Casablanca [HD]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

One of the most beloved American films, this captivating wartime adventure of romance and intrigue from director Michael Curtiz defies standard categorization. Simply put, it is the story of Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a world-weary ex-freedom fighter who runs a nightclub in Casablanca during the early part of WWII. Despite pressure from the local authorities, notably the crafty Capt. Renault (Claude Rains), Rick's café has become a haven for refugees looking to purchase illicit letters of transit which will allow them to escape to America. One day, to Rick's great surprise, he is approached by the famed rebel Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid) and his wife, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), Rick's true love who deserted him when the Nazis invaded Paris. She still wants Victor to escape to America, but now that she's renewed her love for Rick, she wants to stay behind in Casablanca. "You must do the thinking for both of us," she says to Rick. He does, and his plan brings the story to its satisfyingly logical, if not entirely happy, conclusion. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide

DVD FEATURES:

• Number of Discs: 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (Pre-1954 Standard)
• Audio: Dolby Digital Mono, Dolby Digital Stereo
• Screen: Black and White
• Subtitle: Spanish, English, French
• Features:
  • Commentary by Roger Ebert
  • Commentary by historian Rudy Behlmer
  • Introduction by Lauren Bacall
  • Additional scenes and outtakes
  • 2 Documentaries: Bacall on Bogart
  • You must remember this: A tribute to Casablanca
  • Featurette as time gors by: The Children Remember with Lindstrom and Stephen Bogart
  • Production research gallery
  • Homage cartoon Carrotblanca
  • Who Holds Tomorrow?: Premiere episode from 1955 Warner Bros. presents tv series adaptation of Casablanca
  • Scoring session outtakes
  • Audio-only bonus: Radio production with the movie's 3 key stars
  • Theatrical trailers

AWARDS

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

•     Won Best Director - 1943 (Michael Curtiz)
•     Won Best Picture - 1943
•     Won Best Screenplay - 1943 (Julius J. Epstein, Howard W. Koch, Philip G. Epstein)
•     Nominated Best Actor - 1943 (Humphrey Bogart)
•     Nominated Best Black and White Cinematography - 1943 (Arthur Edeson)
•     Nominated Best Editing - 1943 (Owen Marks)
•     Nominated Best Score - Drama or Comedy - 1943 (Max Steiner)
•     Nominated Best Supporting Actor - 1943 (Claude Rains)

• American Film Institute

•     Won 100 Greatest American Movies - 1998

• Film Daily

•     Won 10 Best Films - 1942

• Library of Congress

•     Won U.S. National Film Registry - 1988

• National Board of Review

•     Nominated Best Picture - 1943

• New York Times

•     Won 10 Best Films - 1942

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Humphrey Bogart - Rick Blaine
       Ingrid Bergman - Ilsa
       Paul Henreid - Victor Laszlo
       Claude Rains - Capt. Louis Renault
       Conrad Veidt - Maj. Heinrich Strasser
       Peter Lorre - Ugarte

• Director:

  Michael Curtiz

• Producer:

  Hal B. Wallis

• Play Author:

  Joan Alison, Murray Burnett

• Screenwriter:

  Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Howard Koch

• Cinematographer:

  Arthur Edeson

• Composer (Music Score):

  Hugo W. Friedhofer, Max Steiner

• Musical Direction/Supervision:

  Leo F. Forbstein

• Songwriter:

  Herman Hupfeld, M. K. Jerome, Jack Scholl

• Editor:

  Owen Marks

• Art Director:

  Carl Jules Weyl

REVIEWS:

• There are many people for whom {#Casablanca} is the greatest Hollywood movie ever made, and, while that may be going a bit far, one would be hard-pressed to think of another film in which the pieces fell together with such serendipity. It's hard to imagine a movie in which the leads are better cast: {$Humphrey Bogart}'s tough, effortless cool gives {%Rick} the ideal balance of honor and cynicism, {$Ingrid Bergman}'s luminous beauty makes it seem reasonable that men would fight for {%Ilsa}'s affections, and {$Paul Henreid}'s {%Victor} is cold enough that you can imagine {%Ilsa}'s being tempted by her old flame. The supporting cast is superb down the line; {$Claude Rains}, {$Peter Lorre}, {$Conrad Veidt}, {$Sydney Greenstreet}, {$Dooley Wilson}, and {$S.Z. Sakall} are all so memorable that one tends to forget that none is onscreen for very long. The screenplay often walks the border of cliché, but the story has just enough twists, and the dialogue so much snap, that it stays compelling throughout. And {$Michael Curtiz} knew just when to turn on the schmaltz and when to cut it off. {#Casablanca} blends {\romance}, {\suspense}, {\humor}, and patriotic {\drama} with such skill that one imagines it must have happened by accident, and the movie looks better with each passing year. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll cheer, and the good guys strike a blow against fascism -- what more could you want from a movie? ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
• There are many people for whom Casablanca is the greatest Hollywood movie ever made, and, while that may be going a bit far, one would be hard-pressed to think of another film in which the pieces fell together with such serendipity. It's hard to imagine a movie in which the leads are better cast: Humphrey Bogart's tough, effortless cool gives Rick the ideal balance of honor and cynicism, Ingrid Bergman's luminous beauty makes it seem reasonable that men would fight for Ilsa's affections, and Paul Henreid's Victor is cold enough that you can imagine Ilsa's being tempted by her old flame. The supporting cast is superb down the line; Claude Rains, Peter Lorre, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Dooley Wilson, and S.Z. Sakall are all so memorable that one tends to forget that none is onscreen for very long. The screenplay often walks the border of cliché, but the story has just enough twists, and the dialogue so much snap, that it stays compelling throughout. And Michael Curtiz knew just when to turn on the schmaltz and when to cut it off. Casablanca blends romance, suspense, humor, and patriotic drama with such skill that one imagines it must have happened by accident, and the movie looks better with each passing year. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll cheer, and the good guys strike a blow against fascism -- what more could you want from a movie? ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

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