Released - January, 1943 

Directed By - Michael Curtiz

Starring – Humphrey Bogrart (Rick Blaine), Ingrid Bergman (Ilsa Lund), Paul Henreid (Victor Laszlo), Claude Rains (Captain Renault), Conrad Veidt (Major Strasser), Sydney Greenstreet (Signor Ferrari), Peter Lorre (Ugarte).

Description – Cynical expatriate Rick Blaine owns and runs “Rick’s Cafe Americain” in Casablanca. Petty criminal Ugarte, as a result of the murder of two German couriers, has acquired wartime “letters of transit.”

He hopes to make his fortune selling these letters to the highest bidder who will be arriving later that evening. The letters allow for free travel through German controlled Europe to neutral Portugal and then on to America.

Before the deal can be made, Ugarte is arrested by corrupt local police commander Captain Renault and will end up dying in custody. Unknown to the police, the papers have been given to Rick for safe keeping prior to his Ugarte’s arrest.

Now arriving in Casablanca is fugitive Czech Resistance leader Victor Laszlo and his wife Ilsa Lund who are there for the letters. There is one additional complication…Ilsa is Rick’s ex-lover; someone who ran out on him in Paris, but he has never been able to forget.

Laszlo meets with, Rick’s friendly business rival and major underworld figure, Signor Ferrari who discloses to Laszlo that Rick may be in possesion of the transit papers. Laszlo meets in private with Rick who refuses to turn over the papers suggesting that Laszlo ask his wife for the reason why.

Ilso confronts Rick who still refuses to give up the papers. She threatens him with a gun, but is unable to shoot, confessing that she is still in love with him.

With the police slowly closing in on Laszlo and the reconciliation of the two former lovers, character, loyalty, and moral issues begin to get a little sticky.

NOTABLE: Casablanca was nominated for eight Academy Awards winning three. Best Picture, Best Director (Michael Curtiz), and Best Writing, Screenplay. Other nominations included Best Actor in a Leading Role (Humphrey Bogart), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Claude Rains), Best Cinematography, Black and White, Best Film Editing, and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.

In 1989, this film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

This was Humphrey Bogart’s first attempt at a romantic lead role and it turned out historic earning him an Academy Award nomination.

The song “As Time Goes By” by Herman Hupfeld has become instantly associated with this motion picture.

Rick’s Cafe was modeled after Hotel El Minzah in Tangiers.

Actor Conrad Veidt was well known in the German theatrical community as someone who hated the Nazi’s. So much so that he had to hurriedly leave the country after learning that the SS had a death squad looking for him as a result of his anti-Nazi activities.

Humphrey Bogart was always quoted as using the line “Play it again Sam,” however, he never said it that way. What he said was: “You played it for her, you can play it for me. Play it!”

The famous film line “Here’s looking at you kid” was voted AFI’s #5 most famous movie quote.

In 2007, the American Film Institute voted Casablanca #3 on the Greatest Movie’s of All Time list.

In reality, the “letters of transit,” central to the storyline, never really existed during the war. They were a plot devise thought up by the screenwriters.

Upon winning the nomination for Best Picture, Jack L. Warner was the first on the stage to accept the award. This infuriated producer Hal B. Wallis who never forgave him.

Production costs for the film were close to $950,000, about $100,000 over budget.

In 2006, the Writers Guild of America deemed Casablanca’s screenplay to be the best ever.

Personal Note: Ask me on any given moment and I will say that Casablanca is the best film I have ever seen. There is not a credible 10 Best Films of All Time list in existence that does not contain Casablanca.

While it is hard for me to imagine any film fan that has not seen Casablanca, if for any reason you have not….see it!

Casablanca (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Casablanca [Blu-ray]

Humphrey Bogart – The Signature Collection, Vol. 1 (Casablanca Two-Disc Special Edition / The Treasure of the Sierra Madre Two-Disc Special Edition / They Drive by Night / High Sierra)

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Released - November, 1933 

Directed By - James Whale

Starring – Claude Rains (The Invisible Man), Gloria Stuart (Flora Cranley), William Harrigan (Dr. Arthur Kemp), Henry Travers (Dr. Cranley).

Description – A mysterious stranger with his eyes shielded by dark glasses and his face covered by bandages checks into an inn located in an English village. He demands that the staff leave him completely alone while never leaving his room.

His strange behavior cause the innkeeper to call the police and order him to leave. After assaulting the innkeeper he laughs maniacally as he removes the bandages showing himself to be invisible.

This is Dr. Jack Griffin, a scientist who while working on a strange new drug called “Monocane” has accidentally discovered the ability to make himself invisible. Dr. Griffin reveals his secret to his one-time partner Dr. Arthur Kemp and to his fiancee Flora Cranley.

Dr. Griffin forces Dr. Kemp to return with him to the inn in order to retrieve his notes on the invisibility process and while there kills a policeman. This is just the beginning of a series of killings and robberies that follow and threaten the lives of both Dr. Kemp, who Griffin has threatened to kill, and Flora Cranley.

While Monocane has given Dr. Griffin the power of invisibility, he has overlooked one thing. The use of the drug renders its user insane. Now you see him, and now you don’t; it’s catch me if you can when pursuing an invisible man.

