In 1942, the world met the cynical, tortured Rick Blaine, perfectly played by Humphrey Bogart, in Casablanca. Quickly filmed and distributed within months of the 1941 Pearl Harbor attacks, Warner Brothers produced one of Hollywood’s most famous, iconic films. France’s Vichy government supported the Nazis and Rick’s Café was the perfect political setting for those people seeking escape.
The major players, including Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid and Claude Rains, all had interesting lives. One fascinating unknown story is Conrad Veidt (Major Strasser). This 60- to 90-minute program uses photos and film clips to give context to the plot and final scenes.