Casablanca Structure

The Screenplay Summary shows how Casablanca is also one of the best examples of how set-up the most important question to be resolved in a script (i.e. Will Rick leave Casablanca with Ilsa?). But the question only becomes clear at the beginning of Act III. Until then, the Screenplay Summary shows how tension and emotion are created by the interactions of the many unique characters, the events and circumstances they must contend with, and the conflicting choices they must resolve. Note: one character, Rick, essentially solves all the problems for everybody. Scenes are set in a very limited number of locations and the 'action' is through dialogue rather than movement. You can see how this story was originally created as a play. The screenplay also has a book-ended structure as it begins and ends at the airport.