Dish of the Day
Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:
Monday, April 24, 2023
Today’s “Dish of the Day” was inspired by a recent post in our Facebook chat room (all readers are welcome to join here). For more than several years now whenever TCM shows Now, Voyager (1942), I post my review. Casablanca was released later that year and since it shares some of the same important artists who contributed to the making of Now, Voyager, I reference that film as well. Both motion pictures have a significant romantic component. In regards to Casablanca, however, I have often been taken to task for determining this aspect underwhelming especially during the Parisian flashback. Quite a few members announced that their critical findings were practically the opposite of mine in comparing the two intimate storylines.
Now, Voyager
One of these criticisms directed my way prompted the following response:
“There's no question that conceptually, Casablanca promises the far more intricate, meaningful and fulfilling experience for viewers compared to Now, Voyager which on paper, looks like a fairly conventional ugly duckling to beautiful swan cliche of a set-up. In execution, however, at least for this viewer, each provides almost opposite results. We know that many an audience member will buy into a story’s romantic premise hook, line and sinker especially if the outcome includes an act of heroic sacrifice as is presented in Casablanca. How many times have we heard the chorus of hosannas for a film's subject matter even when the delivery relies so heavily on that factor alone? For anyone looking for a sense of vision as to how the storytellers will bring all of their threads together in a cohesive, revealing and impactful way, a film made "on the fly" like Casablanca is bound to disappoint to some degree or another. Now, Voyager on the other hand, even though the complexity of characterisation may not have existed at first, is a consequential surprise due in large part to its filmmakers having that sense of knowing where they're headed, how they're going to get there and sure sense of purpose in what they want to achieve.”
Casablanca
All responses are not only welcomed but encouraged in the comments section below.
Hope to see you tomorrow.
A.G.