Making of Casablanca, The: Bogart, Bergman, and World War II (Paperback)

by Aljean Harmetz (Author) "In the old days, when the studio factories stretched across Los Angeles under a relentlessly blue sky, the end of production on one movie was..." (more)
Key Phrases: acting diary, story file, contract files, Warner Bros, Jack Warner, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"A fascinating story of how the studio system created an immortal film in spite of itself." -- Newsweek

"A rich detective story that gets to the bottom of the Casablanca story." -- Boston Globe

"Splendid . . . Gracefully written and thoroughly researched." -- New York Times Book Review

"This book is terrific. It should be required reading for anyone who is in movies or loves movies." -- Billy Wilder

Product Description
ritically acclaimed when published in 1992 as Round Up the Usual Suspects, The Making of Casablanca offers the ultimate insider's look at the politics and personalities behind the most celebrated movie of all time-Casablanca. Updated and timed for the 60th anniversary (Thanksgiving Day, 1942) of this movie, this critically acclaimed book draws upon years of research, including access to Ingrid Bergman's personal acting diaries and the vast Warner Brothers archives, as well as interviews with many of those close to the film, including the late Paul Henreid, Lauren Bacall, and scriptwriters Howard Koch and Julius Epstein. Richly detailed and full of surprises, The Making of Casablanca debunks many cherished myths about the casting, script, story, and stars, to reveal the realities of the highly pressured Hollywood studio system during World War II.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1 edition (October 23, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786888148
• ISBN-13: 978-0786888146
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #52,860 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #79 in	Books > Entertainment > Movies > History & Criticism
  #79 in	Books > Entertainment > Movies > Direction & Production

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, unputdownable, October 7, 2003

By	Robert J. Sawyer "Science Fiction writer" (Mississauga, ON, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read this book in hardcover, and loved it. CASABLANCA is my all-time favorite film, and I've read all the other books about it, too, but this one is by far the best. It's a great study of how the film got made, at a level of (fascinating!) detail not found in other references. I recommend it without reservation.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I came to Casablanca for the waters..., September 21, 2005

By	Marc Flanagan "Reading Through Lunch" (Santa Monica, Ca.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Have you ever purchased something twice and started to read or listen to it and realize you have already read or purchased it before?
As Bogart says in his cafe, " I was misinformed". A few years ago,I bought and read this book under the title, "Round Up The Usual Suspects" and I enjoyed it very much. I then bought it again (recently, I'm not that disoriented-yet) under it's new title, "The Making of Casablanca" same book, and same level of enjoyment. Aljean Harmetz was a New York Times correspondent and she is a skilled writer. Ms. Harmetz unfurls the story of the production of "Casablanca" in an entertaining fashion. So many things could have been undone by the studio and the government (released before World War II) the producer Hal Wallis kept the production on even keel and how Wallis went about it, is the crux of the story. Great insight into the era and the number of refugees who portray refugees, Bogart stories and Bergman tales. A really absorbing read, especially if you are a fan of the movie...and who isn't?