[svat]

> “Casablanca is best described as cinematic magic that occurred accidentally on purpose,” writes [Alan K Rode, biographer of the director Michael Curtiz]

This is also the message of Umberto Eco's essay called "Casablanca, or, The Clichés are Having a Ball" — https://biblioklept.org/2013/05/26/casablanca-or-the-cliches...

> Casablanca brings with it, like a trail of perfume, other situations that the viewer brings to bear on it quite readily […] it probably made itself, if not actually against the will of its authors and actors, then at least beyond their control. And this is the reason it works…