Blu-Ray Review: ‘Casablanca’ is a Blu-Ray Gift Set For the Ages

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CHICAGO – An edition of The Hollywood Reporter in January of 1942 announced that Warner Brothers was moving forward with a film called “Casablanca” and that it would star Ann Sheridan, Ronald Reagan and Dennis Morgan. A month later, Reagan and Morgan were out, Humphrey Bogart was in, and it wasn’t long before someone suggested Ingrid Bergman instead of the American Ann Sheridan for the role of Ilsa. It was the beginning of much more than just a beautiful friendship.

Of course, if that cast had made it in front of the camera, it’s not likely that the story of Rick, Ilsa, and the beginning of a beautiful friendship would have nearly the same resonance over six decades after its release as it does now. The iconic performances by Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman are such a part of the fabric of movie history that they’re instantly recognizable around the world.

What is there to say or write about “Casablanca” that hasn’t been in print already? The movie is an undeniable masterpiece, as enjoyable today as the day it first hit theaters almost seven decades ago. And it will be just as entertaining in seven decades. It’s one of the most romantic and seminal films in the history of the medium and it’s never been presented quite like it is in a gorgeous gift set from Warner Brothers Home Video. The classic movie fan in your family won’t be more satisfied by another other Blu-Ray release this season. It’s one of the most extensive and impressive of the year.

Even with the gorgeous packaging (pictured above) and the collectibles included with a cavalcade of special features, the real draw of any “Casablanca” release is always going to be the movie itself. The first high-definition presentation for the Best Picture winner on Blu-Ray is remastered in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio with a beautiful 1080p High Definition transfer. Buyers may be surprised to find only a one-channel mono track in Dolby Digital, but that’s how the film was released. Not everything can be DTS. “Casablanca” would actually sound pretty stupid with one.

The “Casablanca” gift set includes an exclusive passport holder and luggage tag, a 48-page photo book, 10 one-sheet reproduction cards, and even copies of archival correspondence about the production of the film. For example, a copy of an inter-office memo from Hal Wallis that simply says, “The story that we recently purchased entitled “EVERYBODY COMES TO RICK’S” will hereafter be known as………”CASABLANCA”” Movie historians will be satisfied before they even put in an actual disc.

As for the special features included with “Casablanca”, the word would be overwhelming. They’ve all been available before in different releases of this classic film, but they include a commentary by Roger Ebert, another by historian Rudy Behlmer, an introduction by Lauren Bacall, additional scenes and outtakes, two documentaries (“Bacall on Bogart”, “You Must Remember This: A Tribute to Casablanca”), a featurette called “As Time Goes By: The Children Remember”, a production research gallery, the homage Looney Tunes cartoon “Carrotblanca”, the premiere episode from the TV series adaptation of the movie called “Who Holds Tomorrow?”, scoring session outtakes, and theatrical trailers.

Not enough? There’s a second complete DVD with a documentary called “Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul”. The doc is a revealing look at one of the most legendary names from the golden age of Hollywood.

Unique special features like the great Looney Tunes short, revealing documentaries, a perfect technical transfer, and even physical collectibles like a passport holder. Warner Brothers has given one of the best films ever made the treatment it deserves with one of the most impressive Blu-Ray gift sets yet produced.

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com