Cast and Crew: Michael Curtiz (Director); Max Steiner (Original Music); Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, S. Z. Sakall, Dooley Wilson

What It’s About: Everyone from Nazi officers to the members of the international resistance to criminals comes to Rick’s (Humphrey Bogart).  When criminal Ugarte (Peter Lorre) leaves letters of transit in Rick’s hand just before he is killed by the police, Rick becomes mixed up with resistance leader Victor Laslo (Paul Hendrid), who needs the letters to escape Casablanca.  Unfortunately for Laslo, he just happens to be accompanied by Rick’s old flame Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman).  Will Rick let his bitter feelings over losing Ilsa (and his self-interest) win out over helping Laslo escape?

Why Watch it Today?: A key sequence in Casablanca takes place as the Germans invade France and march into Paris.  The Germans occupied Paris on this date in 1940.