On this day in movie history – Casablanca (movie & books):

Casablanca

directed by Michael Curtiz,

written by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and Howard Koch,

based on the play Everybody Comes to Rick's by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison,

was released in the United States on November 26, 1942.
Music by Max Steiner.

Cast:

Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, S.Z. Sakall, Madeleine Lebeau, Dooley Wilson, Joy Page, John Qualen, Leonid Kinskey, Curt Bois.

Recommended reading:

Casablanca: As Time Goes by:

50th Anniversary Commemorative

By Frank Miller.

Published by‎ Andrews McMeel Pub.
Published 1992.
First Edition.
Hardcover.
ISBN-10: 1878685147
ISBN-13: 978-1878685148

Description:

The leading lady was the producer's second choice. The leading man avoided his co-star between love scenes for fear of his wife's jealousy. Two of the stars didn't want to be in the movie in the first place. And nobody knew how the picture would end until the day they shot the final scene. Yet, out of this chaos came one of the enduring film favorites of all time – Casablanca.

For the First time, here is the whole story of Warner Bros. Production No. 410, from the original play that laid its foundation, through casting, writing, shooting, and post-production, to the series of lucky breaks that created one of the most everlastingly popular films of the last fifty years.

At every step along the road to Casablanca, the picture's creators had to make choices that later meant the difference between triumph and flop. Ronald Regan was initially announced to play one of the male leads. Producer Hal Wallis considered casting Ella Fitzgerald as Sam the piano player. Composer Max Steiner tried to cut "As Time Goes By." And sometimes the participants managed to make the right choices in spite of themselves.

Lavishly illustrated with a collection of photos, memos, blueprints and posters never before assembled in one book 'Casablanca: As Time Goes By...' paints the most complete picture ever of a movie that has mesmerized film-lovers and romantics for half a century.

The Scene-by-Scene Casablanca Film Guidebook:

A Detailed Look at the Hollywood Film Classic

By Michael Willian.

Published by Kerpluggo Books.

Published 2020.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0976242915

ISBN-13: 978-0976242918

Description:

It’s the ideal way to enjoy this American film classic – a comprehensive guidebook that walks you through Casablanca scene by scene. Breathing new life into the film, the guidebook is packed with intriguing insights, cool cast and film anecdotes, and countless closer looks at scene details, curiosities, historical tie-ins, gaffes and more. And it’s all presented in a smart, page turning format. Casablanca fans will be thrilled to have this humorous and insightful companion guiding them through this cinematic gem with fresh eyes.

Inside the guidebook you'll find: first-of-their kind illustrations showing the layouts of Rick's Cafe, the Casablanca Airport and the Paris street and bistro Rick and Ilsa visit, and where your favorite scenes take place in relation to one another; a complete chronology of key film scenes; a handy summary of World War II events leading up to the film's setting; the stories behind the countless World War II-era references that have lost their context over time; translations for the film's foreign language references, and the fascinating insights they unlock; a breakdown of songs in the film; film bookmarks for easy access to key details; And here is just a sampling of the things you'll discover: what popular chess strategy Rick invokes while playing both sides of the table, and the host of curiosities and gaffes involving the match; where Ilsa gets the gun she pulls on Rick; the incredible real-life story of how two Casablanca actors, then married, made their own World War II escape from France to America; Carl's profession before he waited tables at Rick's; the good luck symbol Ferrari displays outside the Blue Parrot; how to recreate Rick and Ilsa's Paris boat ride scene; what real-life plane was used for Strasser's arrival, and what became of it; whether Captain Renault's champagne recommendation to Strasser really was a good one.

Born on this day – Claude Rains:

Claude Rains

Actor

November 10, 1889 – May 30, 1967

Credits:

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963–1965); The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965); The Reporter (1964); Dr. Kildare (1964); Twilight of Honor (1963); The DuPont Show of the Week (1962–1963); Rawhide (1963); Lawrence of Arabia (1962); Sam Benedict (1962); Wagon Train (1962); Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1956–1962); Battle of the Worlds (1961); Mel-O-Toons (1960); Naked City (1960); Shangri-La (1960); The Lost World (1960); Once Upon a Christmas Time (1959); This Earth Is Mine (1959); The Eighty Yard Run (Playhouse 90) (1959); The Pied Piper of Hamelin (1957); On Borrowed Time (1957); Eye on New York (1956); The Kaiser Aluminum Hour (1956); Lisbon (1956); The Alcoa Hour (1956); Kraft Theatre (1956); Omnibus (segment entitled: The Confidential Clerk) (1954); Robert Montgomery Presents (1954); Omnibus (segment entitled: The Bentons at Home) (1953); Medallion Theatre (1953); The Paris Express (1952); Sealed Cargo (1951); The Ed Sullivan Show (1951); Where Danger Lives (1950); The White Tower (1950); Song of Surrender (1949); Rope of Sand (1949); The Passionate Friends (1949); The Unsuspected (1947); Deception (1946); Angel on My Shoulder (1946); Notorious (1946); Caesar and Cleopatra (1945); This Love of Ours (1945); Strange Holiday (1945); Mr. Skeffington (1944); Passage to Marseille (1944); Phantom of the Opera (1943); Forever and a Day (1943); Casablanca (1942); Now, Voyager (1942); Moontide (1942); Kings Row (1942); Breakdowns of 1942 (1942); The Wolf Man (1941); Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941); Four Mothers (1941); Lady with Red Hair (1940); The Sea Hawk (1940); Saturday's Children (1940); The Invisible Man Returns (1940); Four Wives (1939); Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939); Daughters Courageous (1939); Sons of Liberty (1939); Juarez (1939); They Made Me a Criminal (1939); Four Daughters (1938); The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938); Gold Is Where You Find It (1938); White Banners (1938); Breakdowns of 1937 (1937); They Won't Forget (1937); The Prince and the Pauper (1937); Stolen Holiday (1937); Hearts Divided (1936); Anthony Adverse (1936); Scrooge (1935); The Last Outpost (1935); The Clairvoyant (1935); Mystery of Edwin Drood (1935); The Man Who Reclaimed His Head (1934); Crime Without Passion (1934); The Invisible Man (1933); Build Thy House (1920).

On this day in movie history - The Unsuspected (1947):

The Unsuspected

directed by Michael Curtiz,

written by Ranald MacDougall and Bess Meredyth,

based on the novel by Charlotte Armstrong,

was released in the United States on October 11, 1947.
Music by Franz Waxman.

Cast:

Joan Caulfield, Claude Rains, Audrey Totter, Constance Bennett, Hurd Hatfield, Ted North, Fred Clark, Harry Lewis, Jack Lambert, Nana Bryant, Walter Baldwin, Ray Walker, Barbara Woodell.