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Casablanca
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Casablanca (1942) More at IMDbPro »

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Casablanca -- Trailer for the classic drama Casablanca starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.

Overview

User Rating:
Top 250: #25  (login to vote)
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Up 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Michael Curtiz
Writers:
Julius J. Epstein (screenplay) and
Philip G. Epstein (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Casablanca on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
23 January 1943 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Drama | Romance | War See more »
Tagline:
They had a date with fate in Casablanca! See more »
Plot:
Set in unoccupied Africa during the early days of World War II: An American expatriate meets a former lover, with unforeseen complications. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
Won 3 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 6 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(336 articles)
Rejected film posters go on display
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 17 May 2013, 4:06 PM, PDT)
The Great Gatsby never makes a great movie
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 13 May 2013, 4:15 AM, PDT)
Trailers from Hell: John Landis on Faust Musical 'Cabin in the Sky'
 (From Thompson on Hollywood. 8 May 2013, 8:53 AM, PDT)
User Reviews:
A masterwork for all time... See more (931 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Humphrey Bogart ... Rick Blaine

Ingrid Bergman ... Ilsa Lund

Paul Henreid ... Victor Laszlo

Claude Rains ... Captain Louis Renault

Conrad Veidt ... Major Heinrich Strasser

Sydney Greenstreet ... Signor Ferrari

Peter Lorre ... Ugarte

S.Z. Sakall ... Carl (as S.K. Sakall)
Madeleine Lebeau ... Yvonne (as Madeleine LeBeau)

Dooley Wilson ... Sam

Joy Page ... Annina Brandel

John Qualen ... Berger
Leonid Kinskey ... Sascha
Curt Bois ... Pickpocket
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Enrique Acosta ... Guest at Rick's (uncredited)
Ed Agresti ... Bar Patron (uncredited)
Louis V. Arco ... Refugee at Rick's (uncredited)
Frank Arnold ... Overseer (uncredited)
Leon Belasco ... Dealer at Rick's (uncredited)
Nino Bellini ... Gendarme (uncredited)
Trude Berliner ... Baccarat Player at Rick's (uncredited)

Oliver Blake ... Waiter at the Blue Parrot (uncredited)
Monte Blue ... American (uncredited)
Eugene Borden ... Policeman (uncredited)
Dick Botiller ... Native Officer (uncredited)
Maurice Brierre ... Baccarat Dealer at Rick's (uncredited)
Anita Camargo ... Woman Companion (uncredited)
George M. Carleton ... American (uncredited)
Spencer Chan ... Guest at Rick's (uncredited)
Melie Chang ... Oriental at Rick's (uncredited)

Gino Corrado ... Waiter at Rick's (uncredited)
Franco Corsaro ... French Police Officer (uncredited)
Adrienne D'Ambricourt ... Concierge (uncredited)

Marcel Dalio ... Emil - Croupier at Rick's (uncredited)
Helmut Dantine ... Jan Brandel (uncredited)
Jean De Briac ... Orderly (uncredited)
George Dee ... Lt. Casselle (uncredited)
Jean Del Val ... Police Officer (uncredited)
Carl Deloro ... Arab Guest with Fez (uncredited)
Joseph DeVillard ... Moroccan (uncredited)
Arthur Dulac ... News Vendor (uncredited)
William Edmunds ... Second Contact Man at Rick's (uncredited)
Herbert Evans ... Englishman Questioning Casino's Honesty (uncredited)
Fred Farrell ... Singing Frenchman (uncredited)
Adolph Faylauer ... Gambler at Rick's (uncredited)
O.K. Ford ... Conspirator (uncredited)
Martin Garralaga ... Headwaiter at Rick's (uncredited)
Gregory Gaye ... German Banker Refused by Rick (uncredited)
Gregory Golubeff ... Cashier at Rick's (uncredited)
Ilka Grüning ... Mrs. Leuchtag - Carl's Immigrating Friend (uncredited)
Creighton Hale ... Customer (uncredited)
Winifred Harris ... Englishwoman (uncredited)
Jamiel Hasson ... Muezzini (uncredited)
Arthur Stuart Hull ... Elderly Admirer (uncredited)
Olaf Hytten ... Pickpocketed Prosperous Man (uncredited)
Paul Irving ... Prosperous Tourist (uncredited)
Charles La Torre ... Italian Officer Tonnelli (uncredited)
George J. Lewis ... Haggling Arab Monkey Seller (uncredited)
Max Linder ... Elegant Gambler (uncredited)
Manuel Lopez ... Policeman (uncredited)
Jacques Lory ... Moor Buying Diamonds (uncredited)
Lou Marcelle ... Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Michael Mark ... Vendor (uncredited)
Tony Martelli ... Bartender (uncredited)
George Meeker ... Rick's Friend (uncredited)
Lal Chand Mehra ... Policeman (uncredited)
Hercules Mendez ... Arab Guest with Fez (uncredited)
Louis Mercier ... Conspirator (uncredited)
Torben Meyer ... Dutch Banker at Cafe Table (uncredited)
Alberto Morin ... French Officer Insulting Yvonne (uncredited)
Leo Mostovoy ... Fydor (uncredited)
Corinna Mura ... Singer with Guitar (uncredited)
Barry Norton ... Gambler at Rick's (uncredited)
Lotte Palfi Andor ... Woman Selling Her Diamonds (uncredited)
Paul Panzer ... Paul - Waiter at Rick's (uncredited)
Manuel París ... Guest at Rick's (uncredited)
Alexander Pollard ... Croupier (uncredited)
Paul Porcasi ... Native Introducing Ferrari (uncredited)
Frank Puglia ... Arab Vendor (uncredited)
Georges Renavent ... Conspirator (uncredited)
Dewey Robinson ... Bouncer at Rick's (uncredited)
Henry Rowland ... German Officer (uncredited)

