Casablanca-Introduction To Ricks Bar

 In depth analysis of the cinematography used in the introduction to Rick's Bar scene

Cinematography

The scene starts with an establishing shot which consists of the sign for Ricks Bar the sign however reads 'Rick's Café Americain' we will find out however that this is more of a bar than anything else the camera then slowly pans down and starts to move forward, this is to make the audience feel like they are walking in as the camera is moving quite slowly and is just below head height quite like an over the shoulder shot as it is seen to be one until the actor moved out of frame now the lighting outside the bar consists of being very dark however this entices the audiences eyes to Rick's Bar as it has got a massive neon sign. The framing in the establishing shot at the start of the film really wanted the audience to focus on the sign, I think that they've done this to portray the name as is isn't really a café and they want you to know that. The camera throughout the whole scene is moving very slow and very smoothly this is used to make sure that you understand everything that is going out within the bar and that there are soo many different people showing that it does not matter who you are everyone is welcome rich or poor. The camera then proceeds to zoom in on 'Sam' aka Dooley Wilson all the way up to a close shot, in which it then cuts to a two shot and then goes on to pan to another two shot which continues to go to a kind of jump cut to a different two shot the use of this is to portray that everyone has someone to talk to. In which the scene finishes with an over the shoulder shot of a conversation.

Mise-en-scene

Evaluation of Mise-en-scene within the introduction to Rick's Bar, the background at the start of the scene although being in black and white there are many things that you can take from it as throughout the whole scene there is a lot of light and in the background of the scene the bar's set actually looks and appears to be like a bar the miss match lights all of the lamps the poker tables and the roulette wheels all tie into the aspects of a bar as there are people drinking and also people smoking not forgetting also the use of having they're own music produced by Sam on the piano as well as that being in the background his piano is also a prop and the band playing music with him. The clothing that everyone is wearing is typical for the time of the shoot however there are some people that are wearing less expensive and more affordable clothes this shows that the bar is a very diverse place that has people from all different backgrounds and all different classes within society, the people working there have also got the same type of working clothes this is a place in which people could come and be who they are as there are people in there uniforms and people in suits and dresses however no one in anything less showing that the bar also still has class to it and there for everyone is dressed in smart clothing.

Editing

There is a fade used in the start which is from where they are talking to the full shot of Rick's Bar in which it then cuts to the establishing shot of the just the title of 'Rick's Café Americain' then a smooth transition in which the camera pans through the door and its almost like its giving you a tour of Rick's Bar as we follow in behind people and then it cuts to a different angle around the same height however from a side view then it pans left and then zooms in on Sam playing his piano i would say about as far as a close up then it cuts to two shot with a lot of background in the scene panning to another two shot still all going the same way all pans have been towards the left hand side and then it cuts a final time to a over the shoulder two shot to end the scene.

Sound

The music used in the whole of the scene is diegetic meaning that the music you can hear is heard by the audience and by the characters within the scene speaking of the characters within the scene as we get panned into the bar the background chatter also comes through and is able to be heard faintly under the music, at the start is very classical and as the camera pans into the bar the music gets louder by just a bit this is a very good use as it is only letting us hear it at the real volume while being inside of the bar the use of the very instrumental music shows joy and happiness it is also quite slow to portray romance within the bar we also start to hear Sam singing more ambiently as we get closer to him. As we enter conversations within the two shots the music becomes the background noise of the people talking to each other.

Performance

The door man is seen to be nodding at all the people as they come into the bar which portrays that he takes his job seriously and respects the people coming in also as one of the people also was courteous and took of there hat to him a couple in scene are also seen lighting a cigarette and taking his drink from the waiter seeming happy everyone at this point in the scene seems happy to be there as we come upon same who is really enjoying what he is doing as he is singing away and including gestures into his performance the woman watching his performance also seems impressed with what she is seeing, everyone is seen to be glancing towards Sam at one point showing that they're enjoying there selves as it cuts to the two shot of the worker with the customer at the shisha bar he looks to be quite sad / disappointed. As we pan again to the second two shot we can see that the male is complaining that he is never going to leave Casablanca and that he is sad due to his facial expression and his posture he was slouching down on his chain trying to talk to someone however the person he is trying to talk to is sat up straight and is not looking towards his showing a severe lack of interest from the the male he is talking to and the guy trying to talk to him is barely even holding his drink as he has basically given up as the guy that he is talking to is just smoking and gently nodding his head. Switching to the next shot in which is another two shot a woman trying to sell diamonds looking to be of quite a high class and the male is inspecting the diamonds looking  professional says he can do a certain price in which she isn't really happy with but she takes the deal anyway. In which it finally cuts to the over the shoulder shot however the guy in it is very slouched which portrays sadness depression and guilt showing that he is at Rick's to wind down discuss and take a break.