Peliculillas y peliculones.

 "De todo hay en la viña del Señor". Y en apenas dos años de diferencia se producen las mejores y las peores películas, incluso cuando tienen grandes semejanzas en el argumento o en el elenco actoral. Tomemos dos películas: Passage to Marseille y Casablanca: la primera de 1944 y la segunda de 1942; ambas dirigidas por Michael Curtiz; ambas protagonizadas por Humphrey Bogart y con actores de la talla de Peter Lorre, Claude Rains o Sydney Greenstreet; y, por supuesto, el argumento es harto parecido: la lucha vital de un grupo de desesperados que a la vez que tratan de sobrevivir, ayudan decisivamente a la victoria aliada en la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

Imagen tomada del sitio rato-movieposters.blogspot.com

  Y ahí acaban las semejanzas, porque si Casablanca es una de las mejores películas de todos los tiempos, con una fineza de actuación de Bogart y la Bergman, pero además con una ambientación extraordinaria, con una sutileza a la hora de narrar la historia y un argumento verosímil, Passage to Marseille es infumable, una de las peores películas que he visto recientemente.

Imagen tomada del sitio doctormacro.com

   Passage to Marseille es un bodrio típico del cine hecho en la guerra: un panfleto intragable en el que los buenos son buenísimos y los malos malísimos. Los propios Bogart, Rains, Lorre o Greenstreet están desdibujados, nada que ver con los personajes de Casablanca. Pero la mayor diferencia está en el guión que marca tal diferencia que difícilmente hace a ambas películas pertenecientes a la misma actividad artística... no sé si Casablanca  es cine, entonces Passage to Marseille debe ser un "pasarratos" o algo así... Para dejar buen sabor de boca copio y pego citas de diálogos del maravillosamente cínico Capitán Louis Renault (Rains) en Casablanca, cortesía del sitio IMDb, canela en rama, oiga...
 

