Daily Archive

Warner Brothers has announced a forthcoming edition of Casablanca on Blu-Ray to be released on 2nd December 2008. The ‘Ultimate Collector’s Edition’ will feature a host of extra features but what is most exciting about this release is of course the High Definition print itself. This will not actually be the first time that the film has been released in High Definition. It received spectacular reviews when it was released on the now (suddenly) obsolete HD-DVD format. Let’s hope the Blu-Ray edition at least matches this previous print and if we’re lucky it could possibly surpass it.

It is interesting how legacy title such as Casablanca continue to make money for studios such as Warner Bros. When films were released during the 20s and 30s it was not conceivable that these films could have a life beyond their initial release. At which point did studios suddenly understand that their giant back catalogues could actually continue to work for them? Did this occur during the late 1970s with the dawn of video or was it earlier?

It wouldn’t surprise me if many of you not only have video and DVD copies of the same film, but have even paid to see them in the cinema several times.

The following are the extras slated for the Blu-Ray release:

Disc 1

• Behind the Story

◦ Introduction by Lauren Bacall

◦ Commentary by film critic Roger Ebert

◦ Commentary by film historian/author Rudy Behlmer

◦ 1988 TCM special: Bacall on Bogart [Laurel Bacall’s candid and moving reminiscences about her husband’s life and career]

◦ You Must Remember This: A Tribute to Casablanca [Bacall hosts this spellbinding backstage tour]

◦ As Time Goes By: The Children Remember [Stephen Bogart and Pia Lindstrom remember their parents, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman]

◦ Production history gallery

• Additional Footage

◦ Deleted scenes

◦ Outtakes

◦ Who Holds Tomorrow? Premiere episode from the 1955 Warner Bros. Presents series, starring Charles McGraw

◦ 1995 WB Cartoon: Carrotblanca

• Audio

◦ Scoring Stage Sessions

◦ Knock on Wood Alternate Version, Wilson with Piano

◦ As Time Goes By Part One Alternate Take, Wilson with Piano

◦ As Time Goes By Part One Film Version, Wilson with Piano

◦ Rick Sees Ilsa Instrumental Medley

◦ As Time Goes By Part Two Alternate Take, Wilson with Piano

◦ As Time Goes By Part Two Film Version, Wilson with Piano

◦ At La Belle Aurore Instrumental Medley

◦ Dat’s What Noah Done Outtake, Wilson with Piano

◦ April 26,1943 Screen Guild Players Radio Broadcast

• Trailers

◦ Theatrical trailer

◦ 1992 re-release trailer


Disc 2

◦ 1993 documentary: Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul