Casablanca Reviews

• "You must remember this"....

  
  By A2XVIPXX2IZKVO on 2002-10-27
  It's hard to believe that when Casablanca was filmed at Warner Bros. Studios in 1942 it was "just another" of the 50 or so films that the studio was producing every year, as Lauren Bacall points out in the documentary about the film included in the special features. The movie was an instant success with audiences everywhere, and won three Academy Awards including Best Picture. Called "America's most popular and beloved movie- and rightly so" by The Motion Picture Guide, and "The best Hollywood movie of all time" by Leonard Maltin, Casablanca was voted the #2 film in a list of the top 100 films of this century by the American Film Institute.
  Set in refugee strewn French North Africa in 1942, Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a night club owner, and his friend Captain Louis Renault (Claude Rains), Prefect of Police, enter into a wager as to whether or not Resistance Leader Victor Laslo (Paul Henreid) will be able to escape Casablanca and reach the Free World. When Laslo arrives in Casablanca, Rick is stunned to find him accompanied by his ex-lover, Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman). Filled with mystery, suspense, intrigue and romance, Casablanca will remain a favorite of classic movie lovers for years to come.
  The supporting cast include Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre and Dooley Wilson as Rick's piano playing confidant, Sam. The entire cast are superb, the settings are excellent, and the cinematogrophy is wonderful.
  The song "As Time Goes By" was made famous by Casablanca, as it's melody is entwined throughout the film, and it too is now a classic, filled with romance and nostalgia.
  This is one film that absolutely MUST be in your DVD library!
  
  

• Special Edition? Nothing Special

  
  By on 2003-01-10
  I was also peeved by the lack of details about this "Collector's Set", so I went hunting.

  Bottom line: Unles you want lobby cards, 8X10 stills, and a few other "collectables", save your money. The DVD itself in the "Collector's Set" appears to be identical to the DVD in the original release. Based on other vendors' sites, here's what you get for the extra money:

  - Lobby Cards: 8 Original limited edition lobby card prints.
  - Senitype: Exclusive limited edition senitype® image from movie with 35mm film frame.
  - Theatrical Poster: Original one sheet movie poster (27 x 40 ).
  - Exclusive Collection: 6 Original Limited Edition B & W Photograph Stills.

  Information regarding the DVD in the "Collector's Set" is:
  DVD CONTAINS:
  - Digitally restored image and cleaned soundtrack.
  - Theatrical trailers.
  - YOU MUST REMEBER THIS, a 36-minute documentary newly updated with recently discovered, unseen outakes and screen tests.
  - Special introduction by screen legend Lauren Bacall, wife of Humphrey Bogart.

  I didn't see any new DVD features on any site.

  This is one of the greatest films ever made, but the "extras" aren't worth the extra $... to me. I'll gladly take the original release, which should be in everyone's DVD library!!
  
  

• Intrigue, corruption, love and tension in every scene

  
  By A17FLA8HQOFVIG on 2000-09-20
  This 1942 film is a classic, and rightly so. Staring Humphrey Bogart,
  Ingrid Bergman and Paul Heinreid, it was originally just another one
  of the more than 50 films turned out each year by each of the major
  studios that dominated Hollywood in those days. It's release
  coincidentally coincided with the Nazi occupation of France, and its
  theme and its timeless love story caught the public's
  imagination.

  Casablanca in French Morocco is under French rule and
  one of the places in the world where refuges can get safe passage
  visas to go on to Lisbon and eventually to America and freedom. It is
  seething with intrigue and corruption. Humphrey Bogart is an
  ex-patriot American citizen who runs Rick's Cafe, where much of the
  commerce takes place. Peter Lorre is a smuggler, Sidney Greenstreet
  is a black marketeer, and Martin Dooley is the piano player known as
  Sam.

  When, one evening Ingrid Bergman comes in to the cafe on the
  arm of her husband, Paul Heinreid, and asks the piano player to
  "play it Sam", he reluctantly plays "As Time Goes
  By." This melody which is played throughout the movie, is the
  glue that defines the romance. There's electricity between the
  lovers. There's intrigue and double dealing. Something exciting
  happens in each scene. And the acting is so good that it brought me
  right into Casablanca. The story is always clear. The danger is
  always there. The tension sizzles.

  One particularly meaningful
  scene was when some Nazi soldiers gather round the piano and sing an
  ominous song to the "Fatherland". It makes everyone in the
  Rick's cafe very uncomfortable. That's when Paul Heinried instructs
  the orchestra to play the French national anthem, the
  "Marseilles". Everyone starts to sing. The Nazis are
  silenced. The music takes over. I found my eyes filled with
  tears.

  The video I rented included a "made for TV program"
  that featured interviews with some of the original writers and
  recollections from people working on the set at the time. There was
  an interview with the man who did the music. He said that when he
  wrote that into the script he actually felt tears running down his
  face. It was the same powerful emotion that I felt too.

  The movie
  was shot in black and white. It was also shot in a studio in
  Hollywood. The airplane scene used a cardboard cutout of a plane and
  hired midgets dressed as mechanics. Shot from a distance and through
  a fog it was realistic and served the same kind of purpose of
  today's video imaging and special effects.

  Of course all the
  principals are dead, but their celluloid images in a timeless classic
  film lingers on.
  
