"Sam, If it's December 1941 in Casablanca.......
what time is it in New York?"
"What? My watch stopped."
What is the date of the events in this film? Pre or post Pearl Harbor?
In Bogart's very first scene, he signs a chit dated "2 December '41" -- five days before Pearl Harbor. If I remember the chronology of the movie, everything happens over the course of three days, roughly December 2 through the evening of the 4th.
Which, if you look at a calendar from 1941, means the movie starts on a Tuesday and ends on a Thursday night. Pretty jumping town for mid-week -- love to see what it was like on a Saturday.
Oh, I never noticed the date on the chit he signs. Yes, so the first night is December 2, 1941. I've always been certain it was pre-Pearl Harbor (which happened on a Sunday morning), because of Rick comment, "I'd bet they're asleep in New York. I'd bet they're asleep all over America.", which clearly would not have been the case if the attack had already occurred. Also Ferrari makes reference to "isolationism", which would end abruptly on December 7. In addition, Pearl Harbor was followed very closely by the American declaration of war on Japan, then Germany's declaration of war on the US. After that, Strasser would have viewed Rick as an enemy alien.
shareSlight mistake- I'd have started it a few days later and ended it on Dec 7 - say Renault having just heard about Pearl.Harbour.
shareI kinda like it as-is (go figure) with Renault and Rick signing up based on ethical and moral conviction rather than as a retaliation for Pearl Harbor. This make Rick's "conversion" or "re-awakening," if you prefer, all the more meaningful, since he isn't just responding to a catastrophic event. Also, as Renault isn't American, the attack on Pearl Harbor wouldn't mean as much to him, anyway, and after his own country had been brutalised - not to mention many others - it would seem odd for him to jump in on behalf of America.
shareI meant that Renault would have heard about Pearl.Harbour and finally worked out the winning side!
share