# 75th Anniversary of the release of Casablanca **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 27, 2017, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866 "2017-11-27T12:38:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866/21 "2017-11-28T17:11:08Z")
Nobody’s ever loved me that much. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866/22 "2017-11-28T17:24:23Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Yeah, but, as they emphasize several times in the film, it’s still in the desert. You wouldn’t think you’d have fog and standing pools of water as a regular thing there. Actually, it seems to have a climate that’s a lot like Los Angeles’s: > **[Casablanca | Climate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casablanca#Climate)** > > Casablanca has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa). The cool Canary Current off the Atlantic coast moderates temperature variation, which results in a climate remarkably similar to that of coastal Los Angeles, with similar temperature ranges. The city has an annual average of 72 days with significant precipitation, which amounts to 412 mm (16.2 in) per year. The highest and lowest temperatures ever recorded in the city are 40.5 °C (104.9 °F) and −2.7 °C (27.1 °F... It’s on the windward side of the Atlas Mountains, so it must be less desert-like than the movie implies. The events in the movie take place around the beginning of December, which is by far the wettest time of the year. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866/23 "2017-11-28T17:51:02Z")
One thing that made Casablanca especially relevant to me is the underlying story of thousand of refugees fleeing a war-torn country, looking to the west hoping for freedom. Watch the [opening scene](https://youtu.be/-pYG1Vbgq0o?t=1m8s) where the narrator talks about a “torturous refugee trail”…remind you of anything going on today? ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866/24 "2017-11-28T20:16:22Z")
Never seen it. Its on my DVR. I just need to take the time to see it. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866/25 "2017-11-29T17:06:48Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > One thing that made Casablanca especially relevant to me is the underlying story of thousand of refugees fleeing a war-torn country, looking to the west hoping for freedom. Watch the [opening scene](https://youtu.be/-pYG1Vbgq0o?t=1m8s) where the narrator talks about a “torturous refugee trail”…remind you of anything going on today? Many of the actors and actresses in the film had, in real life, recently fled from the Hitler Empire! Although I was born in '49, that was close enough to feel connected to W.W. II — my father served in the Navy during the War; I’ve been reading WW II histories since I was old enough to read; and (like Rick!) I’m a sentimentalist! Maybe that’s why young people are not impressed with this movie. The singing of _La Marseillaise_, for example, gives a visceral thrill to people familiar with W.W. II that might be missing if that War were just “ancient history.” ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866/26 "2017-11-29T17:13:37Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > The only time I’ve seen it on the big screen was the winter of '89–'90 in Moscow, at the Rossiya cinema on Pushkin Square (at the time the world’s largest). The B&W images were simply stunning! The only time I’ve seen it on the big screen was early 80’s in Paris. The French subtitles weren’t good, but “It was the day the Germans marched into Paris” became “C’était le 14 juin.” I guess that date must be like America’s “December 7.” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866/27 "2017-11-29T19:12:49Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Many of the actors and actresses in the film had, in real life, recently fled from the Hitler Empire! Most notably Peter Lorre, who had fled with his wife Celia Lovsky (T’Pau on _ **Star Trek** _). Probably the only reason she wasn’t in the film as well was that Lorre didn’t want her to work while they were married. Also worthy of special note is Sasha, the Bartender, played by Leonid Kinskey. He was born in St Petersburg, Russia, in 1903. While not a victim of Nazism, he did flee the Russian Revolution, ending up in the United States in 1924. He played POW Vladimir Minsk in the 1965 pilot of _ **Hogan’s Heroes** _ but decided against appearing in the series because he found the concept “offensive.” In his words, “Nazis were seldom dumb and never funny.” > [@](#): > > Maybe that’s why young people are not impressed with this movie. The singing of _La Marseillaise_, for example, gives a visceral thrill to people familiar with W.W. II that might be missing if that War were just “ancient history.” That moment never fails to choke me up, too. If the story I heard (in an episode of _ **NCIS** _, I think) is true, Bogart had already quit work for the day and was off having a drink when he was called back to the set to film the one shot they needed before he could go home: Rick giving his nod of assent when Laszlo orders the orchestra to play the _Marsellaise_. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866/28 "2017-11-29T19:30:06Z")
