November 26, 1942

[Matilda]

Casablanca was released in New York City. The producers didn't expect much from it, but today it's a classic among classics; one of the all-time greats.


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This photo sits behind my desk in my office.

[cyberswede]

1. Definitely one of the best!

[CBHagman]

2. That was today?!

I knew there was a reason I liked this date.

[longship]

3. It's a very good flick.

My favorite Bogie is still "Maltese Falcon" but "Casablanca" is always fun and tres romantic, not nearly so noir.

I have a copy. I think I'll watch it tonight.

Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

4. Even though it was before my time, I love many things about that era

I love the clothes, the music, the style of cars, the polite manners in people's behavior. I love the fact that films then were telling stories about real people and the screenwriting was being done by true pros with lots of experience in structuring a good story. My favorite Bogie film is The Big Sleep (I love that film so much, I wish I could disappear into the celluloid and wake up in that world) but Casablanca is one of the greatest films of all time.

[CBHagman]

5. Some of the cast were refugees from Europe.

Aljean Harmetz's The Making of Casablanca: Bogart, Bergman and World War II (original title: Round Up the Usual Suspects) has quite a lot of detail on how the script and indeed the entire project. A fascinating look at the people and the times.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

6. Yes, Marcel Dalio was a French Jew and a mega star before the war

Last edited Sat Nov 30, 2013, 12:51 AM - Edit history (2)

the star of Grand Illusion and Rules Of The Game, among others. He fled Europe with his family ahead of the invading Nazis. He's the croupier at Rick's in Casablanca and hands Claude Rains his winnings after the latter exclaims that he's shocked that gambling is taking place. Dalio also starred with Bogart in a somewhat larger role in To Have And Have Not. He was a great actor. I have copies of almost all his French films and he's one of my favorites.

[Matilda]

7. Now why, I wonder,

would anybody want to change the book's title from the resonant (for Casablanca fans) to the prosaic?

[CBHagman]

8. I haven't found the answer to that yet...

...but in searching the Internets I see that Aljean Harmetz did an interview with NPR some years back. I'll have to find that again for listening/reading the transcript when I have a chance.