Customer Reviews

Casablanca [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(180)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

Aaaahhh ... Bogey. AFI's No. 1 film star of the 20th century. Hollywood's original noir anti-hero, epitome of the handsome, cynical and oh-so lonesome wolf (with his "Casablanca"'s Rick Blaine alone, one of the Top 5 guys on the AFI's list of greatest 20th century film heroes); looking unbeatably cool in white dinner jacket or trenchcoat and fedora alike, a glass of whiskey in his hand and a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. Endowed with a legendary aura several times larger than his real life stature, and still admired by scores of women wishing they had been born 50+ years earlier, preferably somewhere in California and to parents connected with the movie business, so as to have at least a marginal chance of meeting him.

Triple-Oscar-winning "Casablanca," directed by Michael Curtiz, was and still is without question Bogart's greatest career-defining moment, the movie on which his legendary status is grounded more than on any other of his multiple other successes. The film's story is based on Murray Burnett and Joan Alison's play "Everybody Comes to Rick's," renamed by Warner Brothers in order to tag onto the success of the studio's 1938 hit "Algiers" (starring Charles Boyer and Hedy Lamarr). Building on the success of 1941's "The Maltese Falcon" and further expanding Bogart's increasingly complex on-screen personality, it added a romantic quality which had heretofore been missing; eventually making this the AFI's Top 20th century love story (even before the No. 2 "Gone With the Wind"), while second only to "Citizen Kane" on the AFI's overall list of Top 100 20th century movies; with a unique, inimitable blend of drama, passion, humor, exotic North African atmosphere, patriotism, unforgettable score (courtesy of Herman Hupfeld's "As Time Goes By," Max Steiner and Louis Kaufman's violin) and an all-star cast, consisting besides Bogart of Ingrid Bergman (Ilsa), Paul Henreid (Victor Laszlo), Claude Rains (Captain Renault), Dooley Wilson (who, a drummer by trade, had to fake his piano playing as Rick's friend Sam), Conrad Veidt (Major Strasser), Sydney Greenstreet (Ferrari) and Peter Lorre (Ugarte). And the movie's countless famous one-liners have long attained legendary status in their own right ...

Looking at this movie's and its stars' almost mythical fame, it is difficult to imagine that, produced at the height of the studio system era, it was originally just one of the roughly 50 movies released over the course of one year. But mass production didn't equal low quality; on the contrary, the great care given to all production values, from script-writing to camera work, editing, score and the stars' presentation in the movies themselves and in their trailers, was at least partly responsible for its lasting success. In fact, the screenplay for "Casablanca" was constantly rewritten even throughout the filming process, to the point that particularly Ingrid Bergman was extremely worried because she was unsure whether at the end she (Ilsa) would leave Casablanca with Henreid's Victor Laszlo or stay there with Humphrey Bogart (Rick).

Little needs to be said about the movie's story. After the onset of WWII, Casablanca has become a point of refuge for Jews and other desperate souls from all corners of Europe, fleeing the old world with the hope of building a new life in America. Unofficial center of Casablanca's society is Rick's "Cafe Americain," where gamblers, refugees, French police, Nazi troops, thieves, swindlers and soldiers of fortune come together on a nightly basis, to make connections, conduct their shady business, or simply forget the uncertainty of their fate for a few precious hours. And presiding over this mixed and colorful society is Rick Blaine, expatriate American without any hope of returning to the United States himself (for reasons never fully explained), officially not interested in politics but only the flourishing of his business, but soft-hearted underneath the hard shell of his cynicism. From Rick's perspective, everything is going just swell and the way it is meant to be: he is reasonably well-respected, has a good working relationship with Captain Renault, the local representative of the Vichy government (based on mutual respect as much as on the fact that Renault is a guaranteed winner at Rick's gambling tables and, by way of reciprocation, turns a blind eye to whatever less-than-squeaky-clean transactions Rick may be tolerating in his cafe, always ready to have his police round up "the usual suspects" instead of the truly guilty party of a crime if that person's continued freedom promises to be more profitable); and although aware of Rick's not quite so apolitical past, the Germans are leaving him alone as well, as long as he stays out of politics now. Until ... well, until famous underground resistance leader and recent concentration camp-escapee Victor Laszlo and his wife Ilsa walk into Rick's cafe, into his place "of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world" - and with one blow, administered to the melancholy tunes of "As Time Goes By," the carefully maintained equilibrium of his little world comes crashing down around him.

The movie's recently-released two-disc special edition is unquestionably superior to the prior single-disc DVD; featuring not only an improved video transfer but also, and notably, a new introduction by Lauren Bacall, additional documentaries ("Bacall on Bogart" and "The Children Remember" with Stephen Bogart and Ingrid Bergman's daughters Pia Lindstrom and Isabella Rosselini) besides the excellent "You Must Remember This" already included on the one-disc edition, newly-discovered deleted scenes, treasures from the production history, commentary tracks with Roger Ebert and historian Rudy Behlmer, as well as several audio documents and fun stuff like web links and the "Looney Tunes" homage "Carrotblanca."

