Once again, the line to get in stretched down the block…
“Welcome back to the fight. This time, I know our side will win.” ~ Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid) to Rick (Humphrey Bogart) in Casablanca (1942).
We had 695 patrons join us on February 10, 2015, for our screening of Casablanca at the Pickwick Theatre. This was our second-largest turnout behind Gone With the Wind, which we had screened in December. As a result of playing two of the most popular films ever made back-to-back, our last two shows have brought in 1400+ people. We are extremely grateful to all our supporters. Everybody comes to the Pickwick Theatre… and two of our dearest regulars even brought their “letters of transit.” (Thank you, Bobbie & Jimmii.)
We had the theatre lobby decorated in honor of the film and to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Jay Warren performed the pre-show music on the theatre’s Mighty Wurlitzer organ. He ended at 7:30 with a memorable rendition of “As Time Goes By,” the theme song from Casablanca. One of our assistants, Elizabeth, took the time to set up a “baby monitor” in the lobby so that those filing in could hear Jay performing in the auditorium.
Onstage we took a poll to see how many people had seen Casablanca before. Several dozen were seeing the film for the first time while most had seen it many times before. It was a mixture of young and old in attendance, and not one of them was disappointed. Casablanca truly is a perfect film. When the movie was over, you could hear the audience applause from where we were standing in the foyer.
For us, the highlight of our presentation was a special written introduction prepared by Monika Henreid, daughter of actor Paul Henreid. For those unable to attend our event, we’d like to share with you Monika’s words about her father.
* * *
WISHING YOU GREAT SUCCESS, MATTHEW …
CASABLANCA was only my father’s third film in Hollywood. His stories and memories were mostly about how badly Michael Curtiz behaved toward the extras and supporting players…people my father admired and many of whom he knew from their already well established careers in Europe.
He very much enjoyed playing chess with Bogie. As a matter of fact, he and Bogie would leave the set and go to his dressing room and play during any number of Curtiz’ tirades … with Claude Rains coming along to kibitz
The beginning of many beautiful friendships, possibly no film has been more dissected, analyzed, studied and admired.
Everyone has their own relationship with CASABLANCA…and relationships have developed because of it. The romance, humor, dialog, and honor have all become a part of Classic cinema history but more importantly have become a part of our lives. The characters have become our friends.
I have introduced this film numerous times at film festivals and am always surprised and delighted by the interaction of the audience. I enjoy that they can be split half and half with fans who have seen it ‘a million times’ and those who are ‘newbies’ becoming the next generations of fans and friends. (Matthew – Please ask your audience by a show of hands, who have seen it a ‘million times’ and who are ‘newbies.’)
The film was populated by actors who were real life immigrants who had just experienced what their characters are going through. I believe this is what gives it such great authenticity… something you couldn’t find at Central Casting.
My father was one of those … although he was well into his career as a matinee idol, he left Austria because he had been blacklisted by Goebbels for refusing to sign the Nazi film union contract and because he was an outspoken anti-Nazi. Then after starting a successful stage and film career in England, he was blacklisted for assumed pro-Nazi leanings. That is, he was an Austrian and after the occupation, a German, and by extension a Nazi.
Wrong! They couldn’t have been more wrong. But it was the War and he was about to be separated from my mother and deported. So he and Victor Laszlo were not so far apart.
And even though he was blacklisted again – in Hollywood this time – during the McCarthy/HUAC era, his story does have a pretty happy ending. He did get the girl – my mother, continued acting and was able to parlay his career into directing and producing.
So please enjoy this classic of all classic films. I only wish I was there with you. If you would like to know more or engage in conversation please join me at:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paul-Henreid-Beyond-Victor-Laszlo-A-Daughters-Memoir/203644473116233
Humphrey Bogart and Paul Henreid
Program host Matthew Hoffman with Movie Hostess Allison.
Allison reading Monika Henreid’s introduction…
Shannon, Matthew, Elizabeth, and Allison…
The Pickwick Theatre Classic Film Series: where every screening becomes an event, and where every movie is celebrated.
