Here's looking at you, kid

Watching Casablanca for the umpteenth time tonight because, well, it's a fabulous movie, the weather is chilly and rainy and perfect for a classic and I discovered that On Demand has a collection of Humphrey Bogart movies available.  It's one of those movies I can't believe I don't own on DVD (hint if you have an overwhelming urge to buy me a present).  At one time, I had it on VHS, but it seems no longer. Nonetheless, I opted to re-watch this evening for the reasons above and because I was thinking about it earlier today while I was working on part of my book since one of my characters is inspired by Bogart's Rick Blaine. And in my opinion that's a lot better than my previously inspired Jimmy Stewart's Mr.Smith.

As I was watching, I was also reminded of the first time I "watched" this movie.  It had to have been nearly 10 years ago that J and I decided that since we'd never actually seen the movie and it was a classic (and I'm sure there were other reasons I don't recall) that we should culture ourselves.  So she and I, along with our skanky co-worker (who also happened to be my neighbor at the time), went to said co-worker's apartment (because she had the nicer TV and couches) to watch the film.  Shortly thereafter, I promptly fell asleep.  I woke as the movie ended with my fellow movie watchers citing it as the worst movie ever and it made no sense, but that I apparently had spent the length of the film explaining it in my sleep.

It took me a few years to watch it again consciously and every time I'm struck by the way the great one-liners are strung together to weave a story that has so many rich layers.  One-liner movies today simply don't deliver like that, and they don't try to, either. Part of it is the acting, sure, but I'm always enamored with the writing behind it.  It's second only to Breakfast at Tiffany's for me.  And just like when I watch "Breakfast..." and have Moon River stuck in my head when I go to bed, I'm going into this evening with As Time Goes By drifting in the inner workings of my mind... and that's not such a bad thing.