Introduction
Cinematic codes are the visual aspects of a film. The visual elements help to cue the film’s audience by giving the desired effect. Through them, the individual watching the movie gets more understanding of what the film producers want them to know. For example, the costumes that the actors put on can help to show their personalities. In Casablanca, several cinematic codes have been used to promote a better understanding of the movie. The story is centred on a man who helps his lover and the lover’s husband escape the country at a time when they are being pursued. Rick Blaine runs a nightclub and gambling den in Casablanca. His lover, who had left him, shows up looking for certain papers that were being searched for by the police. Ilsa, Rick’s lover, explains to him that she had left him when she heard about her husband, who she initially thought was dead. After hearing this explanation, Rick understands and helps the fugitive husband escape. The paper shows the applications of the different cinematic codes throughout the film.
Mise-en-Scene
Setting
The setting is the surroundings in which an event takes place. The setting helps to establish the mood and get the listener to anticipate specific action. In Casablanca, setting changes to promote action that would not take place under normal conditions. For example, when Blaine is speaking to the police officer about general matters, he is in an open space where anyone can interrupt them. However, when they begin negotiating issues that are more private, they move into an enclosed room where they are the only two individuals (Curtiz, 1942, 17:29-18:51). The change in setting helps the film’s viewer to anticipate a change in the characters’ discussion from matters that are general to issues that are private. In the new setting, Blaine acts more friendly as the matters being discussed affect him more.
The setting in a film plays such a critical role in promoting the plot such that producers omit unnecessary settings. In explaining the matter of cause and effect, The Classical Hollywood Cinema (n.d., p. 90) explains how a film omitted a section in which a character spent time walking on the Road. Whereas the Road would have been a setting that would add to the plot, its relevance to the rest of the film and its ability to share information that would affect the other parts of the film would not be effective. This proves that there is a need to ensure that the setting within a film promotes a feeling or shares information that is relevant to the rest of the film, in the way that Rick Blaine’s setting promotes the idea that he is sharing private information with the police officer.
Costume
The costumes that the characters put on in a film help in showing the roles they play as well as their personalities. By watching a short portion of a scene, one can easily make the right judgments concerning certain individuals by looking at the costumes they are putting on. An example of this plays out between 21:43 and 22:26 minutes in Casablanca. One only needs to have a single glance at the men approaching Victor Laszlo to know that they are police officers. As much as several men have police uniforms, the uniforms differ from each other. There are men whose uniforms have a hat, whereas there are others whose uniforms do not have a hat. One easily concludes that they are of different ranks. The reality of this perception is seen when Laszlo runs away. The policemen without the hats remain seated and wait as the men with the hats pursue him. Hence, the policemen with the hats seem to be of lower rank than those whose uniforms do not have hats.
Performance
To make a film interesting, the actors also need to act in a way that promotes proper presentation of the ideas they are showcasing. Performance can be seen through dialogue, facial expressions, and body movement. Performance helps to set the mood for the given film. In Casablanca, performance is seen in the scene where Blaine is having a conversation with his pianist, Sam (Curtiz, 1942, 37:02-38:45). At this moment, Sam feels like they should run away, but Blaine wants to stay. At the start of the dialogue, Sam is hasty and worried. As he speaks, one can see the anxiety being portrayed. On the other hand, Blaine is more relaxed as he takes his alcohol. He speaks to Sam in a tone that proves that he does not care much about the events that are taking place.
Through this performance, one understands that Blaine is an individual who does not care much about the consequences of what goes on around him, while Sam can easily get anxious due to such events. A change in attitude among characters in a film encourages the audience to want to know how the characters attain a different attitude from the one they had (The Classical Hollywood Cinema, n.d., p. 90). In Casablanca, Sam eventually changes his attitude in this specific scene and becomes relaxed. He goes to the extent of starting to play the piano. All this is promoted by the fact that he had an encounter with Blaine.
Editing
Editing involves assembling a film to get a single output that has a desirable flow. For any film, the different shots should be organized according to the rules of continuity (Classical Hollywood Narrative, p. 39). They should follow a systematic way such that they do not distract the person watching the film. The technique used should not cause disbelief or questions when it comes to watching the film. In Casablanca, the editing is impressive as the film employs different techniques. An example is the editing that has been done between minutes 46:20 and 47:51. The period has three scenes, and the editing follows a specific pattern. The editing between 46:20 and 46:37 is cross-fade editing. It is an edit from one scene where Blaine and Ilsa Lund are sharing memories to a different scene where many characters are outside in the rain, and the train leaves shortly.
After that, the editings that take place are cut edits. This goes on throughout the scene where it is raining, between 46:37 and 47:40. Between 47:40 and 47:56, the edit is a cross-fade. At this point, there is also a change in scenery. Generally, the film utilizes cut editing when compiling shots within the same scene and uses fade editing when shifting from one scene to another. The way that the editing has been done helps to provide cues to the audience when it is time to change from one scene to another. Additionally, the cut edits within the film promote a progressive way of watching the film as they minimize interruptions. It helps to shift from one angle of watching to another in a smooth manner.
Cinematography
Camera Angles
Cinematography is the camerawork used in filmmaking. As a technique of cinematography, camera angles help individuals get additional information that they would otherwise miss out on if the angles were not considered. In Casablanca, camera angles are used to make individual characters stand out, and it helps the individual watching have a better view. An example is when Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund are talking about the need for Lund and her husband to leave the country (Curtiz, 1942, 1:05:12-1:06:23). Initially, the camera focuses on both as they converse. However, after a while, the camera angle keeps changing, only showing each individual at a time. As this happens, the person watching the film has a better view of the characters’ emotional expressions on their faces. One understands how Lund seeks sympathy through her expressions and how Blaine acts considerately towards her.
Tracking
Tracking involves the movement of the camera as it follows a character or an object in the film. In film production, there should be consistency in screen direction (Classical Hollywood Narrative, p. 39). This means that at all times, the editor must ensure that the object or person of focus remains within the frame being shot. One of the ways to promote this consistency is by tracking. As the camera follows the character, the individual watching the film is not left wondering where the character has gone, but they maintain their attention on the person. Tracking is used in Casablanca when Rick Blaine walks from the seat next to Lund to the door (Curtiz, 1942, 1:26:03-1:26:08). As the shift from the dialogue scene changes, one is not left wondering where Blaine has gone. Hence, tracking has been used to get one’s attention.
Conclusion
Cinematic codes are the visual aspects of a film that help promote a better understanding of the movie. As a form of mise-en-scene, the setting has been used in Casablanca to help the audience anticipate the privacy of matters being discussed. The costume helps to understand the personalities of the different characters, including their ranks in their area of work. Performance helps one understand the mood and personality of the characters in the film. Sam is worried at first, while Blaine is relaxed. The main editing technique used from one scene to another is fade editing, while that used within scenes is primarily cut editing. The camera angles help to display the characters’ emotions. Lastly, tracking has been used to help promote continuity in the film.
References
Curtiz, M. (1942). Casablanca. [Movie].
The Classical Hollywood Cinema. (n.d.).
Classical Hollywood Narrative. (n.d.).
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