Richard Ryen ... Col. Heinz - Strasser's Aide (uncredited)
Dan Seymour ... Abdul (uncredited)
Lester Sharpe ... Refugee (uncredited)
Dina Smirnova ... Woman Customer (uncredited)
Gerald Oliver Smith ... Pickpocketed Englishman (uncredited)
George Sorel ... Native Officer (uncredited)
Geoffrey Steele ... Customer (uncredited)
Ludwig Stössel ... Mr. Leuchtag (uncredited)
Mike Tellegen ... Gambler (uncredited)
Jacques Vanaire ... Frenchman (uncredited)
Ellinor Vanderveer ... Woman Gambler at Rick's Next to Croupier (uncredited)

Norma Varden ... Wife of Pickpocketed Englishman (uncredited)
Hans Heinrich von Twardowski ... German Officer with Yvonne (uncredited)
Leo White ... Emile - Waiter (uncredited)
Jack Wise ... Waiter (uncredited)
Wolfgang Zilzer ... Man with Expired Papers (uncredited)
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Directed by
Michael Curtiz 
 
Writing credits
Julius J. Epstein (screenplay) and
Philip G. Epstein (screenplay) and
Howard Koch (screenplay)

Murray Burnett (play) and
Joan Alison (play)

Casey Robinson  uncredited

Produced by
Jack L. Warner .... executive producer
Hal B. Wallis .... producer (uncredited)
 
Original Music by
Max Steiner 
 
Cinematography by
Arthur Edeson (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Owen Marks 
 
Art Direction by
Carl Jules Weyl 
 
Set Decoration by
George James Hopkins 
 
Costume Design by
Orry-Kelly (gowns)
 
Makeup Department
Perc Westmore .... makeup artist
 
Production Management
Al Alleborn .... unit manager (uncredited)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lee Katz .... assistant director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
Harper Goff .... set designer (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Francis J. Scheid .... sound
Edward Ullman .... sound recordist (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Lawrence W. Butler .... special effects director (as Lawrence Butler)
Willard Van Enger .... special effects
 
