1. A contextual history of colonial Europe, the Nazi invasion of Paris, and the escape from persecution during World War II.

2. Casablanca (1942) Studio: Warner Brothers Director: Michael Curtiz
Written By:
Julius J. Epstein (film)
Philip G. Epstein (film)
Howard Koch (film)
Murray Burnett (play)
Joan Alison (play)
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Screenplay

3. As Time Goes By…
Casey Robinson, a Warner Bros. studio writer, is employed to merge the two halves.
Bogart called in to re-record final dialogue in the film
The first half of the screenplay is completed by J. & P. Epstein (the second half of the story is not yet written)
The Epsteins are called to collaborate on the play’s conclusion.
Koch is hired to write the second half of the screenplay
1942
May 25
Production begins (BEFORE the script has been finished)
August 10
Production completed for a total of $1,039,000 ($75,000 over budget).
January
Producer Hal Wallis purchases the unproduced play “Everybody Comes to Rick’s” for $20,000

4. How Did it All Work Out??
As you can see, this is NOT the blueprint for success in making movie (multiple writers, unfinished scripts, reshoots, over budget, etc…)
The movie SHOULD have been a disaster.
But…Casablanca (the city in Morocco – NW part of Africa) was invaded by the Germans by the time the movie was released – this fact helped the film gain notoriety.
And against all odds, it all worked out and came together incredibly well and turned into the beloved movie we know today.

5. Setting the Stage 1912 – Morocco officially becomes a French colony
1940 (June) - Germany invades Paris
(but note that they have NOT officially taken over Morocco/Casablanca)
1940 (July) – Vichy government in full authority over France, ends relations with Britain. Philippe Petain, a former French war hero, is elected Chief of State. France “collaborates” with Germany.
Despite being conquered by Germany, some French loyalists established the underground “Free France” movement. Led by Generale Charles de Gaulle (another former French war hero), they published anti-Nazi propaganda and even fought the Nazis using guerrilla war techniques. Many were caught and persecuted or fled.

6. Up in the Air
Refugees from all over Europe strive to escape Nazi persecution
Many of the French people feel betrayed by those who collaborated with the French/German government in Vichy.
America maintains its isolationism
With Germany having conquered France and nonstop bombing raids on London, victory looks doubtful for the Allies.
British take shelter in a bombing raid in the Underground, 1940
London after a bombing raid in 1940

7. Casablanca A Refugee’s Path to Freedom1 2 4 5 3
A Refugee’s Path to Freedom
Escape from Paris by eluding the Gestapo (basically the German secret police).
Travel, however possible, to Morocco.
Arrive in Casablanca. Purchase an exit visa on the Black Market in order to be able to leave the country (very difficult).
Take the escape plane to Lisbon, Portugal
Board international flight from Lisbon bound for the United States.
In the film, Casablanca is a vital point on the escape route of a refugee.

8. Rick as a Symbol
To understand the movie you must understand Rick (Humphrey Bogart, the
main character).
And to understand Rick, you must understand the U.S. prior to WWII.
Both America and Rick could be seen as selfish as the start of WWII.

9. America’s Foreign Policy
America tried to be isolationists. After WWI, we wanted to only worry about ourselves. But…
Eventually we joined the war and our involvement helped tip the scales for the allies and defeated Germany/Nazis.
Casablanca is a story of Rick (on the surface and central to the film – will Rick evolve?) but more so of America (subtext)

10. Positive Reception
Upon its release in 1942, Casablanca is hailed as a commercial and critical success.
Casablanca is a true product of the studio system. Note the effects of the Censorship Code – no gruesome violence despite the situation. And while there are many innuendos, there is no explicitly obscene sexual references or visuals.