In Casablanca, what affectionate farewell does Rick Blaine say to Ilsa Lund?

In Casablanca, Rick Blaine says to Ilsa Lund, “Here’s looking at you, kid.”

Humphrey Bogart delivers the line as Rick, the American expatriate who owns a nightclub in wartime Casablanca. He says it to Ilsa, played by Ingrid Bergman, at several emotionally important moments, including memories of their time together in Paris and their final separation at the airport.

The wording is an informal American toast rather than a literal description of looking at someone. Its repetition gives the phrase a distinctive emotional role: it expresses affection while also acknowledging that Rick and Ilsa cannot remain together. The line’s power comes from that combination of intimacy and restraint.

Casablanca was released in 1942 and was directed by Michael Curtiz. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture, while the farewell scene became one of Hollywood’s most enduring romantic moments. The quotation is sometimes mistakenly remembered as “Here’s looking at you, kiddo,” but the film uses “kid.”