings and locations appear to always be busy and crowded. A sense of claustrophobia is created, which gives the idea that they can never talk in private. Also, the interruptions and sudden appearances of the police (Official- Renault) and Germans (a Major Strasser) make the characters and audience on edge.
The settings were very classic film noir, as the exteriors were urban, dimly-lit in a big city. The nightclub was also a film noir theme as there were flashing neon lights.

Quite a few thriller signifiers were used too, such as, the characters smoking and drinking which are the usual flaws of a hero-like character, Ilsa could be classed as a femme fatale, as she wears clothes which accentuate her figure and we later find that she has a gun. The club and apartment where Ilsa waits for Rick is quite bleak and has deep shadows due to the chiaroscuro lighting. The gun appears when Rick has refused to give the documents to Ilsa but that does not weaken his decision. The femme fatale is a stronger picture here as she appears to be dangerous. This image is destroyed however as she cannot bring herself to pull the trigger, this point is evident as she- instead- confesses that she still loves him. Whether or not she is a femme fatale is debatable but there are aspects of her that make her seem one. A combination of being a trustworthy and loving woman against, a woman who wants to get anything at any cost. This idea can be supported by how she wants to help her husband get out of Europe- showing her loving side, whilst she hopes that a gun will make Rick decide to help her. A tough-sweet image is put across too as his decisions are confused by her confession of how much she still loves him.
The story unfolds with more twists and turns as Lazlo is in prison, but Rick decides to help him but actually is very deceitful. He promises the Official of police that he will set Lazlo up for a more serious crime although he does not intend to do that. He double crosses the Official of the police by forcing him at gunpoint to assist in the escape. Rick makes Ilsa and Lazlo get on the plane to Lisbon after telling her that she will regret it if she doesn't. The ending draws into a close, with the German Major being shot, Renault saving Rick's life by not telling his fellow partners that Rick shot him, and then recommends they both leave Casablanca. The famous final exit quotation is: "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." as they disappear into the fog, leaving it at a slight cliff hanger.