1. Crime Unit: Casablanca Day 1
I can analyze how elements of Film Noir influence mood in film.

2. Bellringer Define mood. Then identify the mood of the following clip.

3. Crime Films
These films are developed around the sinister actions of criminals or gangsters, particularly bank robbers, underworld figures, or ruthless hoodlums who operate outside the law, stealing and violently murdering their way through life.
In the 1940s, a new type of crime thriller emerged, more dark and cynical – film noir.
Classic film noir developed during and after World War II, taking advantage of the post-war ambience of anxiety, pessimism, and suspicion.
It was a style of black and white American films that first evolved in the 1940s, became prominent in the post-war era, and lasted in a classic "Golden Age" period until about 1960.

4. Background on Casablanca
The film is set in Casablanca, Morocco in the early days of World War II.
Morocco was a French Colony up until The main agents of action represented in the film are the Vichy government, the Nazis, and the Resistance.
Vichy government is the French power that took control from A power sharing agreement was reached between the Vichy and Nazi parties. The Vichy were loyal and respectful to the Nazi party and this is famously featured in Casablanca.

6. Plot Overview
In December 1941, Casablanca attracts people from all over the world, particularly Nazi-occupied Europe. Many are trying to get out of Europe and most -- including gamblers and refugees, Nazis, resistance fighters, and crooks -- find their way to Rick's Café Américain, a swank nightclub owned by American expatriate Rick Blaine.
When two letters of transit come into Rick’s possession, he must decide if he will sell them to Victor Laszlo, a resistance leader from Czechoslovakia who is also the husband of Rick’s former love, Ilsa.

7. Casablanca’s Success
After initially releasing Casablanca in 1942 to huge success, the film was rereleased in January 1943.
Casablanca’s romance story, Moroccan setting, and classic film noir style made it stand apart from the rest of the “war films” of the 1940s.
Casablanca won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Writing, Screenplay.
Though neither won an award, it established Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman as superstars.

8. Characters Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart)
The cynical owner of Rick's Café Americain, often appears too jaded to be impressed or moved by anyone.
*Often thought of as an allegorical representation of America for reluctance to enter the war*

9. Characters Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman)
fiercely loyal to her husband, Laszlo, and the political cause—resistance to the Nazis—he represents, but the truth of her sentiments is constantly suspect.

10. Characters Victor Lazlo (Paul Henreid)
Part of the resistance. Pure embodiment of a hero. Handsome, confident, passionate, and idealistic. Married to Ilsa Lund.

11. Film Noir
There has been many debates about whether or not Casablanca fits into the film noir.
In order for us to understand this debate, we must look at the elements of film noir.
***Stop at 2:28
You can watch the whole clip if you don’t care about the “f” word being used one time….

12. Film Noir Elements French term for “black cinema”.
Numerous characteristics that are specialize for the genre, causing it to stand out.
Mood
Character Archetypes
Anti-Hero and Femme Fatale
Plot Features
Voiceovers and Flashbacks
Lighting
Chiaroscuro

13. Mood in Film Noir
The primary moods of classic film noir were melancholy, alienation, bleakness, disillusionment, disenchantment, pessimism, ambiguity, moral corruption, evil, guilt, desperation, and paranoia.

14. Character Archetypes in Film Noir
Hero/Anti-Hero
Femme Fatale

15. Anti-Heroes Anti-Heroes are corrupt characters and villains.
These protagonists were often morally-ambiguous low-lifes from the dark and gloomy underworld of violent crime and corruption.

16. Femme Fatale
Femme fatale represents the most direct attack on traditional womanhood and the nuclear family.
She refuses to play the role of devoted wife and loving mother that mainstream society prescribes for women.

17. Voiceover Narration and Flashbacks
Many in the film noir genre use Voiceover Narration from the main protagonist to help set up plot.
Modern Example:
Often times, flashbacks will also be utilized in order to help see characters in their past lives.
We saw both of these elements used in Citizen Kane.

18. Technical Element: Lighting
Chiaroscuro Lighting
Most pervasive lighting style in Film Noir.
The contrast between dark and light. It is often times used in a bold manner so that it has a noticeable and dramatic effect on the entire composition of a work. 
Came about due to the small budgets of the time period.

19. Importance of Lighting
How does the lighting in this shot dramatize the scene and help establish the mood?

20. How does the lighting in this shot dramatize the scene and help establish the mood?

21. Analyze Film Noir Elements
As you view the opening scene of Sunset Boulevard, identify the elements of film noir:
Mood
Character Archetypes
Voice Over
Flashback
Lighting
Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard Part 2

22. Casablanca
As you fill out your film analysis sheet, be prepared to analyze and discuss whether or not this film fits into the Film Noir genre.
Does Casablanca meet enough of the criteria to fit or does its storyline separate it from the rest of the genre?

23. Crime Unit: Casablanca Day 2
I can analyze how elements of Film Noir contribute to mood.

24. Bellringer
What elements of film noir have you noticed in Casablanca so far? How have they contributed to the overall mood of the film? How are you supposed to feel?

25. Continue Watching Casablanca
Continue filling out the film analysis sheet as we finish Casablanca

26. Film Analysis Sheet
Take a few minutes to complete the film analysis sheet.

27. Re-watch the Final Scene
Let’s re-watch the final scene of Casablanca and identify all of the different elements that are utilized to create the final mood of the film.
How are you supposed to leave the film feeling?
How does the scene create that feeling in you?
Does this fit with the mood of the rest of the film?

28. A.C.E. Paragraph
Does Casablanca meet enough of the criteria to fit the genres of Film Noir and Crime? Or does its storyline separate it? Justify your answer with evidence from the film.
Don’t forget to “Answer, Cite, Explain”