Saturday, March 4, 2023

Casablanca: Plot & Theme Revisited

Since this was one the most important writing lessons I ever learned. (Thank you, Mr. Lehane. I can't call you Dennis because we didn't have a drink together. I still hope.) Anyway, I needed to update my blog and this is the way I'm doing the deed. From many years ago: When the movie CASABLANCA opens and engages us, Humphrey Bogart (Richard Blane) wants the girl from his past, one, and second, to keep himself out of World War II. Rick's hiding. He doesn't like Nazis, but he doesn't want to actively fight anymore. So when the movie ends, when Humphrey and the police captain stroll into the airport fog, does Rick have what he wanted? Oh, hell no, you genre writers! He GAVE UP the freaking girl. She wanted him. He could have taken her back. The love of his freaking life. But no. It was better for the Nazi-fighters if she stayed with her husband. And that's the second part, isn't it? He wanted to stay out of the war, but now, he's not only sacrificing love and happiness, he's marching off to physically fight Nazis again, too. He's changed. He's become a better man. He's placed the whole world above his own little one. (TFA says in the newspaper business, editors used to call this kind of reporter a Crusader Rabbit. After Watergate, they called them boss.) My point? Honestly, troops, I'm not one-hundred percent sure. I'm just a little nervous. Because frankly, when Rick gave up that babe (Ingrid, was it?) to go hold a machine-gun, I had to wonder about his sensibilities. Maybe his manhood. Theme maybe isn't what grabs me. This Casablanca example of theme was the biggest thing TFA says he learned from his writers workshop with Dennis Lehane this past week. Plot is about what your protagonist WANTS. Theme should be woven into what he really NEEDS. Mr. L or his fantastic assistant, Tom Bernardo, mentioned this Casablanca example during class, and it thumped TFA over the head. It's why he risked taking me to a literary writing conference. TFA said he might want to make the Austin Carr Mystery Series grow a bit. I didn't worry much before we went. I figured TFA was full of it. But this Casablanca thing scares me, dudes. I don't want to fight Nazis. You know what I mean. I want to stay single, chase redheads, outwit the bad guys, charm my way out of tight situations. Fun and thrills, right? And now, TFA says he really loves this idea of theme, maybe writing stories so that I, Austin Carr, get what I really need. This is a very frightening thought.

5 comments:

Rick Bylina said...

Be not afraid, Austin. TFA is using the greatest movie ever (my opinion) as a guideline to make you a better character. It can only make you better in the process and get you more redheads in the long run.

"Don't you realize, Mr. Blane, that you are running away from yourself." - Victor Lazlo to Rick Blane

AND THEN RIGHT BEFORE THE ENDING...

"Welcome back to the fight. This time I know our side will win." - Victor Lazlo to Rick blane

Jack Getze said...

We share a love for Casablana, my friend. Am I right in remembering the Lazlo line you quoted is the ONLY mention of Rick's last name?

But I'm still nervous. Getting more redheads would be nice, but I'm afraid acting like Dudly Doright could also get me killed.

Rick Bylina said...

Actually, when Major Strasser interviews Rick in the club, he reads from his little black book:

Richard Blane, 37, from New York, can't return to America, but the reason is a bit vague.

LOL...Being more Rick like will hardly make you more Dudley Doright.

Justin Murphy said...

Very good writeup. Have been getting into theme in the last few years after chasing plot. Outside of your post and a section in The Screenwriter's Bible by David Trottier, I haven't heard much about want or need in a story. But there's a similar concept in Joseph Campbell's Monomyth (yes...I'm a complete and total dork).

There's a stage in the journey entitled "Meeting With The Temptress". Where the hero must reject her advances (even if he wants to go to bed with her) to restore his focus and move forward. While most "settle" for the typical "guy gets girl" ending, it's not uncommon for him to ditch the girl for something more important as one would think.

Jack Getze said...

Campbell's book is not nerdy, my man. It's the story!