  
  

• Please include list of special features

  
  By on 2002-11-26
  This is a fantastic movie, but Amazon.com unusually does not list anything to distinguish this Limited Edition Collector's Set from a regular edition. I would like to assume that Special Features are included, given the edition title, but have no way of knowing. If this is an oversight I would be grateful if Amazon.com would remedy this.
  
  

• Casablanca HD DVD technical quality

  
  By A3DRB77O8C4S93 on 2007-01-01
  I agree that any review of an HD DVD disk should include an opinion as to its technical quality, if possible comparing it to the regular DVD release. For the Casablanca HD DVD, I found the following opinion in the online magazine Perfect Vision, a high end technologically oriented magazine: "Casablanca is the film to see as the black-and-white showcase of hi-def. The setting of Morocco and Rick's Café Americain jump from the screen in breathtaking crystal clarity."
  
  
• A Blasphemous Review
  By A1Q0AQ2HVNSYYW on 2000-05-24
  If you're one of those people who loves Casablanca unconditionally then what are you doing reading reviews? Go watch it again and continue your beautiful friendship with the film. There is an air of nostalgia that surrounds people who grew up with the film that obscures the fact that it is indeed a very silly piece of melodrama peppered with some priceless moments.

  One thing in Casablanca that hasn't aged, and I guess will never age is Humphrey Bogart's brilliant performance as Rick. He is the owner of Rick's Cafe Amercain, where just about everybody comes. He hides his idealism under a thick and delicious coat of cynicism, when he says "I don't stick my neck out for nobody", you know at that point that he would and will. But his tough armour is broken, as it is always in the movies, by a long lost love who walks into his bar early on in the film, her name is Ilsa played by the lovely Ingrid Bergman. They were lovers once in Paris, but that was before she learnt that her husband was alive. Now accompaning her husband Laszlo(Paul Henreid) who is in Casablanca as an underground leader of the French resistance to the Nazis. Complicated events unfold after that setup, but I wouldn't want to spoil it for the few who haven't seen it.

  Casablanca has a labyrinthine plot involving the battle between the Nazis and the French resistance in North Africa, but you never take any of this seriously, never for a moment believe its melodramatic twists and certainly never believe that those backlots look anything like Morocco. The political realism of the film is ludicrous, specifically the ending which I can't reveal as that would be a spoiler. If the film works, it is because of those treasured individual moments, Sam(Dooley Wilson) playing "As time goes by", the aching looks of love between Rick and Ilsa, the colorful local and the one and only Humphrey Bogart.

  You constantly hear professional critics such as Leonard Maltin above refering to Casablanca as one of the greatest films ever made, and they may genuinely believe that. The truth is that after Anthony Minghella's THE ENGLISH PATIENT and Peter Weir's GALLIPOLI, Casablanca looks very thin indeed. The fact of the matter is no professional critic would ever be able to get away with criticising Casablanca. I think it would be safer to read amatuer critics when you're checking on the "classics", they have a lot less to lose.

  Classics such as CITIZEN KANE, THE THIRD MAN, and THE MALTESE FALCON are genuinely great films that have stood the test of time. Turn out the lights, forget the reviews and these films would still be stunning. Casablanca is not in the same league as those titles.

  I'd hate to give the impression that Casablanca is a bad film, it is merely a light weight one that lives on its gentle charm. Its also a film that will join my Blasphemy files (overrated films that no one dares to criticise) along with such titles as Franklin J. Schaffner's Patton and Steven Spielberg's Close Encounter of The Third Kind. But enough sin for now.
  
  

• HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU, CASABLANCA...as NEVER BEFORE in HD DVD!
  By A30NVSLEMRKEW1 on 2007-04-21
  65 years after it first it theaters, CASABLANCA remains a perfect film, a timeless masterpiece, and one of the most beloved American cinematic treasures. There are only a handful of films from the 'golden era' that can still captivate any audience, even those with no interest in classic film, no less black & white films.
  
  Warner Brothers gave this crown jewel the deluxe treatment on regular DVD about 3 years ago, and it was impossible to conceive that even the glories of 1080p HD DVD could really make it look THAT much better...
  
  Well, it DOES. Several people I know use this CASABLANCA HD DVD as their 'demo disc' for their home theater. Despite B&W, monaural sound, and a square aspect ratio, the clarity is unreal, and it only heightens the enjoyment of one of the greatest films ever made.
  
  Kudos to Warner for giving this to fans so early in the HD game. There is a terrible paucity of truly great films available in Hi Def right now, regardless of format. None of the other studios seem to recognize they have libraries, and relegate their releases to the recent flavor of the month (for the most part). Warner has been the top video label for years, and this is just another reason why. They really know what they're doing.
  
  All the exceptional special features created for the regular DVD have been carried over, and although they are standard definition, the upconversion makes them look better than ever.
  
  This is truly an ESSENTIAL part of any HD library.
  
  
• Rounding Up the Usual Suspects
  By A1A87TUBBDPMF0 on 2003-09-12
  (To the reader: This review is about the original MGM DVD release and NOT about the 2-disc edition just released.)

  Casablanca!

  The very name conjures up an exotic mix of adventure, intrigue, heroism, selfless sacrifice, and romance. Hear the title of this 1942 Best Picture winner and your memory will provide you with images of Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Dooley Wilson, Peter Lorre, and Claude Rains. Or maybe you'll hear snatches of Max Steiner's unforgettable score, with its interpolation of Herman Hupfeld's "As Time Goes By" and the stirring strains of "The Marsellaise."

