Casablanca Screening Report

     1). Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

- Casablanca made a huge impact on film history. This film took love and war and created a great film. The movie is set in the early 1940s during WWII. It takes place in Casablanca, Morocco where refugees from the war would try to get visas to get the United States. The plot of love and war coming together in this film is what makes it so great.

2). Find a related article (on the film, director, studio, actor/actress, artistic content, etc.) and summarize the content.  You may use the library or the internet.  

-  This article discusses all it took too make Casablanca come together to be one of the greatest films of all times. In 1942 Murray Burnett and Joan Allison signed over their play "Everybody Comes to Rick's" to Warner Brothers not knowing how popular their story will become. Though Michael Curtiz directed the film, executive producer Hal Wallis was the mastermind behind the film. He hired Curtiz to be the director. He hired the cast, chose the writers and even created the last line in the film. The article also talks about Conrad Veidt, who played the Nazi Major Heinrich Strasser, was the highest paid actor amongst the cast making $5,000 a year. Also the article talks about how Pianist Elliot Carpenter was hired to record the piano tracks for the film because Sam, played by Dooley Wilson, couldn't actually play the piano.

3). Apply the article to the film screened in class.   How did the article support or change the way you thought about the film, director, content, etc.?

- Watching this film I automatically viewed it as another boring film of the 40’s, but after reading the article I became more appreciative of the film. The process to create Casablanca took a lot of money and dedication. Also I’ve come to understand that even though Michael Curtiz was the director, Hal Wallis saw the success in “Casablanca” and he hired the best people to make it possible.

 4). Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.  I am less interested in whether you liked or disliked a film, (although that can be part of this) than I am in your understanding of its place in film history or the contributions of the director.

- Casablanca was very entertaining. It created a gateway for war and love movies to soon come after. I didn’t know why it is a part of film history, but i know now why its on of the greatest films of all time. Not many film companies wanted to do movies on the war especially during the time of war and Casablanca did what others were scared to do. It also combined love and war all in the same plot which is another reason why its a part of film history.

http://www.pictureshowman.com/articles_films_casablanca.cfm