Have you seen the classic romantic film Casablanca? Do you want to know where was Casablanca filmed? In that case, you can read this article to learn everything about this timeless movie and its astounding filming locations.
The American romantic drama film Casablanca premiered in the final week of November 1942 in New York City. This iconic film was later released in other parts of the world. Humphrey Bogart played the lead role. While Ingrid Bergman gave a stellar performance as the female lead.
The basic premise of Casablanca revolves around the character of Rick Blaine, a middle-aged American expatriate cafe owner. The story gets interesting when Rick runs into his old girlfriend and has to decide whether to help her or not.
Casablanca went on to gross over 6.9 million in global collections. Apart from bagging 3 Oscars, this romantic film also won other major awards and collected multiple nominations. Film buffs who enjoy watching classic black & white films still consider this to be the best black-and-white motion picture of all time.
Are you really excited to find out where was Casablanca filmed? Well, then, without further ado, let’s dive right in!
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Where Was Casablanca Filmed? Let’s Know This Romantic Drama Film Closely!
Even though the story of Casablanca is set in Morocco, the actual filming of this movie took place in America. You’d be surprised to know that all sequences of this movie were filmed in and around the beautiful state of California.
The makers of Casablanca were able to achieve this due to the immense amount of help they received from the American government. During the initial stages of production, Michael Curtiz, the director of the movie, called for an urgent meeting to discuss the filming locations.
Other creative heads of the unit, including the cinematography director, wanted to shoot this film in Texas during the early stages of production. However, Michael wasn’t particularly convinced by the idea, and thus he later decided to scout the potential locations in person.
Considering the tumultuous time this movie was made, the director didn’t have a large production budget at his disposal. Thus Michael searched for outdoor locations in California which were not only beautiful but inexpensive at the same time.
After searching for several weeks, the director and his team finally identified a number of potential shooting spots in and around the city of Los Angeles. However, it’s also important to mention that the majority of the sequences were captured inside a studio in Burbank.
The principal photography of Casablanca took place in the final week of May 1942 and continued for 2 months or so. During the course of the shooting, the production members didn’t face any major challenges.
The shooting schedule was maintained until the last day of shooting. Let us now take a closer look at the filming locations and discuss where was Casablanca filmed.
California | USA
The opening sequence of the movie, where we see the enigmatic character of Rick inside his shop in Morocco, was actually filmed in Los Angeles. The production members took special shooting permission from the owner of a local diner located in the downtown area of Los Angeles.
The interior sequences of Rick’s coffee shop were then filmed inside this property. Arthur Edeson, the cinematography director of the film, used unique camera techniques to capture these iconic scenes. Special pieces of equipment like softening gauze filters and framing devices were also used.
Other pivotal outdoor shots were captured in the Van Nuys area of Los Angeles. The breathtaking scene of the airport runway, followed by the scene of Strasser’s arrival, were all filmed inside Metropolitan Airport.
This major airport is located at 6590 Hayvenhurst Avenue, Van Nuys, and has been used by a number of American filmmakers for shooting scenes featuring a busy airport.
Finally, the filming crew moved to the city of Burbank. The Warner Brothers Burbank Studios, located at 4000 Warner Boulevard, was used to film the remaining sequences. The production members used several sound stages, Stage 17, Stage 14, and Stage 12, to construct make-believe sets depicting the background of Casablanca.
The shooting process ended in the first week of August 1942, after which the filming crew began working on post-production.
And now, let me introduce you to the plot of Casablanca. In the meantime, you can also read One Piece Film Red, Hell of a Cruise, and The Princess.
Plot Of Casablanca | What’s It About
The basic premise of Casablanca revolves around the character of Rick Blaine and his former lover, Ilsa. At the very beginning of the movie, the lead character appears to be in a joyful mood after profiting from the coffee shop which he ran in Casablanca.
But, soon, Rick gets into a pretty dicey situation after he suddenly runs into his former lover in Morocco. Soon the old romance between the lovers is sparked again. However, Ilsa hesitatingly comes clean about her current marriage and asks for Rick’s help to escape the Nazis.
Watch Casablanca to find out how Rick finally gets convinced by his former lover and devises an ingenious plan to help her escape.
Final Words
Alright, guys! If you haven’t watched this iconic film, then I hope now you’d definitely give this a shot. While you watch this romantic movie, try to locate the filming locations which I’ve mentioned above.
If you want to read more pieces like where was Casablanca filmed, then do check out other entertaining articles on Viebly.
What Is The Rating Of The Film Casablanca?
The film Casablanca has a PG rating.
Who Is The Music Director Of The Film Casablanca?
Max Steiner is the music director of the film.
Who Is The Producer Of The Film Casablanca?
Hall B. Walls was the producer of the film Casablanca amongst a few others.
Is The Film Casablanca Based On A True Story?
No, the story of Casablanca is based on a play by Murray Burnett and Joan Allison.
What Is The Runtime Of The Film Casablanca?
1h 42m is the runtime of the film Casablanca.