  Based on the stage play "Everybody Comes to Rick's" by Murray Burnett and Joan Allison, the movie tells a dramatic story of refugees fleeing from wartorn Europe and making a perilous trip to Casablanca in French Morocco. It is December 1941 and that French colony is under the control of "unoccupied France." Ostensibly neutral in World War II, Vichy France is nevertheless a German vassal state, as the arrival of Major Strasser (Conrad Veldt) clearly demonstrates.

  Strasser's mission in Casablanca: to stop Czech underground leader Victor Laszlo (Henreid) from obtaining one of two exit visas stolen from two murdered German couriers and escaping from the Gestapo. Having tracked the defiant Laszlo after his escape from a Nazi concentration camp, Strasser is determined to capture the symbol of anti-Nazi resistance once and for all.

  Accompanying Laszlo is the beautiful Ilsa Lund (Bergman), a young Norweigan student whom he married in secret before he was captured by the Gestapo in 1940. Devoted to her husband and his great cause, Ilsa has been at his side since Laszlo's miraculous escape and sudden reappearance in Paris.

  Unbeknownst to Laszlo, however, his fate will now rest in the hands of American saloonkeeper Rick Blaine (Bogart). In the months following Victor's escape from the concentration camp he was reported as "presumed dead." In loneliness and despair, the grieving Ilsa met and fell in love with Rick in Paris shortly before the German occupation began. For a brief time the lovers were together, only to tragically part ways when news of Laszlo's return reached Ilsa.

  Now, in the eve of America's entry into World War II, Victor Laszlo's fate hangs on the conflicting emotions felt by both Rick and Ilsa, as well as the shifting loyalties of French police Capt. Louis Renault (Rains).

  The screenplay by Julius J. and Philip G. Epstein and Howard Koch is a wonderful mixture of romance, intrigue, drama and comedy (the latter provided both by colorful characters and witty exchanges). Director Michael Curtiz and producer Hal B. Wallis made Casablanca as one of many movies produced in 1942, never knowing that it would become a classic of Hollywood's Golden Era.
  
  

• AFI Voted Casablanca #2 ALL TIME CLASSIC !!!!
  By AW003H7Z3OCHA on 2001-03-28
  Casablanca is the 2nd greatest movie of the 100 top in the last 100 years according to the American Film Institute (AFI) poll of 1998.

  Warner Brothers Studios produce an abundance of hit patriotic romance features during the War Years (1940's). They had a stable of the greatest stars (Bogart, Bergman, Rains, Lorre, Greenstreet to mention a few) which produced countless movies in short order.

  In Summary; French Morocco during World War II love triangle night club owner Rick (Humphrey Bogart), Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) & Victor (Paul Henreid) try to outwit & escape the Nazi's with many twists & turns involving an assortment of memorable characters you'll never forget.

  Casablanca was the greatest of Warner Brothers (Best Picture Oscar)1940's features. In my opinion the #1 movie as yet due to the fantasic script, sreenplay (Won an Oscar) plots, cast, direction (Best Director Oscar)and charismatic attraction you'll have in watching this movie over and over.

  The extras include a fantastic documentary narrated by Bogarts wife, Lauren Bacall.

  Seeing is believing, trust me, pull up a comfortable chair and watch this digitalized Black & White classic "CASABLANCA".
  
  

• Even After So Much Time Has Gone By
  By A26JGAM6GZMM4V on 2003-07-08
  Only Citizen Kane was ranked higher when the American Film Institute announced its list of "America's Greatest Movies." (The Godfather, Gone with the Wind, and Lawrence of Arabia complete the top five.) My own opinion is that AFI ranked Casablanca higher than it deserves. Nonetheless, the film remains immensely popular among critics and film historians as well as so-called movie buffs. It received an Academy Award as best film in 1943, as did Michael Curtiz for directing it. Bogart and Bergman are joined by an especially strong supporting cast (notably Greenstreet, Henreid, Lorre, Rains, and Veidt). There really isn't much to the plot but the dialogue is first-rate. (Philip Epstein, Julius Epstein, and Howard W. Koch shared an Oscar for best screenplay.) It is tempting to over-analyze this film by, for example, devoting excessive attention to American versus European sensibilities during World War II, the conflict between what Rick and Ilsa want to do with what they think they ought to do, etc.

  Obviously, the war in progress outside of Rick's cafe cannot be denied although he makes every effort to insulate himself and his clientele from it. There is no shortage of social and political issues and yet, in my opinion, the significance of the film -- and its enduring appeal -- is explained by the development of the relationship between Rick and Ilsa. The final resolution is necessarily somewhat ambiguous, I think, precisely because the relationship between two people in war time faces quite different challenges, obligations, and implications than it would otherwise. Ultimately, having recently seen this film again in a special edition, accompanied by an abundance of supplementary features (e.g. Roger Ebert's commentary, Lauren Bacall's Introduction, and about ten minutes of additional scenes and out takes), I think the film now has a special symbolic significance which could not have been evident when it was released in 1942. More specifically, it somehow dramatizes what so many of us also struggle with when seeking a balance of obligations to ourselves and to others as well as to certain values which sustain the human race, especially during crises which threaten its survival. Perhaps I make too much of this film but these are among the reasons why it continues to hold special meaning for me.
  
