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Casablanca Overview:

Casablanca (1942) was a Drama - Romance Film directed by Michael Curtiz and produced by Hal B. Wallis and Jack L. Warner.

SYNOPSIS

Perennially at the top of every all-time-greats list, and indisputably one of the landmarks of the American cinema. Bogart is an American expatriate and war profiteer in WWII Morocco, content to merely run the Cafe Americain until love (in the form of a luminous Bergman) returns to his life and inspires him to stand up for the French Resistance. An accidental Hollywood masterpiece, it just gets better as time goes by.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Casablanca was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1989.

Academy Awards 1943 --- Ceremony Number 16 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best ActorHumphrey BogartNominated
Best Supporting ActorClaude RainsNominated
Best CinematographyArthur EdesonNominated
Best DirectorMichael CurtizWon
Best Film EditingOwen MarksNominated
Best Music - ScoringMax SteinerNominated
Best PictureWarner Bros.Won
Best WritingJulius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Howard KochWon
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Casablanca BlogHub Articles:

Rick's Cafe and the Moral Maze: Love, War, and Choices in “Casablanca”

By Stephen Reginald on Apr 3, 2024 From Classic Movie Man

Rick's Cafe and the Moral Maze: Love, War, and Choices in “Casablanca” Guest blog post written by Stephen Galen EstevanWe all know the lines, we've probably seen the tearful goodbye a hundred times, but what truly sets this 1942 classic apart? It's not just the trench coat drama or ... Read full article

Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid have a date with fate in “Casablanca”

By Stephen Reginald on Dec 12, 2023 From Classic Movie Man

Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid have a date with fate in “Casablanca” Casablanca, the 1942 classic directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid is the third film to be shown in this continuing monthly series. Winner of t... Read full article

Cinemallennials: Casablanca (1942)

By Annmarie Gatti on Sep 20, 2021 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

Cinemallennials: Casablanca (1942) For those of you who are unfamiliar with Cinemallennials, it is a bi-weekly podcast in which I, and another millennial, watch a classic film that we’ve never seen before, and discuss its significance and relevance in today’s world. In this episode,... Read full article

Play It Again, Max: Casablanca and the Battle over “As Time Goes By”(Exclusive by Author Steven C. Smith)

By Guest Post on Jan 28, 2021 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

Casablanca and the Battle over “As Time Goes By”(Exclusive by Author Steven C. Smith) By mid-1941, Max Steiner had already scored over thirty films at Warner Bros. since becoming that studio’s highest paid staff composer in 1937. Many of his projects had been prestigious and highly profi... Read full article

“La Marseillaise” Plays, as Rick, Ilsa and Refugees Find Their Footing in Casablanca (Guest Post)

By Guest Post on Nov 25, 2020 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

“La Marseillaise” Even more than the famous “Here’s Looking at You” scene, the “La Marseillaise” scene in Casablanca is the one scene in the film that evokes more emotion from audiences than any other, as it propels the narration in a new direction and reveals more about the charact... Read full article

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Casablanca Quotes:

Rick: Don't you sometimes wonder if it's worth all this? I mean what you're fighting for.
Victor Laszlo: You might as well question why we breathe. If we stop breathing, we'll die. If we stop fighting our enemies, the world will die.
Rick: Well, what of it? It'll be out of its misery.
Victor Laszlo: You know how you sound, Mr. Blaine? Like a man who's trying to convince himself of something he doesn't believe in his heart.
Rick: I stick my neck out for nobody!
[as he goes to hand Renault a bribe]
Jan Brandel: Captain Renault... may I?
Captain Renault: Oh no! Not here please! Come to my office tomorrow morning. We'll do everything businesslike.
Jan Brandel: We'll be there at six!
Captain Renault: I'll be there at ten.
Rick: [getting drunk] First they take Ugarte and then she walks in. Well, I guess that's the way it goes... one out and one in.
Captain Renault: We are very honored tonight, Rick. Major Strasser is one of the reasons the Third Reich enjoys the reputation it has today.
Major Heinrich Strasser: You repeat Third Reich as though you expected there to be others!
Captain Renault: Well, personally, Major, I will take what comes.
See More Quotes from Casablanca
Casablanca Facts
In the German version, the immortal line "Here's lookin' at you, kid", became, "Ich seh' Dir in die Augen, Kleines" which translates as "I look in your eyes, honey".
The French dialogue between Yvonne and the French officer translates as: French Officer: "Hey you, you're not French to go out with a German like that!" Yvonne: "What are you butting in for?" French Officer: "I am butting in..." Yvonne: "It's none of your business!"
The movie's line "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." was voted as the #65 of "The 100 Greatest Movie Lines" by Premiere in 2007.
Howard Hawks had said in interviews that he was supposed to direct Casablanca and Michael Curtiz was supposed to direct Sergeant York. The directors had lunch together, where Hawks said he didn't know how to make this "musical comedy", while Curtiz didn't know anything about "those hill people." They switched projects. Hawks struggled on how to direct the scenes that involved singing, namely the "La Marseillaise" scene. It is ironic to note that most of his other films involved at least one singing scene.
Ingrid Bergman's contract was owned by producer David O. Selznick, and producer Hal B. Wallis sent the film's writers, Philip G. Epstein and Julius J. Epstein, to persuade Selznick to loan her to Warner Bros. for the picture. After 20 minutes of describing the plot to Selznick, Julius gave up and said, "Oh, what the hell! It's a lot of shit like Algiers!" Selznick nodded and agreed to the loan.
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