Imagen tomada del sitio solidprinciples.com

• Captain Renault : What in heaven's name brought you to Casablanca?
  Rick : My health. I came to Casablanca for the waters.
  Captain Renault : The waters? What waters? We're in the desert.
  Rick : I was misinformed.
• Major Strasser : What is your nationality?
  Rick : I'm a drunkard.
  Captain Renault : That makes Rick a citizen of the world.
  [all laugh] 
• Rick : And remember, this gun is pointed right at your heart.
  Captain Renault : That is my *least* vulnerable spot.
• Rick : How can you close me up? On what grounds?
  Captain Renault : I'm shocked! Shocked to find that gambling is going on in here.
  [a croupier hands Renault a pile of money] 
  Croupier : Your winnings, sir.
  Captain Renault : [sotto voce]  Oh, thank you very much.
  [aloud] 
  Captain Renault : Everybody out at once.
• Rick : Last night we said a great many things. You said I was to do the thinking for both of us. Well, I've done a lot of it since then, and it all adds up to one thing: you're getting on that plane with Victor where you belong.
  Ilsa : But, Richard, no, I... I...
  Rick : Now, you've got to listen to me! You have any idea what you'd have to look forward to if you stayed here? Nine chances out of ten, we'd both wind up in a concentration camp. Isn't that true, Louie?
  Captain Renault : I'm afraid Major Strasser would insist.
  Ilsa : You're saying this only to make me go.
  Rick : I'm saying it because it's true. Inside of us, we both know you belong with Victor. You're part of his work, the thing that keeps him going. If that plane leaves the ground and you're not with him, you'll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.
  Ilsa : But what about us?
  Rick : We'll always have Paris. We didn't have, we, we lost it until you came to Casablanca. We got it back last night.
  Ilsa : When I said I would never leave you.
  Rick : And you never will. But I've got a job to do, too. Where I'm going, you can't follow. What I've got to do, you can't be any part of. Ilsa, I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you'll understand that.
  [Ilsa lowers her head and begins to cry] 
  Rick : Now, now...
  [Rick gently places his hand under her chin and raises it so their eyes meet] 
  Rick : Here's looking at you kid.
• Major Strasser : Are you one of those people who cannot imagine the Germans in their beloved Paris?
  Rick : It's not particularly my beloved Paris.
  Heinz : Can you imagine us in London?
  Rick : When you get there, ask me!
  Captain Renault : Hmmh! Diplomatist!
  Major Strasser : How about New York?
  Rick : Well there are certain sections of New York, Major, that I wouldn't advise you to try to invade.
• [about Rick] 
  Major Strasser : You give him credit for too much cleverness. My impression was that he's just another blundering American.
  Captain Renault : We musn't underestimate "American blundering". I was with them when they "blundered" into Berlin in 1918.
• Major Strasser : [arriving too late to stop Victor Laszlo from escaping]  What was the meaning of that phone call?
  Captain Renault : [pointing to the plane]  Victor Laszlo is on that plane.
  Major Strasser : [after looking at the plane]  Why do you stand here? Why don't you stop him?
  Captain Renault : Ask Mr. Rick.
  Rick : [sees Strasser begin to move toward the telephone, and draws a gun]  Get away from that phone!
  Major Strasser : I would advise you not to interfere.
  Rick : I was willing to shoot Captain Renault and I'm willing to shoot you.
  Major Strasser : [picks up the telephone]  Hello?
  Rick : Put that phone down!
  Major Strasser : Get me the radio tower.
  Rick : PUT IT DOWN!
  [Strasser draws a gun, he and Rick both fire simultaneously, Strasser falls mortally wounded, shortly afterward, some police arrive on the scene] 
  Captain Renault : Major Strasser's been shot.
  [Renault looks at Rick, Rick gives him a look] 
  Captain Renault : Round up the usual suspects.
  [the police pick up Major Strasser's body and leave, Renault looks over at Rick, who is smiling] 
• Captain Renault : Oh no, Emil, please. A bottle of your best champagne, and put it on my bill.
  Emil : Very well, sir.
  Victor Laszlo : Captain, please...
  Captain Renault : Oh, please, monsieur. It is a little game we play. They put it on the bill, I tear up the bill. It is very convenient.
• Captain Renault : By the way, last night you evinced an interest in Señor Ugarte.
  Victor Laszlo : Yes.
  Captain Renault : I believe you have a message for him?
  Victor Laszlo : Nothing important, but may I speak to him now?
  Major Heinrich Strasser : You would find the conversation a trifle one-sided. Señor Ugarte is dead.
  Ilsa : Oh.
  Captain Renault : I am making out the report now. We haven't quite decided yet whether he committed suicide or died trying to escape.
• Captain Renault : Major Strasser has been shot... round up the usual suspects.
• Captain Renault : I've often speculated why you don't return to America. Did you abscond with the church funds? Run off with a senator's wife? I like to think you killed a man. It's the Romantic in me.
