Humphrey Bogart went from thug to stud thanks to Casablanca. For his early career, Bogart was Warner’s top goon. He was the hood that had to die so that James Cagney could go straight. He knew how to take a bullet on screen. But he finally got the role that changed him as Rick Blaine, the owner of an illegal casino in Casablanca. His romance with Ingrid Bergman allowed movie audiences to finally see the soft center beneath his tough guy exterior. When the plane takes off at the end of Casablanca, he became Bogey. Casablanca: The Ultimate Collector’s Edition is a shrine to this elevation.
This is one of those few films that must be seen. Forget about the 1,000 Movies You Must See Before You Die. Casablanca is the only film you need to see before you can live. It has action, suspense, drama, romance, music and a little comedy. This is why you go to the movies. It speaks to us of desperate people on the edge of humanity. They must decide if they should flee the Nazis or dare to face down the beast.
During the early days of World War II, German couriers carrying letters of transit are killed outside Casablanca, French Morocco. Everybody wants to get their hands on those papers so they can flee the Nazi clutches. Bogart runs Rick’s Cafe America. It’s the best bar and backroom casino in the city. Everybody comes to Rick’s along with every trouble. In this case it’s Peter Lorre, the letters of transit, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid. Bogart has a past with Bergman. On her return, he discovers she wasn’t single when they were swinging in Paris. She wants those letters so her husband (Henreid) can escape. He’s wanted by the Nazis for being a resistance leader. How far is she willing to go for her man? And how much is Bogart wanting to take from her?
Bogart is the ultimate Maverick character. He’s only in it for himself at the start. He has no cares about Vichy France or the Nazi occupation force. He merely wants to run his business. “I stick my neck out for nobody,” he declares on several occasions. But he learns that there are things worth his neck.
The film has so many quotable lines and memorable moments. The scene where a drunk Bogey demands Dooley Wilson keep playing “As Time Goes By” is locked into cinema history. People might point to Citizen Kane as the ultimate American film, but too much of its glory is wrapped in cinematic technique. Casablanca‘s immortality rests completely on emotions. How many movies fall short when they try to duplicate Bogart’s heartfelt plea to Bergman at the airport? Bogart lets his heart shine without looking like a wuss. You will always remember Casablanca after you experience its glory.
The video is 1.33:1 full frame. The transfer makes Bergman shimmer on the screen. The audio is Dolby Digital mono. The track is extremely clean without any static pops. There’s a French dub. Roger Ebert and Rudy Behlmer each give commentary tracks. They were recorded before Ebert’s throat problems. Both give plenty of details and historical facts. The subtitles are in English, French and Spanish.
Introduction by Lauren Bacall (2:06) has her give a quick context to the time Casablanca was made. She prefers the romance in the movie.
A Great Cast is Worth Repeating is an essay about how the stars worked together on other films. There’s a biography of the cast and the awards won by the film.
Theatrical Trailers include the original release (2:17) that pushes the romance and adventure in the dangerous oasis. The 1992 re-issue trailer (2:53) tempts you into seeing the film on the big screen instead of your tiny TV.
The Children Remember (6:47) has Bogart and Bergman’s kids talk about their parents’ relationship with the film. Bergman never understood why people loved it.
Deleted Scenes (1:40) are missing audio so you have to read subtitles based on the script. Rick meets Lazlo in the jail’s visiting section. A German officer has the wrong drink at the bar.
Outtakes (5:00) are silent alternate shots of France, the bar and the airport.
Scoring Stage Sessions (15:47) are 8 songs being recorded for the film including Dooley Wilson’s numbers. “As Time Goes By” is such a beautiful song.
Bacall on Bogart (1:23:23) has Lauren Bacall guide us through the life of her husband. Many of Bogart’s co-stars and co-workers give their take on what made him an icon.
You Must Remember This: A Tribute to Casablanca (34:38) focuses on how this film was made and became a classic. There’s plenty of tales on the script went through enough set rewrites that would kill a modern movie.
Screen Guild Theater Radio Show – 1943 (29:37) is the audio condensed version. Bogart, Bergman and Heneid reunite to tell their tale once more. Unfortunately Paul Dooley wasn’t near the microphone so some other guy sings “As Time Goes By.”
Television Adaptation – 1955 Who Holds Tomorrow (18:38) is brought to you by Chesterfield smokes and General Electric. This was a Warner Bros.’ TV show where they recreated their top films with a completely unknown cast. We get the first reel of Casablanca. You can now understand how important the right actor is to a role.
Carrotblanca (8:04) is a Bugs Bunny cartoon from 1995. They sneak all the Looney Tunes characters into Rick’s Cafe. It’s got it’s funny moments as it spoofs the source material and the actors.
Production Research (12:32) is a montage of memos, letters and other goodies that chart the creation of Casablanca.
Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul (57:35) is a 1993 documentary made by his grandson Gregory Orr. The Warner brothers sold a horse to get into the moving pictures business. Jack Warner comes off as a strange character that was completely heartless yet loved to tell really lame jokes.
48-page Photo Book contains stories and the production photos. Bogart never looked more dashing.
10 5×7″ color reproductions of posters art and lobby cards that are perfect for hanging up in your office space.
3 Reproductions of Archival Correspondence includes the memo from producer Hal Wallis changing the title to Casablanca, a memo from Wallis to studio head Jack Warner urging the casting of Bogart over George Raft and a letter from the publicity head instructing the publicist to shift Bogart’s image from tough to romantic lead. In a world where movie studios memos destroy production with their notes, here’s three wise moves.
Reproduction of Victor Laszlo’s Letter of Transit that can get you out of the country if you have a passport saying you’re Victor Laszlo.
Passport Holder with Casablanca Logo will come in handy on your next international trip.
Luggage tag with Casablanca Logo will let the baggage handlers at the airport treat you with respect.
Mail-in offer for 27×40″ movie poster if you pay postage. A poster of Bogart always classes up a TV room.
Casablanca: The Ultimate Collector’s Edition lives up to its promise. Fans of the film will enjoy the extra bonus gifts inside the box. The transfer makes Bogart look tough yet passionate in the black and white world.There is also a Blu-ray version of this box set available for those who have upgraded.
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Warner Home Video presents Casablanca: The Ultimate Collector’s Edition. Directed by Michael Curtiz. Starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre and Dooley Wilson. Written by Julius Epstein, Philip Epstein and Howard Koch. Running time: 102 minutes. Rated PG. Released on DVD: December 2, 2008. Available at Amazon.