  

• Warner Brothers, you can do better than this for CASABLANCA!
  By AY4DG8NV64EZJ on 2001-09-19
  Man alive, I hate not giving Casablanca five stars. It's among my favourite films. You can't beat dialogue like that! The characters are superp, the sets and costumes are superb, Bogie is wonderful, and Bergman rips my heart out everytime she walks into Rick's Cafe Americain dressed in that gorgeous white travelling suit... And then when she starts crying!!

  I can't say enough good about the movie itself, and I won't try. It's already been said, by others more eloquent than myself. But I will dare to critique the DVD, nonetheless. But only the DVD...

  Full screen format??? Come on, is it that hard to put it in it's original cinematic widescreen glory??? And what about extras? An entertaining documentary hosted by Laruen Bacall is a step in the right direction, but this is CASABLANCA, MAN! What about commentary? What about photo galleries? What about featurettes, and production jazz? Put some effort into it, for Pete's sake; it's only #2 on the AFI 100, and one of the finest films ever made!! I don't want to see trailers for Key Largo, I want to see another (longer) interview with Bergman's daughter. While you're at it, Warner Brothers, give some thought to Gone With the Wind. That's even worse. All it has is a trailer, and some ridiculous trivia questions. GONE WITH THE WIND!! I hope you're planning some kind of Special Edition Anniversary Collection with hours of extras.

  Casablanca is timeless, it really is. You must buy this DVD, if only to remember the days when movies were acutally beautiful stories, not special effects extravaganzas spiced with plenty of gratuitous sex and violence. But save some pennies, because it can only be a matter of time before WB realizes it's atrocious error, and re-realeases Bogie-Bergman-Henried with the attention they deserve.
  
  

• One of the greats
  By A2Q13PHEXGR48Q on 2003-10-04
  Casablanca is one of those movies that everyone can find something to like about it. Even 70 years later, this movie is still one of the most popular movies ever made. Set in the city of Casablanca in unoccupied French territory, the story is full of intrigue, a triangle love story, great characters, and too many one-liners to even mention. In Casablanca, people are desperately trying to get travel visas out of the city so they can get to America as the war draws closer. Two German couriers carrying visas are murdered making everyone wonder where the documents are. From here we are introduced to Rick, a bar owner who apparently has no allegiance except to himself. One night, the love of his life walks in to his bar setting the whole story in motion. This is a fabulous movie that can be watched over and over again. It has all the elements of a great movie and should not be missed.

  Humphrey Bogart was never better than his role as Rick, the bartender who looks out only for himself. Simply put, this is one of the coolest characters in movie history. Ingrid Bergman is great as Ilsa, a woman who has a romantic link to Rick in the past. Bogie and Bergman are great together throughout making their relationship truly believable. Paul Henried stars as Victor Lazslo, Ilsa's husband and leader of the resistance movement. Claude Rains gives an excellent performance as Captain Renault, a French officer who plays both the Allies and the Germans. The film also stars Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and Conrad Veidt. The two-disc special edition should not be missed by fans of the movie. There are too many extras to even mention, but they are all worthwhile. Movie fans everywhere will love this classic movie. Do not miss!
  
  

• The greatest movie ever made
  By A164CEQYM6I9WL on 2000-07-17
  Here's a dumb review: how could you not already know how incredibly perfect this movie is? Why are you still reading this? Go watch Casablanca! Now, go watch it again! And again! I sure have: I'm over thirty viewings now, and life is too short to waste time reading something so obvious as this review. Go watch Casablanca! If you're still here, thanks for listening. In case you haven't figured it out, it's my favorite movie. It's my mother's favorite movie. It's my wife's favorite movie. It's my best friend's favorite movie. Heck, I've even ended a friendship with someone who said they hated this movie; anybody with taste that bad can't be a good person to have as a friend. Go watch it with someone you love -- even better, go watch it with someone you'd like to love you. Trust me. It works.
  
  
• Of All the Gin Joints in the World You Had to Walk Into Mine
  By A3PWPNZVMNX3PA on 1999-12-15
  What can be said about this film? If you have not seen it, then go see it. Classic at every turn. Not a line or action wasted. Bogart in his most celebrated role as the suave and charismatic Rick, along with the beautiful Ingrid Bergman. One of the films that makes Hollywood great! Highly reccomended to anyone and everyone. The DVD version, however, is well packaged and presented. With trailers from a variety of classic films, along with a half hour documentary on the making of Casablanca hosted by Lauren Bacall. A good transfer with quality sound, well worth the price. Whether VHS or DVD, you will get your moneys worth with this timeless classic that will begin a beautiful friendship.
  
  
• A great DVD of a great movie
  By A2H560NKDMPBRO on 1999-07-29
  If you want to see one of the greatest films ever, this is the way to see it (forget video tape, the quality of this product is superb).

  'Casablanca' is set in wartime Morrocco where refugees from Europe wait for the chance to escape to America. Rick (Humphrey Bogart) the owner of a fashionable bar, is shocked when his former lover Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) arrives with her husband Victor Lazlo, the leader of a Resistance movement. Victor is being pursued by the Germans who have a strong influence over the French authorities in Morrocco and who will be happy to see him stopped. Will Ilsa escape with Victor or will she leave him for Rick...?

  When they bought the rights to the play (Everyone comes to Rick's), Warner Brothers couldn't possibly have known how successful 'Casablanca' would be. It has just the right mix of mystery, intrigue, romance and humour with a few memorable songs thrown in for good measure. Watch out too for the references to concentration camps which is suprising when you consider that it was filmed in 1942.

