Casablanca; script and legend. Preface by Howard Koch. Introductory note by Ralph J. Gleason. Essays by Howard Koch and Richard Corliss. Reviews by Bosley Crowther and Howard Barnes. The script by Julius J. Epstein, Phillip [sic] G. Epstein and Howard Koc

Koch, Howard.. Casablanca; script and legend. Preface by Howard Koch. Introductory note by Ralph J. Gleason. Essays by Howard Koch and Richard Corliss. Reviews by Bosley Crowther and Howard Barnes. The script by Julius J. Epstein, Phillip [sic] G. Epstein and Howard Koc [0879510064] Woodstock, N.Y., Overlook Press [1973]
Call#: [z] Lost copy. PN1997.C352 K6 1973

Released to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of Casablanca’s release, Casablanca: The Script and the Legend commemorates the film by containing complementary film reviews, an essay on the film’s influence in the cinematic world, and the film’s complete script. Although the script is undoubtedly influential to the film’s analysis, it is the film reviews that provide interesting (and rather strange) theories regarding the film. One of theories portrays Casablanca as a political allegory in which Rick is President Roosevelt, Lazlo is Winston Churchill and Casablanca is the White House. In this reading, Rick’s decision to close the casino and go to war is thought to be an allegory of Roosevelt’s decision to give up patrician politics and (inspired by Churchill) enter the war on the side of right (aka the Allies). Another theory that is proposed by the review states that Casablanca represents a repressed homosexual fantasy in which Rick rejects his past love for women (Ilsa) in favor of a furtive affair with a man (Renault). Although the evidence for this reading seems rather suspicious, the homosexual theory nonetheless opens interesting questions regarding the Production Code and Casablanca’s true meaning. All and all, Casablanca: the Script and the Legend provides not only a document to analyze but also controversial theories that expand the boundaries of interpretation beyond the norm. These elements of the book make it a good resource for through and controversial analysis of Casablanca.

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Casablanca; script and legend. Preface by Howard Koch. Introductory note by Ralph J. Gleason. Essays by Howard Koch and Richard Corliss. Reviews by Bosley Crowther and Howard Barnes. The script by Julius J. Epstein, Phillip [sic] G. Epstein and Howard Koc