Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca) - GAY?

[Bob's your Information Minister]

Yes, I know you all hate me for suggesting this. You all hate me anyway, so whatever.

But really, consider my argument. It's intriguing.

What I find most odd about this is that I thought of this the FIRST TIME I viewed Casablanca.

Consider this line early in the movie:

UGARTE
"Rick, I hope you are more impressed with me now, huh? If you'll forgive me, I'll share my good luck with your roulette wheel."

RICK
"Yes, you're right, Ugarte. I am a little more impressed with you."

OK, now that's just a bit silly, but now we're getting into the real meat and potatoes.

Consider the scene not long after when Rick walks to the bar.

]Rick saunters over and leans on the bar, next to Yvonne.
He pays no attention to her. She looks at him bitterly,
without saying a word.

YVONNE
Where were you last night?
RICK
That's so long ago, I don't remember.
YVONNE
Will I see you tonight?
RICK
(matter-of-factly)
I never make plans that far ahead.

And later on....

YVONNE
Who do you think you are, pushing me
around? What a fool I was to fall
for a man like you.
Rick and Yvonne approach the waiting cab.
RICK
(to Sacha)
You'd better go with her, Sacha, to
be sure she gets home.
SACHA
Yes, boss.
RICK
And come right back.

Rick then sits down for a scene with Monsieur Renalt. This will not be the first time Rick tosses aside a woman and ends up with a man.

Later on, we have this little exchange:

RENAULT
Rick is completely neutral about
everything. And that takes in the
field of women, too.
STRASSER
You weren't always so carefully
neutral. We have a complete dossier
on you.

And it's pretty hard to pass this up without smirking:

RENAULT
(smiling)
Mademoiselle, you are in Rick's and
Rick is --
ILSA
-- Is what?
RENAULT
Well, Mademoiselle, he's the kind of
a man that, well, if I were a woman
and I...
(taps his chest)
were not around, I should be in love
with Rick.

And more...

SAM
Oh, he never... well...
(desperately)
he's got a girl up at the Blue
Parrot. He goes up there all
the time.
ILSA
You used to be a much better liar,
Sam.

And now, of course, there is this scene:

RICK
Where is she? Have you seen her?
SAM
No, Mr. Richard. I can't find her.
She checked out of the hotel. But
this note came just after you left.

Sam pulls an envelope from his pocket. Rick grabs it, opens
it, and stares down at the letter.

Richard,
I cannot go with you or ever see you
again. You must not ask why. Just
believe that I love you. Go, my
darling, and God bless you.
Ilsa

Raindrops pour down the letter, smudging the writing.

SAM

That's the last call, Mr. Richard,
do you hear me? Come on, Mr.
Richard. Let's get out of here.
Come on, Mr. Richard, come on.

Sam pulls a stunned, reluctant Rick to the train. The train
starts to move just as he boards.
From the steps he looks off into the distance, then crumbles
the letter and tosses it away as the steam from the engine
clouds over him.

Yes, folks, this is the second time in the film that Rick Blaine leaves a woman to be with a man. The same man he is with right before this flashback.

Now, let us consider another incident. Annina, a Bulgarian woman, approaches Rick and asks to speak.

RICK
How did you get in here? You're
under age.
ANNINA
I came with Captain Renault.
RICK
(cynically)
I should have known.
ANNINA
My husband is with me, too.
RICK
He is? Well, Captain Renault's
getting broadminded. Sit down.
Will you have a drink?

Yes, only when she mentions HER HUSBAND does Blaine ask her to have a drink. And of course, another reference to Captain Renault's homosexuality.

And then this...

ANNINA
Monsieur Rick, what kind of man is
Captain Renault?
RICK
Oh, he's just like any other man,
only more so.

:hmmm:

Rick then gets back to the subject of her husband. He asks here where he is, how long they've been married (not long)...and then excuses himself.

Where does he go?

Right to Annina's husband, who has the curiously gender neutral name JAN.

Yes, this is the THIRD time Rick has left a woman and gone straight to a man. And of course, does a huge favor for him.

But WAIT. THERE'S MORE!!!!!!!

Later on, this line.

RENAULT
There's still something about this
business I don't quite understand.
Miss Lund, she's very beautiful,
yes, but you were never interested
in any woman.

And finally, the piece de resistance. Rick gives the letters of transit to Lazlo and Ilsa, convinces Ilsa to leave, leaving just Rick Blaine...and Captain Renault. The very GAY Captain Renault.

RENAULT
It might be a good idea for you
to disappear from Casablanca for
a while. There's a Free French
garrison over at Brazzaville.
I could be induced to arrange a
passage.
RICK
My letter of transit? I could use
a trip. But it doesn't make any
difference about our bet. You
still owe me ten thousand francs.
RENAULT
And that ten thousand francs should
pay our expenses.
RICK
Our expenses?
RENAULT
Uh huh.
RICK
Louis, I think this is the beginning
of a beautiful friendship.

Yes, for the fourth time in the film, Rick Blaine leaves a woman, and ends up with a man.

Just look at that limp wrist, folks.

[Bob's your Information Minister]

Bump, this issue needs discussion!

[Crushaholic]

Originally Posted by Bob's your Information Minister

Bump, this issue needs discussion!

No, it doesn't...