casablanca

the year: 1942

the genre: drama


the cast: Humphrey Bogart (Rick Blaine); Ingrid Bergman (Ilsa Lund); Paul Henreid (Victor Lazlo); Claude Rains (Captain Renault); Sydney Greenstreet (Signor Ferrari); Peter Lorre (Ugarte); S Z Sakall (Carl); Conrad Veidt (Major Srasser)


the plot: In World War II Casablanca, Rick Blaine, exiled American and former freedom fighter, runs the most popular nightspot in town. The cynical Blaine comes into the possession of two valuable letters of transit. When Nazi Major Strasser arrives in Casablanca, local police Captain Renault does what he can to please him, including detaining Czech underground leader Victor Laszlo. Much to Rick's surprise, Lazslo arrives with Ilsa, Rick's one time love. Ilsa knows Rick can help them get out of the country - but will he?


don't miss: Dooley Wilson as Sam (ironically, he was the only cast member to have actually visited the real city of Casablanca) and the famous song "As Time Goes By".




listen for: "What in heaven's name brought you to Casablanca?" "My health. I came to Casablanca for the waters." "The waters? What waters? We're in the desert." "I was misinformed."



did you know: In the 1980s, this film's script was sent to a number of major studios and production companies under its original title, "Everybody Comes to Rick's". Some recognized the script but most did not. Many complained that the script was "not good enough" to make a decent movie. Others gave such complaints as "too dated", "too much dialog" and "not enough sex".



don't listen for" "Play it again, Sam." That line was never spoken in the movie. Ilsa says "Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By"' and Rick says: "You played it for her, you can play it for me. Play it!".


also listen for: "I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!" "Your winnings, sir." "Oh, thank you very much."






This one's a classic, for sure. But I have to admit, one of the reasons I like it so much is that without it we wouldn't have this:

to have and have not

the year: 1944

the genre: suspense


the cast: Humphrey Bogart (Harry "Steve" Morgan); Lauren Bacall (Marie "Slim" Browning); Walter Brennan (Eddie); Hoagy Carmichael (Cricket); Dan Seymour (Captain Renard); Sheldon Leonard (Lt. Coyo)


the plot: Harry Morgan and his alcoholic sidekick, Eddie, are based on the island of Martinique and crew a boat available for hire. WWII is affecting business and after a customer who owes them a large sum fails to pay, they are forced against their better judgement to violate their preferred neutrality and to take a job for the resistance - transporting a fugitive on the run from the Nazis to Martinique. Through all this runs the stormy relationship between Morgan and Marie "Slim" Browning, a resistance sympathizer and the sassy singer in the club where Morgan spends most of his days.


don't miss: the famous line: "You know you don't have to act with me, Steve. You don't have to say anything, and you don't have to do anything. Not a thing. Oh, maybe just whistle. You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and... blow."


count: how many scenes feature Mme. Hellene de Bursac compared to Slim. Dolores Moran was originally scripted to be the lead actress and Humphrey Bogart's romantic interest, but her role was shrunk to make room for Lauren Bacall.


listen for: "I'm hard to get, Steve. All you have to do is ask me."


did you know: Hoagy Carmichael played most of his scenes with a matchstick in his teeth. Seeing this on the set at the start of shooting, Humphrey Bogart gave kudos to Carmichael, telling him that the matchstick was a nice touch and would make him stand out in the film. Carmichael was surprised afterward to see a scene being filmed with Bogart and Walter Brennan, both of them chewing matchsticks throughout the shot. They finally revealed that they were having a bit of fun at Hoagy's expense.


extra bonus points: if you know why this film was important to Bogart/Bacall.

sabrina

the year: 1954

the genre: romance


the cast: Audrey Hepburn (Sabrina Fairchild); Humphrey Bogart (Linus Larabie); William Holden (David Larabie); Ellen Corby (Miss McCardle)


the plot: Sabrina is the daughter of the Larrabee family's chauffeur and has been in love with David Larrabee all her life. David doesn’t know she exists. When Sabrina goes to Paris for a few years, she returns a very attractive and sophisticated woman, and David is quickly drawn to her. David's brother Linus sees this and fears that David's imminent wedding may be endangered. If the wedding is canceled, so is a corporate merger with the bride's father. So, Linus tries to keep Sabrina away from David, and the best way to do that is to charm her himself.


count: how many soufflés actually turn out like they should, in the cooking class.


don’t miss: what rhymes with “glass.”


check out: Joe College, with a touch of arthritis.


listen for: “Once upon a time, on the north shore of Long Island, some 30 miles from New York, there lived a small girl on a large estate. The estate was very large indeed and had many servants. There were gardeners to take care of the gardens, and a tree surgeon on a retainer. There was a boatman to take care of the boats: to put them in the water in the spring, and scrape their bottoms in the winter. There were specialists to take care of the grounds: the outdoor tennis court and the indoor tennis court, the outdoor swimming pool and the indoor swimming pool. And there was a man of no particular title who took care of a small pool in the garden for a goldfish named George.”


also listen for: “Voilà! An egg. Now, an egg is not a stone; it is not made of wood, it is a living thing. It has a heart. So when we crack it, we must not torment it. We must be merciful and execute it quickly, like with the guillotine.”


did you know: Although Edith Head won an Oscar for Best Costume on Sabrina, most of Audrey Hepburn's "Parisian" ensembles were, in fact, designed by Hubert de Givenchy and chosen by the star herself. However, since the costumes were actually made in Edith Head's Paramount Studios costume department, some felt that that was enough of a technicality to nominate Edith, instead of Monsieur Givenchy. Edith Head refused to be shown alongside Givenchy in the credits, so she was given credit for the costumes, even though the Academy's votes were obviously for Hepburn's attire.


extra bonus points: if you can name the two things one should never have in Paris.

we're no angels

the year: 1955

the genre: comedy


the cast: Humphrey Bogart (Joseph); Peter Ustinov (Jules); Aldo Ray (Albert); Leo G. Caroll (Felix Ducotel); Basil Rathbone (Andre Trochard); Joan Bennett (Amelie Doctel)


the plot: Joseph, Julius and Albert escaped prison on Devil's Island. Loitering around the port, awaiting a ship to take them away, they decide to steal some goods from a merchant. Letting him hire them to repair the roof, they get some insight into the private life of his family. Isabelle, the 18-year-old daughter, is still unmarried and longs for her old love Paul, who is back in Paris. Felix, her father, is afraid of cousin André, who owns the shop and will fire him if there are no profits reported soon. When Paul and André arrive on the island - and are far less sympathetic than the family expected – the three convicts take matters into their own hands, along with the help of Adolf, Albert’s poisonous pet snake.



count: on a good laugh when the convicts hold a “fair trial” about the fate of Cousin André. Jules is brilliant as the defense attorney.



don’t miss: the convicts’ rush to “help” Cousin André upon his arrival. I especially love the pineapple.


check out: how the dinner plates keep changing positions as the table is set for Christmas dinner.


listen for: “We came here to rob them and that's what we're gonna do - beat their heads in, gouge their eyes out, slash their throats. Soon as we wash the dishes.”