NOTABLE: In 2008, The Invisible Man was selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

This film is considered one of the great Universal horror films of the 1930′s and was the first American screen appearance for Claude Rains.

The films groundbreaking visual effects were created by John P. Fulton, John J. Mescall, and Frank D. Williams. Their work is often credited with the films success.

Personal Note: This is classic horror/sci-fi at it’s best. Although starting off with the use of invisibility in a comic fashion it turns deadly from then on.

The Invisible Man (Universal Studios Classic Monster Collection)

The Invisible Man – The Legacy Collection (The Invisible Man/Invisible Man Returns/Invisible Agent/Invisible Woman/Invisible Man’s Revenge)

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Now, Voyager was made in 1942 and starred the impeccable Bette Davis and Paul Henreid. The movie is adapted from the original novel written by Olive Higgins Prouty, with a wonderful screenplay written by Casey Robinson.

The Story

Bette Davis stars in this classic early depiction of feminism and mental illness as Charlotte Vale, the daughter of a very prestigious Boston family with a controlling aristocratic mother who imposes a great deal of emotional and mental abuse upon Charlotte. As a result of this abuse Charlotte has broken down emotionally; completely losing her self-confidence.

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Released – October, 1942 

Directed By - Irving Rapper

Starring – Bette Davis (Charlotte Vale), Paul Henreid (Jerry Durrance), Claude Rains (Dr. Jaquith), Gladys Cooper (Mrs. Henry Vale).

Description – Charlotte Vale is unattractive, neurotic, depressed, and totally under the thumb of her domineering aristocratic mother.

Fearing for her emotional well-being, her sister-in-law arranges a meeting for Charlotte with psychiatrist Dr. Jaquith. After speaking with Charlotte, the Dr. suggests she spend some time in a sanatorium to get some emotional rest away from her mother.

The time spent at the sanatorium results in a startling transformation for Charlotte in both her appearance and demeanor. When her time at the sanatorium ends, rather than immediately return home, Charlotte decides to exercise her new feelings of independence by first taking a cruise.

On board the cruise ship Charlotte meets Jerry Durrance, a married man traveling with two friends. They enjoy each others company and while on a land excursion have a minor traffic accident that results in their missing the ship departure. They spend the next five days together and fall in love.

Charlotte returns home after she and the married Jerry decide it would be best if they did not see one another again. When arriving home, Charlotte’s family are stunned by her new appearance and independence. While some are pleased, her mother is not and seeks to gain back her dominance of her daughter.

Her efforts are unsuccessful as Charlotte draws upon her memories of Jerry to find the strength to remain resolute. Moving on with her life, she becomes engaged to wealthy widower Elliot Livingston.

A chance meeting with Jerry now turns everything upside-down again for Charlotte, bringing back a turn of events that will again damage the emotional fragility that previously haunted her.

NOTABLE: This picture won the Oscar for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, and was also nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Bette Davis), and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Gladys Cooper).

In 2007 this film was selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

This film ranks #23 on AFI’s 100 Years…100 Passions, a list of America cinemas top love stories.

Original casting considerations for the role of Charlotte Vale went to Ginger Rogers, Irene Dunne, and Norma Shearer. However, after learning of the project, Bette Davis successfully campaigned for the role and convinced producer Hal B. Wallis that she was perfect for the part.

This film was the biggest box office of Bette Davis’s career.

Personal Comment: A well-acted melodrama that showcases the tremendous talent that was Bette Davis. There are a number of films suggested on this site that star Ms. Davis, who truly was one of the greatest actresses in motion picture history.

Now, Voyager (Keepcase)

The Bette Davis Collection, Vol. 1 (Now, Voyager / Dark Victory / The Letter / Mr. Skeffington / The Star)

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Released - April, 1942 

Directed By - Sam Wood

Starring – Ann Sheridan (Randy Monaghan), Robert Cummings (Parris Mitchell), Ronald Reagan (Drake McHugh), Betty Field (Cassandra Tower), Charles Coburn (Dr. Henry Gordon), Claude Rains (Dr. Alexander Tower), Judith Anderson (Mrs. Harriet Gordon).

Description – A powerful drama set in a midwestern town just before World War I that tells the intertwined story of  its citizens. The story concerns itself particularly with two young men Parris Mitchell, and Drake McHugh.

Revealed through the growing years of these two men will be the corruption and moral decay that lurks behind the peaceful facade of this serene community. There are many difficult facts that must be dealt with including challanges, tragedies, social pressures, and dark secrets.

It’s all there; just under the surface of small town America.

NOTABLE: This motion picture received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Director (Sam Wood), and Best Cinematography, Black and White.

This film was Ronald Reagan’s most notable role and was the inspiration for the title of his 1965 autobiography ‘Where’s the Rest of Me?’

There were problems with the Hays Code regarding this film, as they strongly objected to any reference to incest, homosexuality, nymphomania, and euthenasia.

The town depicted is based on Fulton, Missouri; the actual home of the novel’s author Henry Bellamann.

Kings Row

Ronald Reagan – The Signature Collection (Knute Rockne All American / Kings Row / The Hasty Heart / Storm Warning / The Winning Team)

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