  As well as the movie itself, on the DVD you get a documentary about its production hosted by Bogart's real-life partner, Lauren Bacall.

  This is a must-see movie...
  
  

• Just PLEASE: Don't Try to Remake It
  By A1ZBR6613WAJT1 on 1999-12-04
  Why can't this gem be remade? It can't be remade because no international cast could ever be assembled which could approach the talent and grace of the original, ecletic ensemble: American Humprey Bogart, Swedish Ingrid Bergman and John Qualen, Czeckoslovakian (I believe) Paul Henreid, French Claude Rains, Marcel Dalio, Curt Bois, and the exquisite Madeleine LeBeau, British Sidney Greenstreeet, German Conrad Veidt and S.Z. Sakall, Hungarian Peter Lorre, Russian Leonid Kinskey, and Helmut Dantine and Dan Seymour (wherever they were from?). It can't be remade because we're too far removed from it's World War II setting and we're much too worldly and cynical to appreciate it's compelling naivete. It can't be remade because it was a moment in time. And time is the one thing we haven't learned how to recapture. The movie was being written and rewritten daily. There were at least half a dozen endings considered. Humphrey Bogart was the THIRD choice for Rick (after Ronald Reagan and George Raft). Ingrid Bergman was the FOURTH choice for Ilsa (after Hedy Lamarr, Ann Sheridan, and Michelle Morgan). It was shot in a few days at the Culver City Warner lot. They were trying to get a new song written for Rick and Ilsa's song but finally settled on the old standard, "As Time Goes By." Such spontaneity can only occur once. And what about the priceless lines uttered by those unique characters? Not only the well-worn, "Round up the usual suspects; you played it for her, you can play it for me; this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship; but.... "How careless of you throwing away women like that; some day they may be scarce." "This is the customary roundup of refugees, liberals, and, of course, beautiful young girls for Captain Reneaud." "Naturally, there will be some incidental expenses." "I'm shocked, shocked to find out there is gambling going on here" ("Your winnings, messieur"). "Give Major Strasser the best table, one next to the ladies." ("I have already given him the best, knowing he is German and would take it anyway"). "If he gets a word in, it will be a major Italian victory." "I don't mind a parasite; I do object to a cut rate one." "What kind of a man is Captain Reneaud?"..."Just like any other man, only more so." These lines cannot be outdone. Redelivering them would not do them justice. Altering them would be a sacrilege. And how could the ambience of the movie be duplicated in this high tech world of special effects? The very simplicity and sincerety of the movie is out of place in this era where the world has drawn so close (in a remake, would Ilsa's goodbye letter to Rick be e-mailed or faxed?) Not to mention: who in the world could play the parts? Yes, I suppose that Rutger Hauer could make a credible Major Strasser. But who could play Rick? Most Bogart roles are remade with Harrison Ford. But isn't he just a bit too frivolous and devil-may-care to sell the part of a devastated, spurned lover whose anger and resentment displays itself as cynicism and reclusiveness? Richard Gere is one who could probably do it, but then who would be Ilsa? - Julia Roberts? Not to mention the problem of finding the myriad of distinctive and timeless character actors who populated the original set. So how about this time, JUST this one time, why don't we leave this treasure alone? Let's just preserve it in its original, pristine form so that it can be experienced to its fullest degree by future generations? And who knows? Maybe in some distant time, the world will return to the magnificent naivete that wrought this masterpiece in the first place.
  
  
• Classic Collector's Item
  By on 2003-01-21
  The DVD is still one of the best films ever made.

  The extras are what make this box set so unusual. Original lobby cards are very rare and expensive to purchase so these provide a unique prospective. The black and white photographs offer a behind-the-scenes look into a historical film, the one-sheet movie poster is in the box (as well as a free offer for an additional rolled one!) and the Senitype contains a film clip from the movie. For me, it's like owning a true piece of Hollywood Glamour.
  
  

• Do you need the DVD version if you already have VHS?
  By AL9P13WB6L9PQ on 2003-07-27
  I'm not about to waste your time, or mine, reviewing the "movie". If you've seen it, you KNOW it's one of the greatest movies of all time (many list it as Number 1). If you haven't seen it, then buy it.

  The real question for me, is it worth getting the DVD if you already have Casablanca on VHS?

  The answer, for me at least, is an unqualified yes. If you have a good crisp TV, with three comb filtering, such as a Sony Wega (I have a very good Sanyo), then there will be a much crisper and detailed picture. You can see it early on, particularly in the map of Europe and when Bogert signs a chit. Probably the BEST visual improvement of the VHS is the cloying and annoyingly overdone "soft focus" shots of Ingrid Bergman are not nearly so obvious or overdone in the DVD version. Why? I don't know, but perhaps the lack of crispness in the VHS causes the soft focus blur to be overly pronounced, like driving a car at night with an astigmatism which smears the headlights of oncoming cars.

  Additionally the dynamic range of the DVD is much more pronounced than the VHS and/or less compressed, so quietly spoken passages are much quieter and musical passages louder.
  (This may NOT be a good thing, however, for the hard of hearing.)
  
