Casablanca 70th Anniversary Blu-ray Review

[IronWaffle]

I've been lucky to catch my fair share of classic films in rerelease, but while all have been improved in terms of spectacle (I keep missing out on LoA, but I've caught many others either 70mm or Cinerama) Casablanca was different.

I don't mean that in some melodramatic way, but in that unlike LoA it's a film arguably more about the dialogue and character than anything else. This meant a large room filled with laughter. It's easy to forget how funny a film like this is when watching alone at home or with a small group of people. it made me long to see Kane, which I also find to be quick witted despite so many understandably calling it dull.

Dialogue-driven films lose a lot with an audience of one, especially when the film is particularly old so the humor baked into drama is lost on the uninitiated.

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

I'm sure it's just me. Like I said, I get easily confused. You know, see woman, think woman. I simply suffer from gender specificitus.

Ok, sonny! I just put up my new "manly" avatar now. If this isn't good, then I don't know what else to do. BTW, Batman rules!

[Early Memphis]

Originally Posted by MrHT

Ok, sonny! I just put up my new "manly" avatar now. If this isn't good, then I don't know what else to do. BTW, Batman rules!

Cool avatar! Sharp, colorful! Batman rules indeed!

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by Oblivion138

Anyone wanna talk about Casablanca?

Oh, yes! Casablanca! That's what this thread is about, isn't it?

Based on the current sales rank, it looks like a lot of people are taking advantage of the $9.99 sale on the single disc BD. I just want to say that single BD is missing the extra disc that's contained in the 70th Anniversary Giftset. While the box is big and annoying, I think that extra disc contains some nice extra goodies that make the extra cost well worth it. For those that are still thinking about picking up the cheap single disc edition, you may want to think about getting the Giftset instead. Just a suggestion.

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

I've been lucky to catch my fair share of classic films in rerelease, but while all have been improved in terms of spectacle (I keep missing out on LoA, but I've caught many others either 70mm or Cinerama) Casablanca was different.

I don't mean that in some melodramatic way, but in that unlike LoA it's a film arguably more about the dialogue and character than anything else. This meant a large room filled with laughter. It's easy to forget how funny a film like this is when watching alone at home or with a small group of people. it made me long to see Kane, which I also find to be quick witted despite so many understandably calling it dull.

Dialogue-driven films lose a lot with an audience of one, especially when the film is particularly old so the humor baked into drama is lost on the uninitiated.

I had the same experience with the Casablanca re-release. The theater was packed with people of all ages, and the crowd was very receptive. Lots of laughter. It's easy to forget just how great and witty the dialogue is until you hear those gales of laughter.

Originally Posted by MrHT

Based on the current sales rank, it looks like a lot of people are taking advantage of the $9.99 sale on the single disc BD. I just want to say that single BD is missing the extra disc that's contained in the 70th Anniversary Giftset. While the box is big and annoying, I think that extra disc contains some nice extra goodies that make the extra cost well worth it. For those that are still thinking about picking up the cheap single disc edition, you may want to think about getting the Giftset instead. Just a suggestion.

Have to agree here. And while I don't always go in for that sort of thing, the hardcover book was quite nice, as well. I went to Target the day this was released (when the single-disc was, as some will recall, a Target exclusive) and weighed the options. Ended up walking out with the gift set. The second disc may not include any Casablanca-specific extras, and the bulk of the content may be SD, but for classic film fans, the pieces on Warner Brothers (including the nearly five-hour You Must Remember This documentary) are indispensable.

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by Oblivion138

Have to agree here. And while I don't always go in for that sort of thing, the hardcover book was quite nice, as well. I went to Target the day this was released (when the single-disc was, as some will recall, a Target exclusive) and weighed the options. Ended up walking out with the gift set. The second disc may not include any Casablanca-specific extras, and the bulk of the content may be SD, but for classic film fans, the pieces on Warner Brothers (including the nearly five-hour You Must Remember This documentary) are indispensable.

Speaking of the hardcover book, anyone have any issues with their book warping? The front cover on my book is starting to bend upwards. I don't know what's causing it because it's inside the box untouched.

[Early Memphis]

Originally Posted by MrHT

Speaking of the hardcover book, anyone have any issues with their book warping? The front cover on my book is starting to bend upwards. I don't know what's causing it because it's inside the box untouched.

I don't have it, but the space in the box could be too small for the cover to expand as it draws moisture from the air, especially if it were dry and tightly packed in the first place - and in any case it needs to be supported. Generally, the best way to house books, and I have a lot of them, is as they do in libraries - stood upright side by side. There's room for vertical and horizontal expansion/compression but the side-by-side pressure keeps them flat.

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by Oblivion138

I had the same experience with the Casablanca re-release. The theater was packed with people of all ages, and the crowd was very receptive. Lots of laughter. It's easy to forget just how great and witty the dialogue is until you hear those gales of laughter.

