Then, the local Vichy puppet Chief (Préfet de Police), the sophisticated Capitaine Louis Renault (Claude Rains) with his police cap tilted jauntily, already identified by the pickpocket as a Parisian womanizer who takes advantage of "beautiful young girl(s)" among he refugees, greets the disdainful and arrogant German Nazi:Renault:UnoccupiedFrance welcomes you to Casablanca.The film dissolves into an unnaturally brilliant, visually lush, boldly colorful opening with patriotic hues (bright red, white, and blue) and a nostalgic, dream-like view of a clean, conforming, pastoral America a la Norman Rockwell.So, life is disappointing? Forget it.In here, life is beautiful.The girls are beautiful.Even the orchestra is beautiful.Beautiful."A wide-eyed, smiling, blonde-haired passenger disembarks from the train.A female orchestra appears on stage, and then the host introduces six scantily-clad "cabaret girls" - all with suggestive and exaggerated poses parodying sexiness:"Each and every one a wirgin."Norman Maine is going to get me a screen test." Danny can't believe her, accusing Maine of making a 'conventional pass.' But Esther will not be swayed:He gave me a look at myself I've never had before.He saw something in me nobody else ever did.He made me see it oo.He made me believe it.She is determined "for a chance at being something, something bigger than I ever dreamed of.And I'm not going to turn back now, ever." Danny thinks she is a fool.The next day, Norman leaves town for six weeks, shooting a new film in a distant locale.He can't recall her address.Meanwhile, Vicki has left her band and become unemployed.In the meantime, she has provided the singing voice for television commercials and worked as a carhop in a hamburger drive-in.They also worked together on:The Blue Angel (1930, Germ.)Morocco (1930)Dishonored (1931)Blonde Venus (1932)Shanghai Express (1932)The Devil Is a Woman (1935)Another film on the life of Catherine was made in the same year - director Paul Czinner's and producer Alexander Korda's historical dramaCatherine the Great (1934)with Elisabeth Bergner, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.