Simply stated, Casablanca is one of the greatest movies ever made. Released in 1942, it is directed by Michael Curtiz and produced by Hal B. Wallis. The film stars Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre. The screenplay was written by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Howard Koch, and Casey Robinson. The movie is based on the play Everybody Comes to Rick’s.
The film was Bogart’s first true romantic lead. Bogart’s portrayal of Rick Blaine catapulted him to the top of his profession; he was the top paid actor in Hollywood for the next seven years. Casablanca was nominated for a total of eight Academy Awards and won for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film premiered at the Hollywood Theater in New York City on November 26, 1942. Casablanca is number three on the American Film Institute’s list of 100 Movies.