  

• The Film is a Given - But the DVD Quality is Shocking!
  By A2WJSVSBXEYEF on 2000-03-15
  I won't write even one word about the film itself; we all know how great it is. But what I wasn't prepared for, was how astonishingly beautiful it is on DVD. On my computer's 19" monitor, it was as clear, crisp and sharp as it would have been on the "silver screen." A TV really doesn't do justice to a film like this. Again and again my wife and I found ourselves gasping at the perfection and beauty of the cinematography, the lighting, the sets, the shots, the angles... Even on a big-screen TV, you only see a faint hint of this film's real beauty; but the DVD brings it out in a way that only people who saw it in the theaters back in 1943 ever got to see... until now. Get a big monitor, a fast computer, and a good sound system. Then pop some popcorn, and be prepared to be stunned.
  
  
• "Welcome back to our side--this time I know we'll win"
  By AD2BIAIH78QI5 on 2003-07-12
  Paul Henried's last line to Humphrey Bogart points out that the great "Casablanca", lauded today as a romance, was in fact more importantly a propaganda movie. From our vantage point now in July 2003, it's all too easy sometimes to forget that the war was really raging when this movie was made, and that it was by no means certain that America would triumph ultimately against the forces of Nazi Germany. That reich had managed to conquer most of Europe--only England was able to fend off Hitler's machine. So that when Conrad Veidt's Nazi General Strasser asks Bogart's Rick how he'll feel when the Nazis walk into London, Rick's "I'll tell you when you get there" is a hopeful boast that England will continue to hold out. I try to enter into the mind of the times when I watch "Casablanca" to appreciate how the film was helping to allay the fears of its original audience. How awful to have lived during a time when the entire world was at war. Paul Henried's character in 1942 speaks in the future tense--"we'll win"; thank God we look back now and use the past--"we won".

  Of course, the romance of Rick and Ilse (Ingrid Bergman) is what everyone else is talking about. Probably this is a little anomalous, too, in the usual Hollywood movie--here it's the guy who got jilted, the guy who's crying into his whiskey, the guy who says hurtful, hurt-filled things. And the guy who must turn away love when it's his again. So Rick is a tragic hero for whom things aren't really turning out right. But he does grow in the movie. He learns that he must go on in his own development--before, he had sworn the piano player Sam never to play "As Time Goes By" again, but he has to get past those kind of self-imposed taboos, not only listening to the song again but taking an interest in humanity again.

  Bergman's Ilse is a more complicated character. She's torn between two men, her husband and her old lover. Other reviewers have said that "Casablanca" is a perfect film, but there is something that's a little off, and that's the relationship between Ilse and her husband, Resistance leader Victor Lazlo, played by Paul Henried. When they have scenes alone, he speaks of his love for her and she vows to stay by his side. It sounds like they've been through a lot together and are truly attached. However, their love is never shown as a romantic love; when he leaves her to go to a meeting of the Resistance in Casablanca, he kisses her on the cheek. Another time he kisses again, also on the cheek. Only Rick kisses her on the mouth passionately. I suppose this will make her look less like a two-timer to the audience, but it's a little too unrealistic to think that a husband will not kiss his beloved wife with any kind of ardor. I think this undercuts her dilemma of having to figure out which man to leave and which to cleave to. She should be truly romantically involved with both men, not merely "married" to Henried, but shown to be in an intimate relationship with him. Paul Henried is very likeable as Victor, but his character this way is constructed to be a hero without sufficient human roots. His greatest love capacity seems to be an altruistic one. Ilse's attraction to Rick is that with him, she's paramount while with Victor she places second to his love for the cause. In effect, what happens to Ilse is that she winds up being second with Rick too as he rekindles an interest in the cause himself. It would be interesting to explore what that would mean to her, that the war is robbing her of a fulfilling romantic love with both men. She could either become embittered or she could be ennobled herself, accepting that there is something bigger than herself that must take precedence. Rick "tells" her this at the airport, but it would be more effective if she knew it within herself as well. The film has her leave with her husband, but how will she really respond?

  These are plot considerations--what about everything else? Well, the acting in "Casablanca" is first rate all the way. I've always believed Warner Bros to have had the superior stable to MGM, and this movie proves that point admirably. It stands with "Adventures of Robin Hood" as having the best ensemble performance in Hollywood. Of course, appearing in both movies is one of my very favorite actors, Claude Rains. I just saw the movie last night on a pier in NYC, and his scenes consistently drew the most laughs and applause. In a way, he really runs away with the picture and was cheated out of a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. It's the role of a lifetime, and he does all he can with it. Peter Lorre is wonderful in his early scenes with Bogart as the smarmy insecure Ugarte; he manages to convey his wish to impress Bogart with a lot of economy. Sidney Greenstreet is on target as the sensuous Fat Man. Smaller roles such as the wait staff and bar patrons are all well-executed. And Ingrid Bergman is simply luminous as Ilse. That scene in the Paris bar, when she brushes her hand against Bogart's cheek is pure movie magic--star quality all the way.

  Like just about everybody, I love "Casablanca" as one of Hollywood's very best achievements; I'm on their side, too, cheering all the way.
  
  

• So Many Awards and So Many Memorable Lines
  By A37B3O457INKEA on 2002-08-31
  CASABLANCA is the favorite movie of many fans for good reasons. They can really be summed up in the numerous Academy Awards and Academy Award nominations given to the film. The combination of superior direction, acting, cinematography and a superb screenplay doesn't come together in one package too often.

  Bogart, Bergman and Paul Henreid work together beautifully. The supporting cast is incredibly deep in talent. S.Z. Sakal, Madeleine LeBeau and Leonid Kinsky are tough to beat. Is it possible that this is only Dooley Wilson's first film? Added to this mix is the veteran star quality of Claude Rains, Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet.

