Casablanca HD DVD Special Features

How very interesting that Casablanca, a film viewed by Warner Brothers in 1943 as nothing special, and one that producer Hal B. Wallis had wanted to cast Ronald Reagan, Dennis Morgan and Ann Sheridan as the leads, would end up on top of many film lists and 60 years later be launched on the newest film technology of HD DVD. Surely if (Rick Blaine) and Ingrid Bergman (Ilsa Lund) had known they would appear under a microscope on high definition TV, they may have asked for better make-up people. But really, could Ingrid Bergman be anymore lovelier?

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE HD-DVD

If you haven't watched Casablanca, the story of two star-crossed lovers who become victims of WWII and Germany's invasion of European countries, it's a must see - any where, any way. Watching it on DVD is okay since it's hard to find on the big screen, but watching it in HD-DVD is even better.

The film was made in black and white, which some people today nix as boring. Any film that's as great as Casablanca wraps the viewer up in the story and is as entertaining as if it's in color. Warner's high definition enhances the black and white film, creating a clear sharp image that reveals more details then was obvious in the traditional early version.

One example is when Rick is reading the dear-John letter from Ilsa at the train station in France. It's raining, the ink is beginning to run, but you can easily read every word on the page as Rick reads it as well.

While the story itself is captivating, watching the movie in high definition calls attention to the smallest of details that adds enrichment to the film's enjoyment. Each time the patrons in Rick's Café American take a drink, you notice the glass.

Casablanca HD DVD © Turner Entertainment/Warner Home Video