Tag Archives: Michael Curtiz

Elvy and Valty

Posted on December 16, 2011 by sheila

Elvis Presley, Walter Matthau, Carolyn Jones, “King Creole” Walter Matthau in a BBC interview on working with Elvis Presley in the Michael Curtiz-directed King Creole (Curtiz famously had an incomprehensible Hungarian accent): I almost hesitate, I creep up to the … Continue reading →

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Female (1933); Dir. Michael Curtiz

Posted on October 7, 2010 by sheila

Alice Drake (Ruth Chatterton) inherited her father’s automobile manufacturing business, a behemoth if you judge from the panorama outside her office window of a factory as far as the eye can see. She is just a “female”, but she has … Continue reading →

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Movie Poster: Mildred Pierce

Posted on February 10, 2009 by sheila

I just love this poster, everything about it. I love that red.

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Today in history: November 26, 1942

Posted on November 26, 2008 by sheila

Casablanca premiered at the Hollywood Theatre in New York City. It was not expected to be a long-lasting mythical evocation of the quintessential American ideals we all aspire to, from generation to generation. It was just supposed to be another … Continue reading →

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The Books: “Bogart” (A. M. Sperber and Eric Lax)

Posted on August 6, 2008 by sheila

Daily Book Excerpt: Entertainment Biography/Memoir: Bogart, by A. M. Sperber and Eric Lax Now this is what I call a biography! I am not sure why it took so long for Bogart to get his due, but I suppose that’s … Continue reading →

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Dueling Anthems: Memo From Hal Wallis

Posted on March 11, 2008 by sheila

Memo from Casablanca producer Hal Wallis to Max Steiner, composer: On the Marseilles, when it is played in the Cafe, don’t do it as though it was played by this small orchestra. Do it with a full scoring orchestra and … Continue reading →

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Under-Rated Movies #6: Four Daughters (1938); Dir. Michael Curtiz

Posted on May 18, 2006 by sheila

6. Four Daughters Here is another nearly-forgotten film (even though at the time it was nominated for Oscars left and right). It was directed by Hungarian-born Michael Curtiz, the man responsible, naturally, for such little-known art-house films as The Sea … Continue reading →

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Casablanca Appreciation Day

Posted on November 26, 2005 by sheila

From The Making of Casablanca: Bogart, Bergman, and World War II: Casablanca started on Stage 12A with the flashback to Rick and Ilsa’s romance in Paris. It was an accident that Bogart was required to make love to Bergman almost … Continue reading →

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The Victor Laszlo/Rick Blaine dilemma

Posted on July 14, 2005 by sheila

Open thread: Talk about the ending of Casablanca. Talk about Ilsa’s choice. Or actually – Rick made the choice for her: You will go with Laszlo. Ilsa loves both men. Not in the same way, but she does love both … Continue reading →

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Ingrid Bergman: “I Look Like a Milkmaid.”

Posted on May 27, 2004 by sheila

Ingrid Bergman desperately wanted to get out of making Casablanca. So did Humphrey Bogart. Nobody knew that Casablanca was going to end up spanning decades and lasting … At the time, it was just another movie, being churned out by … Continue reading →

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