Another item worthy of mention: The song the Germans sing is the patriotic anthem _ **Die Wacht am Rhein** _ (“The Watch on the Rhine”). They were originally supposed to sing the Nazi Party anthem _ **Die Fahne Hoch** _ (“Raise the Banner,” aka the _ **Horst Wessel Lied** _), but it turned out to be copyrighted, meaning the studio would be legally bound to pay royalties. _ **Watch** _ was substituted at the last minute. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866/29 "2017-11-29T20:22:19Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > … > Maybe that’s why young people are not impressed with this movie. The singing of _La Marseillaise_, for example, gives a visceral thrill to people familiar with W.W. II that might be missing if that War were just “ancient history.” Oh, I dunno. I get a thrill when all those men stand up and say, “I am Spartacus!” and I wasn’t alive back when that happened. The Marseillaise moment is a great one in a film of many great moments. I think I’ll watch it again tonight! ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866/30 "2017-11-29T20:33:31Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > That moment never fails to choke me up, too. Damn, even just reading about it almost brings a tear to my eye. The shot of Yvonne singing is intense. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866/31 "2017-11-29T20:40:22Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > I’m embarrassed to admit that I haven’t seen it ever. I did not see it until, I think, I was well into my 40s. I expected it was going to be all corny and shit, but it is an absolute joy to watch. I’ve probably seen it 5 times, start to finish. It just draws you in from the first moment. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866/32 "2017-11-29T20:51:41Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > That was my status when I entered college. I can’t recall it ever being on TV, although doubtless it was, but I never noticed or cared. I’d heard the phrase “Play it again, Sam”, but had no idea of its context (and even knew that it was the title of a Woody Allen play and movie). The first time I saw it was on TV the winter of '73–'74, so I was 18 or 19 at the time. I immediately understood why it had such a great reputation. My mother asked me if I thought Ingrid Bergman was beautiful; she wasn’t sure someone of my generation would find her attractive. All I could say was “Oh, yeah!” Since then, I’ve lost count how many times I’ve seen it. When I was teaching English as a foreign language, I would show it to my students at least once a year, and give them some background on WWII, Vichy France, and the Resistance movement. I’ll never forget watching it together with my daughter for the first time a few years back. She loved it too. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866/33 "2017-11-29T21:35:22Z")
One of my absolute favorites, I haven seen it in years though. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866/34 "2017-11-29T21:45:51Z")
_Citizen Kane_ is often exalted to be one of the best films of all time, but I would actually set _Casablanca_ above it. The former was a sort of bioparody, while the latter was an entirely original story (AAUI, they were not even sure how they were going to end it). Also, the comic relief in _Casablanca_ is almost overwhelming, while _Citizen Kane_ is pretty darn leaden. Nicely filmed but darn depressing. ---
**Author:** ![BuckChongo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@BuckChongo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckChongo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866/35 "2017-11-30T00:41:05Z")
I used to go to late night showings in the early 70’s before it was rediscovered, it was like the scene in Play It Again, Sam with that smarmy bastard W. Allen mouthing the words to every scene, just a few nerdy guys watching, most of us nursing a heartbreak because Casablanca is above all a story of lost and found and lost love. Rick knocks over the empty bottle just as Ilsa walks in, “I saved my 1st drink to have with you”. Great stuff…Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, Singin in the Rain, 1,2,3 best all time movies. Always be in love with young Judy Garland, Ingrid Bergman, and Gene Kelly, sigh… ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866/36 "2017-11-30T01:02:35Z")
_Casablanca_ was released during WW2, in 1942. _La Marseillaise_ was sung by actual French refugees who didn’t know if they’d ever see their beloved homeland again. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866/37 "2017-11-30T01:04:59Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > _Casablanca_ was released during WW2, in 1942. _La Marseillaise_ was sung by actual French refugees who didn’t know if they’d ever see their beloved homeland again. Omigod. I got goosebumps all over just reading that. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866/38 "2017-11-30T01:16:47Z")
OH SHIT ! Casablanca was colorized ! Some people have no respect for classic movies ! I would loved to had seen it at a movie theater b/c is hard to find a theater that has CC for deaf and HOH people . ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866/39 "2017-11-30T01:25:35Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Damn, even just reading about it almost brings a tear to my eye. The shot of Yvonne singing is intense. Yvonne, and her then husband, Emil the croupier, were both real refugees that had traveled with forged documents. That scene is some serious shit. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866/40 "2017-11-30T03:54:57Z")
Here’s an interesting short read on [the real refugees of Casablanca](https://longreads.com/2017/11/23/the-real-refugees-of-casablanca/). You will be shocked-- shocked!-- to find that most refugees did not spend their time drinking champagne cocktails. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/75th-anniversary-of-the-release-of-casablanca/802866.md?page=3)