Citizen Kane vs. Casablanca and '40s Madness Final | #1061
Filmspotting
Filmspotting
4.6 • 4.3K Ratings
🗓️ 24 April 2026
⏱️ 73 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Is Casablanca the best film of the 1940s? Adam and Josh put it to the test in a head‑to‑head showdown with its fiercest competitor: Citizen Kane. As part of the Filmspotting Pantheon Project — and on the occasion of Kane’s 85th anniversary — the conversation digs into what each film says about America, power, and the promise (or illusion) of individualism. They also trace how the ’40s Madness bracket led to this championship matchup.
This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off.
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Intro (00:00:00-00:01:53)
Kane vs. Casablanca (00:01:54-00:46:28)
Filmspotting Family (00:46:29-00:50:57)
Notes / Filmspotting Fest On Sale (00:50:58-00:59:42)
'40s Madness: Final (00:59:43-01:10:06)
Credits / New Releases (01:10:07-01:13:17)
Links:
-Filmspotting Pantheon
https://www.filmspotting.net/pantheon
-Filmspotting Fest
https://www.filmspotting.net/filmspotting-fest
-Social Media Asst. Role
https://www.filmspotting.net/social
-Filmspotting Madness
https://www.filmspotting.net/madness/
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | What kind of a show are you guys putting on here today? |
| 0:06.7 | You're not interested in art? |
| 0:07.9 | No. |
| 0:08.7 | Well, look, we're going to do this thing. |
| 0:09.8 | We're going to have a conversation. |
| 0:13.7 | From Chicago, this is Film Spotting. |
| 0:15.4 | I'm Adam Kempinar, and I'm Josh Larson. |
| 0:18.3 | If that plane leaves the ground and you're not with him, you'll regret it. |
| 0:20.9 | Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life. |
| 0:24.9 | But what about us? |
| 0:26.9 | We'll always have Paris. |
| 0:29.5 | Is Casablanca the best film of the 1940s? |
| 0:32.7 | Before you answer, consider one of the competitors for the crown, Citizen Kane. |
| 0:45.0 | Kane v. Casablanca is our subject this week, plus the 40s Madness Final. |
| 0:46.7 | Ahead on film spotting. |
| 1:03.9 | Welcome to film spotting. No big deal, Josh. This week we are going to determine the best film of the 1940s. And as you suggested last week, maybe the best film of all time. |
| 1:12.5 | It's possible. And yeah, why not take this goofiness that is film spotting madness and just bring it full on into the show's review segments and dig into it from a critical perspective as well. |
| 1:17.5 | Just blow it out. |
| 1:18.3 | Blow madness all the way out. |
| 1:19.5 | And our listeners then will have a few days to decide if we're correct. |
| 1:23.9 | They'll get to vote in the 40s Madness Final because the championship round of |
| 1:28.5 | 1940s Madness is live and our listeners can vote Cain or Casablanca at FilmSpotting Madness.com |
... |
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