1942, most of Europe is occupied by the Nazis. People come from all over to Casablanca, which still has an uneasy independence, to try to get exit visas to countries that are still free. Many people wait in Casablanca to get transit letters. Rick (Humphrey Bogart) owns a popular nightclub. No one knows
what fully goes on in Rick's place, as visas are sold, bribes are issued, and a whole host of other things go on. His relationship with French police Captain Louis Renault (Claude Rains) is contemptuous at best.
When freedom fighter Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid) and his wife Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) come into town things start to change. Victor desires passage to Lisbon. Unfortunately, due to the orders of Major Strasser (Conrad Veidt), Renault will not tolerate this. Rick, in love with Ilsa, has two visas and faces a dilemma: Will he use the
visas to leave Casablanca , or will he give them to Ilsa and Victor?
This week 60 years ago Dooley Wilson (Sam) died (aged 67) May 30, 1953
Congratulations Within 16 days it will be Madeleine Lebeau`s 90th birthday. (June 10, 1923) (Yvonne)
This week 46 years ago Claude Rains (Captain Louis Renault) died (aged 78) May 30, 1967
Trivia
Release date: November 26, 1942
Oscars: Best Director -> Michael Curtiz Best Picture Best Writing, Screenplay Source / More (Book)
The film is almost completely studio bound. In the final airport scene they used a small cut-out plane and some midgets to portray the mechanics. Only the arrival of captain Strasser was filmed at an genuine airport in Los Angeles.
Oscar nominations: Best leading actor ->Humphrey Bogart Best supporting actor ->Claude Rains Best Cinematography, Black-and-White Best Film Editing Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture Bogart: “Awars are meaningless for actors, unless the all play the same part”. Source / More (Book)
Although the film already premiered November 1942 in New York, Warner Brothers delayed the Los Angeles release of Casablanca to coincide with the big Allied conference in Casablanca, North Africa (January 23, 1943).
John Wayne claimed that director Howard Hawks had done all the preparation work. He left at the last minute and Michael Curtiz took the project over.
Warner Brothers planted a story in the Hollywood reporter announcing the casting of Ronald Reagan for Casablanca. Nowadays the article is regarded as a publicity stunt to keep upcoming actors in the public eye.
Seven writers worked on the Casablanca script and throughout the shoot they tried to keep up with director Curtiz. Ingrid Bergman: “Everytime I asked Curtiz who I was, what I felt, what i was doing, he said: Well, we’re not really sure, but let’s do this scene and tomorrow we’ll let you know” Source / More (Book)
Producer Wallis was unsatisfied with the ending, so Humphrey Bogart was called back in to dub a final line over the last shot. Since then Louis and Rick walk into the fog, talking about the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Source / More (Book)
Casablanca has been crowned the best screenplay ever. The members of the Writers Guild of America voted the Casablanca script into the top spot of the guild’s 101 greatest screenplays. Source / More (Web)
The song As time goes by was named the second most loved song from a movie by the American Film Institute. Source / More (Web)
Casablanca, Morocco has its first real Rick’s Cafe. The cafe is owned by Kathy Kriger, a former US diplomat who worked at the US Embassy in Morocco. She’s put about $1m in US and Moroccan funds into the venture. Dinner costs $30 per person. Source / More (Web)
Bio
Humphrey Bogart
John Huston: The trouble with Bogart is, he thinks he's Bogart.
Movie news:
This week 75 years ago Crime school premiered (May 28, 1938)
Born:
December 25, 1899
Born as:
Humphrey Deforest Bogart
Died:
January 14, 1957
He grew up in New York, met with disciplinary problems at school and was expelled.
After his discharge from the Navy, Bogart never took acting lessons, but just started an acting career on the Brooklyn stage in 1921. In 1935 he would act in his last Broadway play The Petrified Forest, a role he would reprise on film in 1936.
In 1930 Humphrey went to Hollywood. His big break came in 1941 with High Sierra and The Maltese falcon. Now Bogey was a big star and he made classics like Casablanca and The African Queen. The Caine Mutiny was Bogart's last major movie, a film made when he was already seriously ill. He dropped his asking price to get the role of Captain Queeg.
1955 Nominated Best Actor for: The Caine Mutiny
1952 Won Oscar Best Actor for: The African Queen
1944 Nominated Best Actor for Casablanca
Books:
Terrence Pettigrew -> Bogart: A Definitive Study of His Film Career (1981)
Stephen Humphrey Bogart -> Bogart: In Search of My Father (1995)
Gerald Duchovnay -> Humphrey Bogart: A Bio-Bibliography (1999)
1942, most of Europe is occupied by the Nazis. People come from all over to Casablanca, which still has an uneasy independence, to try to get exit visas to countries that are still free. Many people wait in Casablanca to get transit letters. Rick (Humphrey Bogart) owns a popular nightclub. No one knows
what fully goes on in Rick's place, as visas are sold, bribes are issued, and a whole host of other things go on. His relationship with French police Captain Louis Renault (Claude Rains) is contemptuous at best.
When freedom fighter Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid) and his wife Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) come into town things start to change. Victor desires passage to Lisbon. Unfortunately, due to the orders of Major Strasser (Conrad Veidt), Renault will not tolerate this. Rick, in love with Ilsa, has two visas and faces a dilemma: Will he use the
visas to leave Casablanca , or will he give them to Ilsa and Victor?
She walks into mine 