Not only to Bogart and Bergman fans all over the world, "Casablanca" is film history's all-time crowning achievement, a "must" in every movie lover's collection, and one of the few films that truly deserve the title "classic." If you don't already own it, the 2003 release of a two-disc special edition is a great occasion to remedy that omission!

Why do so many people rank this film as one of their perennial favourites? There's hardly been another movie as smooth, witty, smart, or beautiful as Casablanca. Ingrid Bergman is just lovely in her first major movie - the camera smartly lingers on her at any opportunity. Bogart is as rough and as tender as the 1940s-era movie heroes come, and the sly Claude Rains steals every scene he's in. Even the soft, curling cigarette smoke seems to be an actor in the cast. Add to that many famously quotable lines, a stellar supporting cast, and the tragic background of lost love among the ruins of World War II, and you're in for a real treat.

The picture quality for a movie of this age is beyond expectations. Warner Brothers did an amazing job with the remastering process on this film.

This is my favourite movie of all time. I have it on VHS and DVD. This HD DVD was an easy buy, and I was quite impressed with the upgrade in the picture quality. Very well done WB!!!!

First, it would appear that ordering the lowly DVD as opposed to the fancy BluRay does not entitle you to any fancy packaging.

As a stand alone product this is a good way to learn the background of the actors, the way the film was made, and the subtle features you may not have known about the cast, e.g. the majority of the cast had fled Europe as the darkness of war rolled over the continent.

Another bonus, is the total film review by Roger Ebert, scene by scene, in his voice which was made some time ago. Ebert, an excellent film reviewer has since lost his physical voice to cancer and it's good to hear him again.

The price is fair, but the packaging left a lot to be desired as an "Anniversary" piece.

Regardless, Casablanca can still bring a tear to a patriots' or lovers' eye!

Bought this for my husbsad, and he loves Casablanca. We watched it this past weekend. We would recommend this to others.

Bogart and Bacal! No better couple who made many movies but this is the very best. War time drama and romance that no one could forget. We needed many more by them. Don't miss a minute.

Apart from some of the dialogue, such as the "hill of beans" speech, this was fun to watch. As history, it's okay, too. It's philosophical basis is on shaky ground, but who cares? It's good entertainment.

Two of the stars didn't want to be in the movie, and no one knew how the picture would end until they shot the final scene. Yet, out of the chaos came one of the most enduring films of all-time, Casablanca! At every step along the road to Casablanca, the picture's creators had to make choices that later meant the differences between triumph and failure. Initially, Ronald Reagan was announced as the lead, but Bogart saw the film as a great opportunity, and was very sure of himself...never worried -- and nobody at the time realized they were making one of the all-time great Hollywood films. And what a movie it is! Adventure, an exotic locale, a memorable song, a beautiful heroine, a masculine hero, and an evil villain. Casablanca has it all. It is no wonder why people watch this film again and again.

Two of the stars didn't want to be in the movie, and no one knew how the picture would end until they shot the final scene. Yet, out of the chaos came one of the most enduring films of all-time, Casablanca! At every step along the road to Casablanca, the picture's creators had to make choices that later meant the differences between triumph and failure. Initially, Ronald Reagan was announced as the lead, but Bogart saw the film as a great opportunity, and was very sure of himself...never worried -- and nobody at the time realized they were making one of the all-time great Hollywood films. And what a movie it is! Adventure, an exotic locale, a memorable song, a beautiful heroine, a masculine hero, and an evil villain. Casablanca has it all. It is no wonder why people watch this film again and again.

1942 the Nazi occupation of France. Refugees must take a long and torturers rout Through Casa Blanca on their way to America; there "Everybody comes to Rick's." Rick's is a nightclub and a way station for a chance to get to America. Rick is played by Humphrey Bogart.

Here we also stay for a while to watch a drama unfold. There are overlapping stories. One of a young couple trying to get to America and the girl wondering if a girl should have to do something was wondering what would happen if her husband, "a boy in many ways", would find out? A second rate crook (Peter Lorre) obtains something of value at the expense of two German curriers. A Police Captain (Claude Rains) is shocked to find there is gambling going on at Rick's. Many other stories surround the main theme of a love triangle that started in Paris and now can mean so much to individuals or the effort for freedom.

Will the Nazi's win their prize?
Will Capt. Renault get the girl?
Will Rick get away with Ilsa?

This film has become quite a classic. There are many quotes and misquotes attributed to the film. You will find your self kibitzing. One memorable seen for all is the showdown where the Germans are singing "Watch on the Rhine" and Yvonne (Madeleine LeBeau) over powers them leading the "La Marseillaise."

http://home.foni.net/%7Ehahnstrohbach/diewacht.mp3