  Few movies leave us with so many memorable lines such as "We'll always have Paris" or "Round up the usual suspects" or "Here's looking at you - kid." In this respect CASABLANCA is reminiscent of THE MALTESE FALCON and GONE WITH THE WIND.

  For the record the Academy Awards were for best picture, best director (Michael Curtiz) and best screenplay (Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and Howard Koch).

  The Academy Award nominations were for best actor (Humphrey Bogart), best supporting actor (Claude Rains) and best cinematography (Arthur Edeson).
  
  

• Don't buy it again, Sam
  By A3R1CNPLVGR2CW on 2003-08-17
  A complete waste of money. The "newly discovered additional footage" amounts to under a minute. The outtakes are of little importance and are mildly entertaining as a curiosity only.

  Sadly, this set is a shining example of Hollywood trotting out old material (such as the Bacall documentary which has aired many times on TV) on DVD that isn't worthy of a deluxe 2-disc set. Stick to the original 1-disc DVD and use the $10 you saved to buy a DVD of Sharky's Machine. Burt needs the cash.
  
  

• What a Transfer!
  By AOQ84V0SPVGGE on 2000-09-02
  Absolutely the best black and white transfer I have ever seen of a DVD. There are no drop outs, blips, hairs, tears, burns, noise, or anything that shouldn't be on this film. Warner must have had a pristine original negative sealed away for this DVD to look so good. The lighting is rich, luminous, and the grays beautifully scaled lending excellent depth to the picture. After seeing "Casablanca" on TV and video this DVD is a revelation. The picture is presented in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1.

  The sound too is crisp and marvelously preserved. There are no pops, blips, buzzes, drop outs, or volume changes. Instead we are given a soundtrack, that while still monophonic, is the best yet heard. If any complaint could be made of digital audio it's that the sound is too forward and harsh for some ears though on the DVD it is only slightly so and those of you with Cinema EQ on your home theater equipment won't have a thing to complain about.

  Extras like the Lauren Bacall (Bogey's widow)-hosted special, "You Must Remember This" and the original trailer (in poor condition compared to the feature), are better than average and the documentary includes interviews with people who were involved with making "Casablanca". The production notes are actually interesting to read but then they would be given the twisted production history of the film.

  All in all Warner has produced a lovingly-crafted DVD edition of a movie loved by millions all over the world and nothing about it disappoints.

  Time may go by, but "Casablanca" has become digitally-fixed and now, finally, physically ageless.
  
  

• Casablanca is best because it reflects reality
  By on 1999-06-09
  Casablanca is simply the best Hollywood film ever made. Its script is flawlessly constructed and flows evenly, with magnificent performances by all involved. The best thing about the movie seems to be that it is efficient: every scene and every line adds something to the story. Not a moment is wasted. While not the best performance in his legendary career, Humphrey Bogart is unforgettable as Rick: the reclusive nightclub owner. Bogart plays the role with restraint and sincerity and best of all, follows the flow of the story in that he doesn't lay all of his cards on the table immediately. Ingrid Bergman lights up the screen like no other leading lady ever has with that stunningly angelic visage. And, during a time of wholesale segregation in American society, I thought Dooley Wilson held his own well as Bogie's piano playing sidekick. Casablanca doesn't pander to the audience with classic romanitcism. If it were produced today, Hollywood would have Bogie get the girl, keep the bar, and win the war single-handedly. Sadly, he doesn't on all fronts, but that is part of what makes the movie magical--it is pretty much like real life.
  
  
• Much, much too much intro
  By A2GFFZOR37D63F on 1999-10-22
  Casablanca itself needs no review or further praise...but this particular tape has at least 1/2 hour of stuff and nonsense at the beginning...my index finger is still aching from holding down the fast forward button to bypass all the BS. Please, please, PLEASE, a _clean_ Casablanca.
  
  
• Perfect Movie...Pristeen DVD
  By A2ZSC81MXLBELX on 2002-10-10
  CASABLANCA....The name alone conjurs up visions of World War II, Clandestine meetings, Romance and Exotic places.This film has all that and more. To sum up this wonderful story(I'm so thrilled about the DVD I want to get to that too), it is the eve of WWII, the Nazi's are moving their way across Europe, forcing thousands to flee. Many find their way to Casablanca, Morroco, which is under French rule and as of yet is unoccupied by the Nazi's. Most are looking for exit Visa's to get to America but it is easier said then done. Victor Laszlo(Paul Henreid)and his wife Ilsa(Ingrid Bergman)are among those people and it's harder for him then most. He is on the Nazi's most wanted list for leading the Czech Resistance. Rick Blaine(Humphrey Bogart)is his best hope.
  Rick, American ex-patriot,doesnt stick his neck out for anybody, until he sees Ilsa. His old flame, that mysteriously left him in Paris,("We'll always have Paris"). Rick still feels the sting of that day,but as Ilsa's story unfolds he does stick his neck out for both Ilsa and Victor to help them get away, even though he loves her still.
  This movie has some unforgetable music. including "As Time Goes By",("Play it Sam") and some unforgetable characters. Included in this marvelous cast are Claude Rains, ("Louie, I think this is the start of a beautiful freindship"), Peter Lorre,Conrad Veidt and Sydney Greenstreet. And don't forgot all the unforgetable lines, I've tried to mention a few here. It was directed by Michael Curtiz, and won the academy award for best picture of 1943.
  The DVD(Warner Bros) is a Pristeen transfer. The black and white cinematography with all it's shadows and lights that make film noir so dramatic is crisp and clear.I saw no signs of the age of this film. Ingrid's eyes sparkle as much as her diamond earings.The sound is perfect. The disc includes a documentary hosted by Lauren Bacall with commentary by various people involved with the film. There are theatrical trailers for this and other film noirs and there are English and French subtitles for those in need of it.
  "Here's looking at you kid"............Laurie
  
