Casablanca [70th Anniversary] [Blu-ray]

Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul - The Epic Story of the Man Behind the Movies
Film history buffs will be particularly attracted to this documentary, made by studio boss Jack L. Warner's grandson Gregory Orr. In addition to being the last remaining studio boss to remain active producing films after the studio system fell apart, he was a seminal figure during that period (in his case, from the 1920s to the 1950s). He and his brothers formed the Warner Brothers studio just before the advent of the "talkies" in 1929, and made a big hit with the first commercial talking picture The Jazz Singer. Warner was viewed in deeply contradictory ways by the film community. On the one hand he was an extremly ruthless businessman and competitor, who was known for his tight-fistedness. On the other hand, he was completely forthright about who he was and what he wanted in life, a form of honesty rare in any time. He particularly relished his role as a famous figure whose wishes had to be reckoned with. Special highlights of this documentary include home movies of the mogul with his family and associates, and still photographs. In 1969, after he had ceased being a studio head, he sadly observed "without a studio, I'm just another nobody." ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

You Must Remember This: A Tribute to Casablanca
Michael Curtiz: The Greatest Director You Never Heard Of
The Brothers Warner
Filmmaker Cass Warner Sperling explores the story of her grandfather Harry Warner and his three brothers Abe, Sam, and Jack, who forever changed the face of Hollywood by creating Warner Brothers Studios. It all started with a simple storefront theater, cobbled together with spare chairs from a funeral home and a sheet tacked to the wall. Few could have foreseen that the four brothers behind that endeavor would eventually go on to create one of the most powerful movie studios ever. Each endured their fair share of personal hardships along the way, but the fruits of their labors can still be tasted today thanks to the success of films like Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino. The Warner Brothers believed that as filmmakers they bore a heavy social responsibility to create films that weren't just entertaining, but socially relevant as well. This is the story of four brothers who never compromised their original vision, told by the very people who knew them best. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Casablanca
One of the most beloved American films, this captivating wartime adventure of romance and intrigue from director Michael Curtiz defies standard categorization. Simply put, it is the story of Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a world-weary ex-freedom fighter who runs a nightclub in Casablanca during the early part of WWII. Despite pressure from the local authorities, notably the crafty Capt. Renault (Claude Rains), Rick's café has become a haven for refugees looking to purchase illicit letters of transit which will allow them to escape to America. One day, to Rick's great surprise, he is approached by the famed rebel Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid) and his wife, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), Rick's true love who deserted him when the Nazis invaded Paris. She still wants Victor to escape to America, but now that she's renewed her love for Rick, she wants to stay behind in Casablanca. "You must do the thinking for both of us," she says to Rick. He does, and his plan brings the story to its satisfyingly logical, if not entirely happy, conclusion. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

Casablanca: An Unlikely Classic