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 – Ingrid Bergman:

Ingrid Bergman

Actress

August 29, 1915 – August 29, 1982

On this day in movie history – Gaslight (1944 movie & play):

Gaslight

directed by George Cukor,

written by John Van Druten, Walter Reisch and John L. Balderston,

based on the play Gas Light by Patrick Hamilton,

was released in the United States on May 4, 1944.
Music by Bronislau Kaper.

Cast:

Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotton, May Whitty, Angela Lansbury, Barbara Everest, Emil Rameau, Edmund Breon, Halliwell Hobbes, Tom Stevenson, Heather Thatcher, Lawrence Grossmith, Jakob Gimpel, Harry Adams, Lassie Lou Ahern, John Ardizoni, Frank Baker, Wilson Benge, Arnold Bennett, Florence Benson, Arthur Blake, Lillian Bronson, Alec Craig, Antonio D'Amore, Wynne Davis, Frank Eldredge, Maude Fealy, Al Ferguson, Helen Flint, Gibson Gowland, Gary Gray, Roger Gray, Bobbie Hale, Joy Harington, Tom Hughes, Jack Kirk, Pat Malone, Al Masiello, Charles McNaughton, Terry Moore, Clive Morgan, Georgie Nokes, Joseph North, Tarquin Olivier, Elsie Prescott, Joseph Romantini, Syd Saylor, Arthur Stone, Alix Terry, Morgan Wallace, Eric Wilton, Eustace Wyatt, Katherine Yorke, Phyllis Yuse, Guy Zanette.

Recommended reading:

Gas Light

a play by Patrick Hamilton.

Filmed as:

Gaslight (1940), directed by Thorold Dickinson.

Gaslight (1944), directed by George Cukor.

Published by Constable and Company Ltd.

First published 1939.

ASIN: B0DSZRVND4

Paperback.

Description:

This classic Victorian thriller was first produced in 1935. Jack Manningham is slowly, deliberately driving his wife, Bella, insane. He has almost succeeded when help arrives in the form of a former detective, Rough, who believes Manningham to be a thief and murderer. Aided by Bella, Rough proves Manningham's true identity and finally Bella achieves a few moments of sweet revenge for the suffering inflicted on her.

On this day in movie history - Rage in Heaven (1941):

Rage in Heaven

directed by W.S. Van Dyke, Robert B. Sinclair and Richard Thorpe,

written by Christopher Isherwood and Robert Thoeren,

based on the novel by James Hilton,

was released in the United States on March 7, 1941.
Music by Bronislau Kaper, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco and Eugene Zador.

Cast:

Robert Montgomery, Ingrid Bergman, George Sanders, Lucile Watson, Oskar Homolka, Philip Merivale, Matthew Boulton, Aubrey Mather, Frederick Worlock, Francis Compton, Gilbert Emery, Ludwig Hardt.