  
• The most boring movie I have ever seen!
  By A10EH95EUDO9W3 on 2000-05-29
  I saw this old classic in my film class several years ago and since I am hearing impaired, I simply never had the chance to learn its story that seemed to hold the audience spellbound for several generations. So here I just sat and stared as the dull b&w scenes rolled slowly right by and nothing much seemed to happen. But at least I recognized the famous scene at the very ending where Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman turned to look at each other by the plane - but that's all. Sorry, but it was a very very bland experience for me as the deaf viewer.
  
  
• Humphrey Bogart scores in Warner Bros. classic movie
  By ANIHXYXKPZL2H on 2001-03-13
  What is there that a reviewer can say about "Casablanca" which is new? Surely just about everyone has now seen this film and everybody knows the plot which is set during World War Two at a night club owned by American Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) in Casablanca frequented by many dubious characters of all nationalities. Just to complicate matters in walks Ilsa Lund Laszlo (Ingrid Bergman), his ex lover from years before who had abandoned him. She is now married to resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid) on the run from the Germans. Bogart can help by supplying them with the vital transit papers they desperately need to escape to America but is he willing to do that when his policy has always been "I stick my neck out for nobody"?
  
  One of the great Warner Bros. films of the forties - possibly the most productive decade in the history of Hollywood .... and how about all those "classic lines"? It is very unlikely that any other movie contained as many quotable lines as can be found in "Casablanca".
  
  Here are just a few of my many favourite lines from the film:
  
  Humphrey Bogart: "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine".
  
  Ingrid Bergman: "Play it Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By'."
  
  Bogart: "You played it for her, you can play it for me .... if she can stand it, I can. Play it".
  
  Bogart: "Here's looking at you, kid".
  
  Bogart: "The problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world".
  
  Claude Rains: "Major Strasser has been shot. Round up all the usual suspects".
  
  Bogart: "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship".
  
  The film is worth seeing over and over again just to hear Bogart uttering those unforgettable lines in his inimitable style. And of course to enjoy that celebrated song by Dooley Wilson - "As Time Goes By". Incredibly it has been reported that Dooley Wilson was a singer but NOT a pianist so his playing was done by another musician.
  
  "Casablanca" featured one of those all star casts that only come along once in a lifetime - Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, S.Z. Sakall, and Dooley Wilson. (It has been claimed that the first choice of leading players was to have been Ronald Reagan, Ann Sheridan and Dennis Morgan but if this proposed casting is correct and had gone ahead I doubt if the film would have received the cult following it has today!).
  
  "Casablanca" won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director (Michael Curtiz) and Best Screenplay (Julius and Philip Epstein). It also had nominations for Best Actor (Bogart), Best Supporting Actor (Claude Rains), Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing and Best Score. Humphrey Bogart didn't receive the award for Best Actor but he was recognised some years later when he won the Best Actor Award for "The African Queen". In my opinion he should also have won for his outstanding portrayal as Fred C. Dobbs in "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (1948) and again for "The Caine Mutiny" (1954).
  
  BOOKS. There have been many many books written about Humphrey Bogart but I can confidently recommend "BOGART" by A.M. Sperber and Eric Lax as being one of the best and a really fascinating read.
  
  
• I received a blank tape of Casa Blanca from Amazon.com.
  By A3OO0N9KJ306YN on 2002-08-29
  I received a blank tape of Casa Blanca from Amazon.com. I did not try to view it until after the one month time limit, having no reason to suspect it would be blank. Also, I would not have known the video was blank unless I removed the cover. The system will not allow me to discuss this problem with a human being. Therefore I am very unhappy with the service from Amazon.com. Valerie Whelan
  
  
• Here's Looking At Casablanca Again
  By A1GN8UJIZLCA59 on 2002-12-11
  Casablanca is one of the most beloved films in movie history. It is a timeless classic that has crossed over from mere entertainment into pure Americana. Lines like "here's looking at you kid" and "play it again Sam" are part of our lexicon and "As Time Goes By" is practically as famous as the movie itself. Humphrey Bogart is dashing as club owner Rick Blaine and Ingrid Bergman is luminous as his former paramour Ilsa Lund who comes back into his life with her husband Victor Laslzo played by Paul Henreid. This sets up a love triangle that famously concludes on the airstrip. Director Michael Curtiz won the 1943 Best Director Oscar for his work and the film won the Oscar for Best Picture as well as writers Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and Howard Koch picking up the Oscar for Best Screenplay for one of the most memorable screenplays of all time.
  
  

• Citizen Kane (Two-Disc Special Edition)
• The Maltese Falcon Three-Disc Special Edition (1941 & 1931 versions / Satan Met a Lady)
• Lawrence of Arabia (Single Disc Edition)
• The African Queen [IMPORT]
• On the Waterfront (Special Edition)