Casablanca (motion picture), popular drama about two star-crossed lovers in occupied French Morocco during World War II (1939-1945). Released in 1942, this film won Academy Awards for best picture, best director, and best screenplay. Humphrey Bogart stars as Rick, the cynical owner of a café in Morocco’s Free Zone where underground and military characters converge. His old flame Ilsa (played by Ingrid Bergman) appears one night, rekindling bitter memories and old passions between them. Although Ilsa has a new beau, she and Rick make plans to run off together.

Director

• Michael Curtiz

Cast

• Humphrey Bogart (Richard 'Rick' Blaine)
• Ingrid Bergman (Ilsa Lund Laszlo)
• Paul Henreid (Victor Laszlo)
• Claude Rains (Captain Louis Renault)
• Conrad Veidt (Major Heinrich Strasser)
• Sydney Greenstreet (Senor Ferrari)
• Peter Lorre (Ugarte)
• S. Z. Sakall (Carl, Headwaiter)
• Madeleine LeBeau (Yvonne)
• Dooley Wilson (Sam)
• Joy Page (Annina Brandel)
• John Qualen (Berger)
• Leonid Kinskey (Sascha)
• Helmut Dantine (Jan Brandel)
• Curt Bois (Dark European)
• Marcel Dalio (Emil, The Croupier)
• Corinna Mura (Singer)
• Ludwig Stossel (Mr. Leuchtag)
• Ilka Gruning (Mrs. Leuchtag)
• Charles La Torre (Senor Martinez)
• Frank Puglia (Arab vendor)
• Dan Seymour (Abdul)
• Oliver Blake (German banker)
• Gregory Gaye (German banker)
• George Meeker (Friend)
• William Edmunds (Contact)
• Torben Meyer (Banker)
• Gino Corrado (Waiter)
• George Dee (Casselle)
• Norma Varden (Englishwoman)
• Leo Mostovoy (Fydor)
• Dick Ryan (Heinz)
• Martin Garralaga (Headwaiter)
• Olaf Hytten (Prosperous man)
• Monte Blue (American)
• Michael Mark (Vendor)
• Leon Belasco (Dealer)
• Paul Porcasi (Native)
• Hans von Twardowski (German officer)
• Alberto Morin (French officer)
• Creighton Hale (Customer)
• Henry Rowland (German officer)
• Louis Mercier (Smuggler)
• Lou Marcelle (Narrator)

Awards

• Academy Award for Best Director (1943): Michael Curtiz
• Academy Award for Best Writing—Screenplay (1943): Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Howard Koch
• Academy Award for Best Picture (1943): Hal B. Wallis—Producer

Quotes

• Rick (regarding Ilsa): “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.”
• Rick (toast to Ilsa): “Here’s looking at you, kid.”
• Rick (to Ilsa): “We’ll always have Paris.”
• Rick (to Renault): “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

Trivia

• The film’s producers couldn’t afford a real plane in the background at the airport. Instead, they used a small cardboard cutout, with midgets portraying the crew preparing the plane for takeoff.
• Studio head Jack Warner wanted actor George Raft to play Rick, a part that helped Humphrey Bogart break out of his typecast as a gangster.