How good can you get

Its all been said before but a trip into the b/w archive of those Sunday afternoon films of the 50s is well worth it for those not born at the time (and for those who were). With its story's toes dipped in fact (the screenwriters had travelled in Europe in the late 30s) and with America awakening from its isolationist stance (North Africa must have seemed so far away and exotic) Casablanca is a film about the eternal conflict between personal desires and doing what is morally right. The characterisations were brilliant from Bogart (Rick) in conflict to the pragmatic Rains (police chief Renault) but the breathtaking perfection of Ingrid Bergman stole every scene she was in. I thought she was the most beautiful screen actress I'd seen when I was at primary school and 50 years later my view hasn't changed - and all in atmospheric black and white.