So, I just remembered two other startling examples of audience and the shared experience. Several years ago I attended a Bergman retrospective several times over a month or so. On one of the days I saw Seventh Seal (Death, Plague, Chess, Catholicism, Witch hunts, etc.). It wasn't my first time seeing it, but it was the time that invigorated my love for it because its easily forgotten how genuinely funny some of its over-the-top humor is and how the chess scenes are peppered with dark humor arguably meant to elicit uncomfortable laughter. When you are alone (or perhaps in a classroom) and watching this "essential" "cornerstone" arthouse "classic" it's easy to see it is a dreary, overrated sophomoric movie with no entertainment value.

Last year I had a similar experience with Rashomon, another film I've seen plenty of times. Just as Casablanca's wryly cynical humor and Seventh Seal's morbid humor were punctuated by audience response so too was this film's.

Have to agree here. And while I don't always go in for that sort of thing, the hardcover book was quite nice, as well. I went to Target the day this was released (when the single-disc was, as some will recall, a Target exclusive) and weighed the options. Ended up walking out with the gift set. The second disc may not include any Casablanca-specific extras, and the bulk of the content may be SD, but for classic film fans, the pieces on Warner Brothers (including the nearly five-hour You Must Remember This documentary) are indispensable.

I rarely buy these. At least until they are marked down significantly. When Amazon had a steep discount I jumped on it. I don't care for the trinkets (coasters? Really?) and while the book is nice (nothing compared to the Ben-Hur Heston diary), the set's holy grail -- film aside -- are the extensive documentaries. I can't imagine buying the single disc (of course, I already own two copies on DVD) if this can be had at a reasonable price.

[SilentxStatik24]

I picked this up from Wal-Mart yesterday and I found a very interesting sight:

I found the film with the Warner-Brothers Academy Award releases with the golden slipcovers. I believe that this was released back in 2010 with the old Casablanca Blu Release, so I slipped off the slipcover to discover the new 70th anniversary single-disc Blu. I was very excited because of the beautiful slipcover and the new release for only 9.99!! The slipcover doesn't match the actual disc art but at least I have an interesting addition for my collection.

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by SilentxStatik24

I picked this up from Wal-Mart yesterday and I found a very interesting sight:

I found the film with the Warner-Brothers Academy Award releases with the golden slipcovers. I believe that this was released back in 2010 with the old Casablanca Blu Release, so I slipped off the slipcover to discover the new 70th anniversary single-disc Blu. I was very excited because of the beautiful slipcover and the new release for only 9.99!! The slipcover doesn't match the actual disc art but at least I have an interesting addition for my collection.

That's a very naughty thing to do. Not cool.

EDIT: Nevermind. False alarm. I misunderstood you

[HD2Blu]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

That's a very naughty thing to do. Not cool.

I don't know of this member s saying it was someone else who switched them or thats the way the manufacturer intended it?

I saw these yesterday and thought about grabbing them. If they are all the new version, I probably should.

[MifuneFan]

It sounds like he found it that way

[SilentxStatik24]

Yes, I found the film with the academy award slipcover over the single disc 70th anniversary BD. I would never switch slipcovers lol

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by SilentxStatik24

Yes, I found the film with the academy award slipcover over the single disc 70th anniversary BD. I would never switch slipcovers lol

Very naughty. It's not cool to find things that are put on the shelf for you to purchase.

[5th Of November]

Originally Posted by SilentxStatik24

I picked this up from Wal-Mart yesterday and I found a very interesting sight:

I found the film with the Warner-Brothers Academy Award releases with the golden slipcovers. I believe that this was released back in 2010 with the old Casablanca Blu Release, so I slipped off the slipcover to discover the new 70th anniversary single-disc Blu. I was very excited because of the beautiful slipcover and the new release for only 9.99!! The slipcover doesn't match the actual disc art but at least I have an interesting addition for my collection.

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

That's a very naughty thing to do. Not cool.

Originally Posted by HD2Blu

I don't know of this member s saying it was someone else who switched them or thats the way the manufacturer intended it?

I saw these yesterday and thought about grabbing them. If they are all the new version, I probably should.

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

It sounds like he found it that way

SilentxStatik24 did nothing wrong. The new Academy Award releases include the 70th anniversary of Casablanca, not the old transfer. The back of the slip cover still says Dolby Digital instead of DTS-HD MA though. I assume WB just reprinted the same slip covers. They are all $9.96 at Walmart.

http://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.ph...4&postcount=23

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by SilentxStatik24

Yes, I found the film with the academy award slipcover over the single disc 70th anniversary BD. I would never switch slipcovers lol

In that case, I sincerely apologize. I misunderstood you.

[SilentxStatik24]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

In that case, I sincerely apologize. I misunderstood you.

That's quite alright.

[JavaJulien]

Just picked up the 1-disc version since it was nearly down to $9.50. I know I'm missing out on the documentary from the second disc but I didn't have the additional funds atm.