WHV Press Release: Casablanca Ultimate Collector's Edition (DVD/Blu-ray)

Ronald Epstein · 08-18-2008, 10:54 AM

“Yes, indeed, the Warners here have a picture which makes the spine tingle and the heart take a leap… the result is a highly entertaining and even inspiring film.”
- The New York Times, Bosley Crowther

CASABLANCA
ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION
For the Ultimate Holiday Gift
On Blu-ray™ Hi-Def and DVD
December 2 from Warner Home Video

Burbank, Calif., August 18, 2008 – The legendary Casablanca -- which critic Leonard Maltin calls “the best Hollywood movie of all time,” starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman and winner of three Academy Awards® including Best Picture -- returns in a stunning new Ultimate Collector’s Edition (UCE) on December 2 from Warner Home Video, just in time for the holidays. Casablanca Ultimate Collector’s Edition will also be available in Blu-ray™ Hi-Def for the first time ever.

Casablanca has remained a beloved favorite for almost seven decades, and was voted the screen’s greatest love story and the #3 film of all time by the American Film Institute (AFI). This classic wartime romance also took Oscars® for Michael Curtiz (Directing); Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and Howard Koch (Writing - Screenplay) and the studio (Outstanding Motion Picture).

The luxurious Casablanca Ultimate Collector’s Edition looks like another beginning of a beautiful friendship. The premium giftset is elegantly boxed in an intricate laser-cut Moroccan design and will include such collectibles as replicas of actual props (Victor Laszlo’s “Letter of Transit”) as well as a number of Warner studio documents (an executive’s letter commanding a new PR image for Bogart from gangster to romantic lead; a note from producer Hal Wallis re-titling the film to Casablanca; and a memo from Wallis to Jack Warner strongly urging casting Bogart over George Raft). The DVD set will also contain a branded passport holder, luggage tag, photo book and a mail-in offer for a reproduction of the original movie poster. Additionally, with more than seven hours of bonus features (see below) along with a documentary on Jack Warner, no matter how often one has seen the unforgettable classic, there’s sure to be something to enrich the experience.

Casablanca Ultimate Collector’s Edition will retail on DVD for $59.98 SRP, the Casablanca Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray™ Hi-Def for $64.99 SRP. The previously released Two-Disc Special Edition will also be available with new packaging and will sell for $26.99 SRP.

About the Film
Casablanca: easy to enter, but much harder to leave, especially if you're wanted by the Nazis. Such a man is Resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), whose only hope is Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a cynical American who sticks his neck out for no one - especially Victor's wife Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), the ex-lover who broke his heart. Ilsa offers herself in exchange for Laszlo's transport out of the country and bitter Rick must decide what counts more - personal happiness or countless lives hanging in the balance.

Blu-ray™ Hi-Def Enhanced Content (in standard definition)

Disc 1
Behind the Story
Introduction by Lauren Bacall
Commentary by film critic Roger Ebert
Commentary by film historian/author Rudy Behlmer
1988 TCM special: Bacall on Bogart [Laurel Bacall’s candid and moving reminiscences about her husband’s life and career]
You Must Remember This: A Tribute to Casablanca [Bacall hosts this spellbinding backstage tour]
As Time Goes By: The Children Remember [Stephen Bogart and Pia Lindstrom remember their parents, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman]
Production history gallery
Additional Footage
Deleted scenes
Outtakes
Who Holds Tomorrow? Premiere episode from the 1955 Warner Bros. Presents series, starring Charles McGraw
1995 WB Cartoon: Carrotblanca

Audio
Scoring Stage Sessions
Knock on Wood Alternate Version, Wilson with Piano
As Time Goes By Part One Alternate Take, Wilson with Piano
As Time Goes By Part One Film Version, Wilson with Piano
Rick Sees Ilsa Instrumental Medley
As Time Goes By Part Two Alternate Take, Wilson with Piano
As Time Goes By Part Two Film Version, Wilson with Piano
At La Belle Aurore Instrumental Medley
Dat’s What Noah Done Outtake, Wilson with Piano
April 26,1943 Screen Guild Players Radio Broadcast
Trailers
Theatrical trailer
1992 re-release trailer

Disc 2
1993 documentary: Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul

CASABLANCA ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION
Catalog # 1000039793
$59.98 SRP

CASABLANCA BLU-RAY™ HI-DEF ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION
$64.99 SRP

Subtitles: English, Français
Run Time: 102 minutes (Feature only)

CASABLANCA TWO-DISC SPECIAL EDITION
$26.99 SRP

Note: All enhanced content listed above is subject to change.

Ronald Epstein · 08-18-2008, 04:19 PM

DavidJ · 08-18-2008, 04:34 PM

Dang it, I'm a sucker for packaging and some of the extras look cool. I was hoping to resist this since I already have the excellent HD DVD. The price should help me in my efforts, but if I found a deal...

Chris S · 08-18-2008, 05:52 PM

With this coming out around the holidays I expect we'll see a couple good deals on this set. Congrats to Warner for once again doing a very good job at keeping the SD and HD versions relatively equal in price.

TonyD · 08-18-2008, 06:46 PM

Lossless audio?
Oh thats right this is Warner so probably not.

**HTF Ads**

Ray H · 08-18-2008, 08:48 PM

I would've still preferred a Blu-ray option without the box contents. Unless the Blu-ray box is discounted to about $25, I pobably won't be picking this up.

Martin Teller · 08-18-2008, 10:47 PM

I was really jazzed about this at first, but the more I look at it, the more it seems like a bunch of gimmicky crap I don't want. I'd much rather have a single-disc BR (I can live without a documentary on Jack Warner) that isn't such a shelf hog. The only thing I'd miss would be the photo book.

On the other hand, who knows when they'll get around to releasing a cheaper/smaller edition? I'd hate to be left Casablanca-less for too long....

Brandon Conway · 08-18-2008, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyD

Lossless audio?
Oh thats right this is Warner so probably not.

It's a mono film from 1942. The gain in lossless audio would be quite minimal, and nearly imperceptible to anyone's ears.

Reagan · 08-19-2008, 09:45 AM

Quote:

The gain in lossless audio would be quite minimal, and nearly imperceptible to anyone's ears.

I completely agree. But how hard would it be to put a 1.0 PCM track on there?

Warners: I really wish I could buy the BD discs without all of the extra (stuff).

-R

Paul Arnette · 08-19-2008, 10:07 AM

From thedigitalbits.com:

Quote:

Technical specs on the Blu-ray are typically absent from Warner's press release, but their press site indicates that the movie disc is a BD-50, while the extras disc is a standard DVD-5.

Just as I suspected, and I imagine this will be the same with the forthcoming A Christmas Story Ultimate Collector's Edition as well.

Fortunately for me, 'intricate laser-cut' boxes and replica props hold no sway over me, so I will wait until Warner Bros. releases a BD edition comparable in price to the pre-existing HD DVD before I bite.