MovieChat Forums > Casablanca (1943) Discussion > Louie and Rick: Gay innuendo?

Louie and Rick: Gay innuendo?

posted 9 years ago by zensixties
6 replies | jump to latest

There were a few scenes with these two which are left open to interpretation. One, Louie says, "if I were a woman I would be in love with Rick". And at the end of course they go away together and Rick says "this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship". I know this was well before sexual ambiguity was even a conscious concept, but what about unconscious? Any thoughts?

The other question is what happens to Sam at the end if Rick goes away with Louie? I guess he goes back to America and becomes a movie actor?

For who would bear the whips and scorns of Hollywood... (;-p)

[–] bhoover247 9 years ago

If you will remember Rick had already sold the bar to Signor Ferrari. Sam had been assured of a job and a raise. Rick would never go off and leave without taking care of Sam.

[–] Nikostratos 9 years ago

"if I were a woman I would be in love with Rick"

Inaccurate. The proper line is: "If I were a woman, and I (Louie) were not around, I would probably be in love with Rick.

The purpose of the line's delivery is purely to heighten Rick's appeal to women.

If anything, Louie was more of a womanizer than Rick, almost to the point of being a manwhore.

[–] hachmom-1 8 years ago

I have always interpreted the line as showing how confident Louis is in his attractiveness to women, he thinks he is more attractive than Rick. Compare it to the scene later when the Louis tells an underling to show the "visa problem" in and goes to the mirror to straighten his tie.

It is not our abilities that show who we truly are...it is our choices

[–] Doghouse-6 8 years ago

I have always interpreted the line as showing how confident Louis is in his attractiveness to women...

On the surface, yes, but I've always read into it a certain amount of good-natured self-mockery as well. Louie's conquests - those "visa problems" - are the result of extortion, and he knows it. Sure, he likes to think of himself as attractive to women (as his remark about paying a call on Yvonne after Rick has dumped her illustrates), but as a cad who admits to corruption and lack of scruples - also good-naturedly - he'll happily trade exit visas for sex, even with a young newlywed.

But as a cad, he's an honest one. As Rick tells that newlywed when asked if Louie will keep his word, "He always has." And there's a seemingly endless supply of "visa problems," like the "breathtaking blonde" he's expecting the following night: "It will make me very happy if she loses" at the gaming tables.

Poe! You are...avenged!

[–] debtfull 8 years ago

Once upon a time, men were manly enough not to need proving themselves or worrying about such things.

[–] tmf_scipio 8 years ago

Nope.

Hitler! C'mon, I'll buy you a glass of lemonade.