Casablanca - Humphrey Bogart

directed by Michael Curtiz
U.S. 1942

Once a movie becomes as adulated as Casablanca, it is difficult to know how to begin to approach it, except by saying that at least 70 per cent of its cult reputation is deserved. This was Bogart's greatest type role, as the battered, laconic owner of a nightclub who meets a girl (Bergman) he left behind in Paris and still loves. The whole thing has an intense wartime nostalgia that tempts one to describe it as the sophisticated American version of Britain's naïve Brief Encounter, but it has dated far less than Lean's film and is altogether a much more accomplished piece of cinema. There are some great supporting performances, and much of the dialogue has become history.

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

Posters (CLICK to enlarge)

Theatrical Release: November 26th, 1942 - USA

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DVD Comparison:

Warner - Region 2/4 (UK) - PAL vs. Warner - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Warner (SE) - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks to Ole of DVD-Basen for the PAL Screen Caps!

(Warner - Region 2/4 - PAL - LEFT vs. Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Warner (SE) - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
	The new SE is also available in The Humphrey Bogart - The Signature Collection, Vol. 1 with Casablanca Two-Disc Special Edition / The Treasure of the Sierra Madre Two-Disc Special Edition / They Drive by Night and High Sierra
Distribution	Warner (UK) Region 2/4 - PAL	Warner Region 1 - NTSC	Warner Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	1:38:27 (4% PAL Speedup)	1:42:32	1:42:28
Video	1.33:1/4:3 FullScreen Average Bitrate: 5.50 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.33:1/4:3 FullScreen Average Bitrate: 4.95 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1/4:3 FullScreen Average Bitrate: 6.10 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Warner R2/4
Bitrate: Warner R1
Bitrate: Warner R1 (SE)
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono), French (Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono), Italian (Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
Subtitles	English, English for the hearing impaired, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Arabic, Bulgarian, Dutch or none.	English, French or none.	English, Spanish, French or none.
Features	Release Information: Studio: Warner (UK) Aspect Ratio: 1:33:1 original aspect ratio Edition Details: • Featurette (36:46). • Theatrical Trailer (1997) (2:48). DVD Release Date: 13st March 2000 Snapper Case Chapters: 36 DVD Encoding: PAL Region 2/4 SS-DL/DVD-9	Release Information: Studio: Warner Aspect Ratio: 1:33:1 original aspect ratio Edition Details: • .Black & White • Production notes • Theatrical trailer(s) • *You Must Remember This* documentary hosted by Lauren Bacall, featuring recently unearthed outtakes • All-New Introduction by Lauren Bacall DVD Release Date: 15 February 2000 Snapper Case Chapters: 36 DVD Encoding: NTSC Region 1 SS-DL/DVD-9	Release Information: Studio: Warner Aspect Ratio: 1:33:1 original aspect ratio Edition Details: • Commentary by critic Roger Ebert • Commentary by author-historian Rudy Behlmer • Theatrical trailer(s) • Introduction by Lauren Bacall • New digital transfer • Nearly 10 minutes of newly found deleted scenes and outtakes • Bacall hosts two documentaries, "You Must Remember This" and "Bacall on Bogart" • "The Children Remember": parental memories from Stephen Bogart and Ingrid Bergman's daughters Pia Lindstrom and Isabella Rosselini • The Looney Tunes homage "Carrotblanca" • Premier episode from the 1955 Casablanca TV series • Audio-only treasures: "Screen Guild Players Radio Production" with the three stars, plus rare scoring session outtakes • Production history gallery: Photos, press materials, studio correspondence, memorabilia, and more • Full-screen format • Number of discs: 2 DVD Release Date: 5 August 2003 2- DVD insert in handsome cardboard box Chapters: 32 DVD Encoding: NTSC Region 1

Comments:

Robert Harris says about the new release:

"Someone has handled digital cleanup properly as while the grain structure is still very much intact and similar to that of the previous release, the dupe sections now look appreciatively better, with a better rendition of gray scale and better contrast values.

Both visually and sonically, the new Casablanca is a treat and is highly recommended.

Its the best that I've seen it look in decades."

It is quite evident from the screen captures that the new SE Warner version is the sharpest and has the most beautiful contrast levels. It is also cropped on all 4 sides, enough to make me question why. I can live with it, but I wonder if (as in many Criterions) the clean-up process requires information to be removed from the sides. The full disc of extras and Ebert commentary speak for themselves. The sound is also top-notch even to my uninformed hearing. the image is brighter, with slightly less film grain. Yes, buy the new set... I question whether this film has ever looked this good. I will investigate with Mr. Harris the possible reasons for the cropping. I will post my answers here.

- Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

(Warner - Region 2/4 - PAL - LEFT vs. Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Warner (SE) Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)

Screen Captures