The film that won the Best Picture Oscar at the 16th Academy Awards was ‘Casablanca’. This classic – a melodramatic story of international intrigue, romance and politics in the Nazi-occupied locale of French Morocco – is now considered one of filmdom’s best ever pictures.
The film was directed by Michael Curtiz, and based on Murray Burnett and Joan Alison’s unproduced stage play ‘Everybody Comes to Rick’s’ The film stars Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid.
Anti-Nazi propaganda, Max Steiner’s musical score, suspense, unforgettable characters and memorable lines all contributed to make the movie a classic.
Exceeding expectations, ‘Casablanca’ went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Curtiz was selected as Best Director, and the Epstein brothers and Koch were honoured for writing the Best Adapted Screenplay. Much of the emotional impact of the film has been attributed to the large proportion of European exiles and refugees. The film has grown in popularity. Murray Burnett called it “true yesterday, true today, true tomorrow”.
Picture Credit : Google
