Kurt Russell rose to household name status for his action-packed collaborations with John Carpenter in the '80s, including the bombastic Escape From New York, the terrifying creature feature The Thing, and the ultra-campy Big Trouble in Little China. In more recent years he's seen roles as a gruff cowboy type in films like Quentin Tarantino's Hateful Eight and Bone Tomahawk. But when it comes to his personal favorite film, this action star shows his tender side.
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He reveals to Cindy Pearlman during an interview in the book You Gotta See This that his favorite film is Casablanca, a 1942 romantic drama filmed by Michael Curtiz.
"Casablanca is my favorite film," he says. "It's the most emotionally satisfying film ever made and has the best dialogue in any movie ever. It's also the greatest romantic film. I love it because it's about something, too. In my mind, the message is about people facing their moment of truth. We've all been there or will be there in our real lives."
"By the way, the people starring in the best movie of all time are as good as it gets," Russell continues. "The words they said have never been rivaled by any other film. You just can't improve on them...Anytime I see Casablanca on TV, I'm stuck. I'm going to watch the entire thing".
Set against the backdrop of World War II, Casablanca has become a cinematic masterpiece known for its timeless story of love and sacrifice. The film is primarily set in the city of Casablanca, a haven for refugees fleeing the Nazi occupation of Europe. The story revolves around Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), an American expatriate who owns a nightclub. When a former lover, Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman), reenters his life with her husband, resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), Rick is forced to confront his own feelings and moral dilemmas. It's right up there with Citizen Kane as one of the most renowned films ever made and is a staple of any film class.
Take a look at this scene from Casablanca that's so iconic, you've probably heard it quoted even if you've never seen the film.
