Considered by many to be the greatest Hollywood movie ever made, this WW2 classic takes place in war-torn Casablanca and tells the tale of mysterious nightclub owner Bogart and his old Flame (Bergman), her husband, underground leader (Heinreid), and other skeletons from his past. Won 3 Oscars - Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay
World War II Morocco springs to life in Michael Curtiz's (THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, YANKEE DOODLE DANDY) classic love story. Colorful characters abound in Casablanca, a waiting room for Europeans trying to escape Hitler's war-torn Europe. Humphrey Bogart plays Richard "Rick" Blaine, a cynical but good-hearted American whose café is the gathering place for everyone from the French Police to the black market to the Nazis. When his long-lost love, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), surfaces in Casablanca with her Resistance leader husband, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), Rick is pulled into both a love triangle and a web of political intrigue. Ilsa and Victor need to escape from Casablanca, and Rick may be the only one who can help them. The question is, will he?
Top-notch performances include Claude Rains as the chief of the French police and the major authority figure in Unoccupied France, Peter Lorre as the doomed Senor Ugarte, Sydney Greenstreet as Senor Ferrari, and Dooley Wilson as Rick's loyal friend and the café's pianist, Sam. The mesmerizing musical score, by Max Steiner, along with the well-structured plot, flawless acting, and unforgettable dialogue makes this one of the best films of all time.
CASABLANCA was an original selection to the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1989.
"As Time Goes By," the song that became this film's anthem, not to mention theme song, was originally written for the Broadway musical EVERYBODY'S WELCOME, which opened on October 13, 1931 and ran for 139 performances. The composer, Herman Hupfeld, was also known for the song "When Yuba Plays the Rumba on the Tuba."
The film's producer, Hal B. Wallis, was awarded the Academy's Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 1943.
In his 1995 memoir MY AMERICAN JOURNEY, General Colin Powell lists CASABLANCA as one of his favorite films.
Additional credits: Hugh MacMullan (dialogue director), Robert Aisner (technical adviser).
Copyright 1943 Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Casablanca Quotes/Excerpts:
"Here's looking at you, kid."--Humphrey Bogart (Rick) to Ingrid Bergman (Ilsa) at least three times during the course of the film
"Only one answer can take care of all our questions."--Ilsa just before kissing Rick
"But of course, that was the day the Germans marched into Paris." "Not an easy day to forget. I remember every detail--the Germans wore gray, you wore blue."--Interchange between Rick and Ilsa at his cafe after seeing each other for the first time in years
"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine."--Rick about Ilsa
Casablanca Reviews:
"...Absolutely sound, rock-solid in its use of Hollywood studio craftsmanship....The black-and-white cinematography has not aged as color would. The dialogue is so spare and cynical it has not grown old-fashioned..."
-- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
"...One of the most perfect Hollywood movies ever made..."
-- Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
"Possibly the most famous film ever made, CASABLANCA has everything..."-- Ceri Thomas, Total Film
"...Here Humphrey Bogart transformed himself into a romantic hero..."
-- Premiere Staff, Premiere
"Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart provide the chemistry that sets this apart from countless other tales of doomed wartime love affairs."
-- Andrea Toal, Sight and Sound
excellent handling of an all time classic According to Lauren Bacall, this movie is considered by many, to be the second best movie of all time. Although she doesn't say so, I'm sure Citizen Kane is in the number one slot. Considering the status placed on this film you would expect a certain amount of respect in the releasing of this movie. I felt that this release does not disappoint. It includes many behind the scenes interviews and shots that have become common on DVD releases. What makes this special, is that you don't generally get this kind of background on a film that is over 60 years old. While many of the sound tracks for the extras were lost many years ago, it is fascinating to see what has been saved after all this time. It also is an insight into the acting craft and how it was viewed at that time in watching the outtakes.
All time great movie and an excellent DVD release.
Submitted by a reviewer (Los Angeles, Ca. U.S.A.) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 2 of 2 found this helpful.
classic A must for movielovers.
A soapy classic. Submitted by a reviewer (norway) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
classic amazing, beautiful edition for a beautiful movie a must have Submitted by a reviewer (ITALY) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Classic with Great Features Everyone knows the movie the features make this dvd worth buying! Submitted by a reviewer (San Diego, CA, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Casablanca Improves As Time Goes By A superb digital transfer of this timeless classic. It is simply one of the best films ever made, and it only gets better with age. Submitted by a reviewer (New York, NY) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
2-Disc Set Region 1 Digipak Single Side - Dual Layer Special Edition Full Frame - 1.33 Audio: Dolby Digital Mono - English Dolby Digital Mono - French Disc 1: Additional Release Material: Introduction: Lauren Bacall Trailers:
1. Original Theatrical Trailer 2. Additional Warner Bros. Classics Audio Commentary:
1. Roger Ebert - Film Critic 2. Rudy Behlmer - Author/Historian Disc 2: Additional Release Material: Additional Audio Tracks:
1. Radio Production (Featuring Stars from Film) 2. Scoring Session Outtakes Deleted Scenes (10 Mins) Featurette:
1. YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS 2. BACALL ON BOGART 3. THE CHILDREN REMEMBER 4. CARROTBLANCA (Looney Toons Short) 5. Premiere Episode of CASABLANCA TV Series Text/Photo Galleries: Stills/Photos Additional Text:
classic
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