Visual Effects by
Chris Crowell .... digital compositor (restored version) (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Harvey Parry .... stunts (uncredited)
Paul Stader .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Wally Meinardus .... assistant camera (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anthony Gasbarri .... tailor: Mr. Bogart's tuxedo (uncredited)
Eugene Joseff .... jeweller (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein .... musical director
Hugo Friedhofer .... orchestral arrangements
M.K. Jerome .... songs by
Jack Scholl .... songs by
Elliot Carpenter .... musician: piano, dubbed Dooley Wilson's playing (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Robert Aisner .... technical advisor
James Leicester .... montages
Hugh MacMullan .... dialogue director
Don Siegel .... montages
Bob Williams .... unit publicist (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production Companies
  • Warner Bros (presents) (as Warner Bros. Pictures Inc.) (A Warner Bros.-First National Picture)
DistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
MPAA:
Rated PG for mild violence
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
102 min | West Germany:82 min (cut version)
Country:
USA
Language:
English | French | German | Italian
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Denmark:A | Finland:S | Germany:6 | Norway:10 (re-rating) (1992) | Norway:11 (re-rating) (2002) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:12 | Sweden:15 | Sweden:7 (re-release) | UK:U | USA:PG | Iceland:L | Spain:T | USA:Approved (certificate #8457) (original rating) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Brazil:12 | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:PG | Japan:G (2009)
Filming Locations:
Flagstaff, Arizona, USASee more »
Company:
Warner BrosSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Howard Koch was instructed to start the screenplay all over again, paying particular attention to Rick's background and the ending, while the Epsteins were struggling with their version. Writers Casey Robinson and Lenore J. Coffee were asked to critique the two versions and found much merit in both, though Robinson thought the romantic angle lacking and was subsequently tasked with ramping this up.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: In the railroad station scene Rick's clothes are soaked from the rain but appear dry a moment later after he jumps onto the moving train.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
Narrator:With the coming of the Second World War, many eyes in imprisoned Europe turned hopefully, or desperately, toward the freedom of the Americas. Lisbon became the great embarkation point. But, not everybody could get to Lisbon directly, and so a tortuous, roundabout refugee trail sprang up - Paris to Marseilles...
[...]
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995)See more »
Soundtrack:
AvalonSee more »

FAQ

Was Ronald Reagan originally cast as Rick?
What exactly are "letters of transit"?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
314 out of 369 people found the following review useful.
A masterwork for all time..., 10 November 2004
Author: kdryan

There is a scene about halfway through the movie Casablanca that has become commonly known as 'The Battle of the Anthems' throughout the film's long history. A group of German soldiers has come into Rick's Café American and are drunkenly singing the German National Anthem at the top of their voice. Victor Lazlo, the leader of the French Resistance, cannot stand this act and while the rest of the club stares appalled at the Germans, Lazlo orders the band to play 'Le Marseilles (sic?)' the French National Anthem. With a nod from Rick, the band begins playing, with Victor singing at the top of HIS voice. This in turn, inspires the whole club to begin singing and the Germans are forced to surrender and sit down at their table, humbled by the crowd's dedication. This scene is a turning point in the movie, for reasons that I leave to you to discover.

As I watched this movie again tonight for what must be the 100th time, I noticed there was a much smaller scene wrapped inside the bigger scene that, unless you look for it, you may never notice. Yvonne, a minor character who is hurt by Rick emotionally, falls into the company of a German soldier. In a land occupied by the Germans, but populated by the French, this is an unforgivable sin. She comes into the bar desperately seeking happiness in the club's wine, song, and gambling. Later, as the Germans begin singing we catch a glimpse of Yvonne sitting dejectedly at a table alone and in this brief glimpse, it is conveyed that she has discovered that this is not her path to fulfillment and she has no idea where to go from there. As the singing progresses, we see Yvonne slowly become inspired by Lazlo's act of defiance and by the end of the song, tears streaming down her face, she is singing at the top of her voice too. She has found her redemption. She has found something that will make her life never the same again from that point on.

Basically, this is Casablanca in a nutshell. On the surface, you may see it as a romance, or as a story of intrigue, but that is only partially correct.

The thing that makes Casablanca great is that it speaks to that place in each of us that seeks some kind of inspiration or redemption. On some level, every character in the story receives the same kind of catharsis and their lives are irrevocably changed. Rick's is the most obvious in that he learns to live again, instead of hiding from a lost love. He is reminded that there are things in the world more noble and important than he is and he wants to be a part of them. Louis, the scoundrel, gets his redemption by seeing the sacrifice Rick makes and is inspired to choose a side, where he had maintained careful neutrality. The stoic Lazlo gets his redemption by being shown that while thousands may need him to be a hero, there is someone he can rely upon when he needs inspiration in the form of his wife, who was ready to sacrifice her happiness for the chance that he would go on living. Even Ferrai, the local organized crime leader gets a measure of redemption by pointing Ilsa and Lazlo to Rick as a source of escape even though there is nothing in it for him.

This is the beauty of this movie. Every time I see it (and I have seen it a lot) it never fails that I see some subtle nuance that I have never seen before. Considering that the director would put that much meaning into what is basically a throw away moment (not the entire scene, but Yvonne's portion) speaks bundles about the quality of the film. My wife and I watched this movie on our first date, and since that first time over 12 years ago, it has grown to be, in my mind, the greatest movie ever made.

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