  Rick : It was a combination of all three.
• [as he goes to hand Renault a bribe] 
  Jan Brandel : Captain Renault... may I?
  Captain Renault : Oh no! Not here please! Come to my office tomorrow morning. We'll do everything businesslike.
  Jan Brandel : We'll be there at six!
  Captain Renault : I'll be there at ten.
• [Rick and Renault discussing Victor Laszlo's chances of escaping Casablanca] 
  Captain Renault : This is the end of the chase.
  Rick : Twenty thousand francs says it isn't.
  Captain Renault : Is that a serious offer?
  Rick : I just paid out twenty. I'd like to get it back.
  Captain Renault : Make it ten. I'm only a poor corrupt official.
• Captain Renault : [after Rick pulls a gun on him]  Have you lost your mind?
  Rick : I have. Sit down!
  Captain Renault : Put that gun down!
  Rick : I don't want to shoot you, but I will if you take one more step!
  Captain Renault : [With amusement]  Under the circumstances I will sit down.
• Captain Renault : Carl, see that Major Strasser gets a good table, one close to the ladies.
  Carl : I have already given him the best, knowing he is German and would take it anyway.
• Captain Renault : Hello Rick.
  Rick : Hello Louis.
  Captain Renault : How extravagant you are, throwing away women like that. Someday they may be scarce. You know, now I think I shall pay a call on Yvonne. Maybe get her on the rebound. Hmm?
  Rick : When it comes to women, you're a true democrat.
• Captain Renault : Ricky, I'm going to miss you. Apparently you're the only one in Casablanca with less scruples than I.
• Rick : What makes you think I'd stick my neck out for Laszlo?
  Captain Renault : Because, one, you bet 10.000 francs he'd escape. Two, you've got the letters of transit. Don't bother to deny it. And you might want to do it simply because you don't like Strasser's looks. As a matter of fact, I don't like them either.
  Rick : [chuckles]  They're all excellent reasons.
• Captain Renault : My dear Ricky, you overestimate the influence of the Gestapo. I don't interfere with them and they don't interfere with me. In Casablanca I am master of my fate! I am...
  Police Officer : Major Strasser is here, sir!
  Rick : You were saying?
  Captain Renault : Excuse me.
• Ilsa : Who is Rick?
  Captain Renault : Mamoiselle, you are in Rick's! And Rick is...
  Ilsa : Who is he?
  Captain Renault : Well, Rick is the kind of man that... well, if I were a woman, and I were not around, I should be in love with Rick. But what a fool I am talking to a beautiful woman about another man.
• Captain Renault : In 1935, you ran guns to Ethiopia. In 1936, you fought in Spain, on the Loyalist side.
  Rick : I got well paid for it on both occasions.
  Captain Renault : The *winning* side would have paid you *much better*.
• Captain Renault : Rick, there are many exit visas sold in this café, but we know that *you've* never sold one. That is the reason we permit you to remain open.
  Rick : Oh? I thought it was because I let you win at roulette.
  Captain Renault : That is *another* reason.
• [Of Victor Laszlo, who wants to escape from Casablanca] 
  Captain Renault : No matter how clever he is, he still needs an exit visa... or I should say two?
  Rick : Why two?
  Captain Renault : He is traveling with a lady.
  Rick : He'll take one.
  Captain Renault : I think not. I have seen the lady.
• Captain Renault : We are very honored tonight, Rick. Major Strasser is one of the reasons the Third Reich enjoys the reputation it has today.
  Major Heinrich Strasser : You repeat *Third* Reich as though you expected there to be others!
  Captain Renault : Well, personally, Major, I will take what comes.
• Captain Renault : Realizing the importance of the case, my men are rounding up twice the usual number of suspects.
• Captain Renault : [seeing a uniformed French officer talking non-stop to an Italian officer]  If he ever gets a *word* in, it'll be a major Italian *victory*.
• Captain Renault : [to Rick regarding Ilsa]  She was asking about you earlier in a way that made me very jealous...
• [Rick has been on a long drinking binge] 
  Emil : [serving Rick another drink]  *You* are becoming your *own* best *customer*!
  Captain Renault : [surprized]  Why Ricky, I'm *pleased* with you- *Now* you're beginning to live like a *Frenchman*!
• Captain Renault : [to Ilsa]  I was informed that you were the most beautiful woman ever to visit Casablanca. That was a *gross* understatement.
  Ilsa : [genuinely pleased]  You're very kind.
• Captain Renault : Is everything ready?
  Rick : [points to his jacket pocket]  I have the letters right here.
  Captain Renault : Tell me, when we searched the place, where were they?
  Rick : Sam's piano.
  Captain Renault : [looks at the piano]  Serves me right for not being musical.
• Captain Renault : [suspecting that Rick has the letters of transit]  Rick, have you got those letters of transit?
  Rick : Louis, are you pro-Vichy or Free French?
  Captain Renault : [laughs]  Serves me right for asking a direct question. The subject is closed.