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AFI Movie Club: CASABLANCA
CASABLANCA is one of AFI’s most celebrated films – first appearing at #2 on the original list of America’s greatest movies. It’s also ranked #1 among cinema’s love stories and has six quotes named among the most iconic of all time. Humphrey Bogart’s character Rick Blaine was ranked #4 on AFI’s list of the greatest screen heroes – and Bogart himself was named the #1 screen legend of all time on AFI’s 100 YEARS…100 STARS!
Watch Willem Dafoe Announce the Film:
Movie Trivia about CASABLANCA
–DID YOU KNOW that Dooley Wilson – the film’s iconic “Sam” – could not play the piano? Wilson was a professional drummer, and all of the piano playing in the film was dubbed later.
–DID YOU KNOW producer Hal B. Wallis originally wanted Hedy Lamarr to play the part of Ilsa Lund? MGM refused to loan her out as she was a contract player with the studio at the time.
–DID YOU KNOW a sequel was originally planned and announced? Titled BRAZZAVILLE, it was to again star Humphrey Bogart as Rick, and it would have been centered at the location of the Free French garrison mentioned in the last scene of CASABLANCA.
–DID YOU KNOW that one of the film’s most famous lines – “Play it again, Sam!” – is never actually said in the movie?
–DID YOU KNOW former President Ronald Reagan was originally announced to star as Rick in the film? Reagan was summoned to the US Cavalry Reserves after he finished his previous film, and the CASABLANCA role went to Humphrey Bogart?
Learn more at the AFI Catalog.
The movie doesn’t end at the credits: Family-friendly Discussion Questions
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-CASABLANCA has been pervasive throughout culture since its release in 1942. Can you think of any times – outside of the film itself – that you’ve heard any of its iconic quotes?
-Can you think of any other screen romances where the leads don’t end up together?
-What do you think Rick means when he says to Captain Renault, “Louis, I think this may the beginning of a beautiful friendship”?
-Do you think Rick’s attitudes about involvement change due to the events of the film?
-What do you think it means when Rick says that they’ll “always have Paris”?
-What makes Bogart and Bergman such compelling stars – and what makes them such a compelling couple?
-How would you rate CASABLANCA?
Watch these exclusive AFI Archive clips of Dustin Hoffman and Hugh Jackman talking about CASABLANCA:
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