Early in WW2, a nightclub owner in a city of refugees comes face to face with his ex-lover and the man she jilted him for: a fugitive anti-Nazi organizer, desperate for help.

I’m breaking down movies by their three-act structure. What is three-act structure? I explain it here.

Note: I break the story down into five-minute blocks to make it easier to see the length of each section. Rough time codes follow.

Prolog

Letters allowing transit out of Casablanca have been stolen (the inciting incident). 5

Act 1

Major Strasser arrives in Casablanca. Captain Renault plans to arrest the murderer/thief that night at Rick’s nightclub. 10

That night at Rick’s, exit-visa-wheeler-dealer Ugarte gets Rick to hold the letters of transit. 15

Renault warns Rick about the planned arrest. Rick is okay with it. Renault also says famous anti-Nazi organizer victor Laszlo will come, looking to escape Casablanca (a call to adventure). Rick assures him his anti-fascist days are behind him (a refusal of the call). 20

Police arrest Ugarte. Rick doesn’t try to help (leaving Rick with the letters of transit and the knowledge that Laszlo needs them, a big motivation to get involved). 25

Act 2

Victor Laszlo arrives with his wife, Ilsa Lund (entering the extraordinary world). Strasser insists they meet at the police station in the morning. 30

Laszlo learns Ugarte was arrested. Ilsa greets Sam, the piano player… and Rick. They obviously have history (a plot twist!). Rick joins them for a drink and even pays the bill, both very unusual (exploring the extraordinary world). 35

After closing, Rick drowns his sorrows. A flashback shows Rick, Ilsa, and Sam being happy in Paris (going into the wilderness). 40

When the Nazis invaded Paris, they made plans to escape. 45

At the train station, Rick got a note from Ilsa saying she couldn’t see him ever again (an emotional crisis that reveals how Rick became cynical, the thing that stands in the way of resolving the conflict). 50

Midpoint

In the present, Ilsa visits Rick to explain (rallying), but he drunkenly insults her. In the morning, Laszlo meets with Strasser but refuses to give him information about the Resistance (fully committing). 55

Outside Ferrari’s, Rick apologizes. Ilsa tells Rick that Laszlo is her husband… even while they were together in Paris (another plot twist!). Ferrari tells Laszlo & Ilsa Rick may have the letters of transit. 60

Nazis come to Rick’s. Strasser suggests Laszlo can’t be allowed to stay in Casablanca (creating a mild ticking clock). 65

Moved by the girl’s tale of love and desperation, Rick quietly makes sure a young couple can buy visas from Renault rather than the girl having to prostitute herself to Renault (symbolizing Rick’s facade of cynicism cracking). 70

Rick refuses to help Laszlo because of Ilsa (a defeat, in a way, for both of them, because neither feels good about it). When Laszlo thwarts the Nazis’ patriotic song, Renault closes down Rick’s. (All is lost!) 75

Act 3

In their hotel room, Laszlo brushes off danger and accepts Ilsa’s Paris affair with Rick then goes to a secret meeting. 80

Isla begs and even threatens Rick, but he calls her bluff. She explains her marriage was secret, and she left Rick because she learned Laszlo was alive (a kind of secret key that excuses her behavior and allows Rick to overcome his cynicism). 85

There is a cut to a beacon tower after they kiss that suggests they may have had sex, affirming that Ilsa loves Rick more than Laszlo. They’re next shown just as fully dressed as before “without any sign of a bed or couch”, but this was specifically demanded by the censor at the time. But audiences understood the convention of cutting away from a romantic embrace suggests that sex followed.

Rick agrees to sort things out. Laszlo asks Rick to take Ilsa to safety himself. 90
Rick makes a deal for Renault to catch Laszlo with the letters so Rick & Ilsa can run away together (turning the tables). 95

To Ilsa’s surprise, Rick puts her & Laszlo on the plane. Strasser tries to stop them (a final setback!). Rick shoots him (resolving the conflict). Renault covers for him (Climax!). 100

Epilog (brief)

Renault & Rick make plans to leave Casablanca & lie low (a decision about the future). 102