Key Points:
- Casablanca is one of Hollywood’s most memorable and beloved films.
- Though the movie is so well-known, many of its behind-the-scenes tidbits are unknown to audiences.
- The movie was not expected to be as successful as it was.
Few Hollywood films are as iconic as “Casablanca.” Released in 1942 during the height of World War II, the romantic drama quickly became one of the most beloved movies ever made. This well-known movie mixes sacrifice, wartime intensity, and romance in a mysterious foreign country. It features unforgettable performances from Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, against the backdrop of a Moroccan city filled with refugees and spies.
Decades after its release, “Casablanca” remains a major piece of American culture famous for its quotable dialogue, memorable scenes, and central love story. Though most of us have seen this film at some point, many don’t know the countless fascinating details about the production and casting. From improvised lines to behind-the-scenes challenges, these 25 facts remind us why “Casablanca” continues to attract audiences more than 80 years after its debut.
The release of the film was moved forward due to real-life events
Although the film was initially set to be released in 1943, Warner Bros accelerated the premiere to align with Operation Torch, the allied invasion of North Africa and Morocco. This created excellent publicity around Casablanca’s capture by Allied forces.
It was not anticipated that the film would be a hit
Plenty of films were released the same year as “Casablanca” and no one working on the film anticipated it would be such a huge success. Warner Bros considered it a standard wartime studio film, not a soon-to-be classic.
Filming “Casablanca” wasn’t so smooth in the beginning
Despite how natural the acting may seem, filming was a challenge for the stars at the beginning of filming.
The script wasn’t finished when they started filming
One of the reasons actors struggled on set was because the script wasn’t finished when they started filming. Writers were still revising scenes during production, and the final ending was uncertain for a while.
The original play was purchased for $20,000
The writers of the play “Everybody Comes to Rick’s”, which “Casablanca” was based on, sold the rights to Warner Bros for $20,000. This was a record price for an unproduced play at the time.
It’s still unclear who wrote what parts of the film
Although several writers contributed to the screenplay, it’s still unclear who wrote specific parts of the script. Screenplay credit includes Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, and Howard Koch. Casey Robinson also contributed uncredited revisions.
A section of a famous poster for “Casablanca” comes from another film
In one of the most famous “Casablanca” posters, there’s a shot of Bogart that actually came from “Across the Pacific,” not “Casablanca.”
There have been two TV shows inspired by “Casablanca”
Two adaptations based on “Casablanca” existed: a 1955 TV series and a 1983 NBC series. Neither of them aired for long.
One of the most famous quotes is often misquoted
There are many famous quotes from “Casablanca,” including, “Play it again, Sam.” However, the actual quote from the movie is “Play it once, Sam. For old time’s sake.”
“As Time Goes By” almost didn’t make it into the film
The song “As Time Goes By” was in the original story but film composer Max Steiner didn’t want it included in the film. However, Ingrid Bergman had already cut her hair for another role, so the scene couldn’t be reshot.
There was a rumor that Ronald Reagan was starring in the film
One of the first rumors to circulate about “Casablanca” was that Ronald Reagan would star in the film. A studio press release initially mentioned both Ronald Reagan and Ann Sheridan, but it was largely promotional speculation.
Humphrey Bogart is shorter than he looks
Though not noticeable on film, Humphrey Bogart was only 5’8”. Platform shoes and camera angles were used to minimize the height difference with Ingrid Bergman.
No one knows why It’s never revealed why Rick can’t return to America
The film hints that Rick ran guns to Ethiopia and fought in the Spanish Civil War, which may explain his legal issues. But the exact reason is intentionally vague.
The airport scene wasn’t filmed at night
The filmmakers couldn’t film the final scene at night because of security concerns related to the war. Instead, the airport scene was filmed on a Warner Bros soundstage. The plane was a small Lockheed Model 12 mock-up, and forced perspective was used.
There hasn’t been a remake of “Casablanca”
“Casablanca” has been referenced many times in TV shows and movies, but there has never been a remake of the film.
Several of the actors in the film were personally affected by the war
Some of the more emotional moments in the film were genuine. Many of the actors had personally been affected by the War and the Nazi party, including the director. Many actors were European refugees who fled Nazi persecution. For example, Conrad Veidt (Major Strasser) was an anti-Nazi exile.
Don Siegel filmed the first scene of “Casablanca”
Don Siegel, the director of films such as “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”, directed the first scene of the film that explains how refugees arrived in Casablanca.
Only one of the sets for “Casablanca” was built specifically for the film
In “Casablanca,” few sets were built specifically for the film, one being Rick’s Cafe. Most of the other sets were recycled from other movies.
Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman weren’t the first choice of the writers
The original writers of the play the movie was based on didn’t have Bogart and Bergman in mind. Instead, they imagined Clark Gable and Rita Hayworth as the stars.
Censorship significantly impacted the script of “Casablanca”
When “Casablanca” was released, the Hays Code was still in effect. Formally known as the Motion Picture Production Code, these moral guidelines governed what could and could not be shown in American films from 1930 to the late 1960s. These restrictions led to “Casablanca” script changes in regard to Ilsa leaving Rick and other moral issues.
“Casablanca” is the most quoted movie of all time
On the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 Greatest Movie Quotes of All Time, six of the quotes are from “Casablanca.”
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Courtesy of Warner Bros..