I LOVE CASABLANCA - IT IMPROVES WITH AGE
Cert U
98 mins
BBFC advice: Contains mild violence
I love Casablanca.
That is why, spotting it's re-release on Valentine's Day, I watched it again on our flight to Gran Canaria.
I last reviewed it three years ago, so here's the link to http://everyfilmblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/15-casablanca.html
Instead, of reviewing it again I will list ten things you may not know about the classic.
1. It is based on an unproduced stage play called Everybody Comes to Rick's
2. The line "Play It Again, Sam" is never spoken.
3. It was shot at Warner Brothers' Burbank Studio in Los Angeles, with the only exception of the airport scene.
4. Its rushed release in January 1943 came just weeks after the Allies invaded North Africa.
5. The movie was shot in sequence because only the first half of the script had been written when filming began.
6. It was nominated for eight Oscars and won three.
7. Studio head Jack Warner darted to the stage to claim the Oscar and producer Hal B. Wallis claimed the Warner family physically prevented him from getting out of his seat.
8. The line, "Here's looking a you, kid" was said four times by Humphrey Bogart but isn't in the draft screenplays. It is thought it was a phrase he used when teaching Ingrid Bergman poker between takes.
9. In reality, no uniformed German troops were stationed in Casablanca during the Second World War.
10. In 1989, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being culturally, historically and aesthetically significant".
Ingrid Bergman: "When we did it (Casablanca) we had no faith in it all because the script was so bad and it was written day by day. We didn't know where we were going and I didn't know which man I was supposed to really love."
Reasons to watch: The atmosphere, the music and the great lines ... here's lookin' at you, kid.
Reasons to avoid: Well, Peter Lorre fans will be disappointed. He gets near top billing and is in it for about five minutes
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 10/10