Just because in 2008 Warner Brothers called their new home video release of Casablanca an “Ultimate Collector’s Edition,” doesn’t mean that they weren’t going to try and outdo themselves at some future point. (All in the name of getting you to buy a new edition of the film for your library, of course.) And the announced specs for the the studio’s new “70th Anniversary Ultimate Collection” of the film certainly sounds like they are.
The complete specs for the new three-disc set are below, but here are a few highlights. First up is the film is being presented in a new 4K restoration. In addition to the Roger Ebert commentary that has been on the last couple of releases of the film, Warners has added a new commentary track from film historian Rudy Behlmer. There are also a number of new featurettes and a return of their “Night At The Movies” feature which allows you to watch the movie sandwiched with a number of shorts, cartoons and newsreels from around the time that Casablanca was released. And the last Ultimate Edition’s 48-page photo book looks like it is being one-upped with a new 62-page production art book. It also looks as if the (edited down) pilot episode of the 1955 Casablanca television series that appeared in the last set hasn’t made the transition to the new one. (And come on, Warners. How about releasing an episode of the short-lived 1983 series with David Soul, Scatman Crothers, Hector Elizondo and Ray Liotta?)
Here’s what you’ll be getting for your money when the 70Th Anniversary Edition of Casablanca hits store shelves on March 27-
- Introduction by Lauren Bacall
Two audio commentaries:
– Film critic Roger Ebert
– Film historian Rudy Behlmer - Roster for Warner’s “A Night at the Movies” viewing mode:
– Theatrical trailer for Now Voyager
– Vintage newsreel
– Vaudeville Days short feature
– The Bird Came C.O.D. short feature
– The Squawkin’ Hawk short feature
– The Dover Boys At Pimento University Or The Rivals Of Roquefort Hall short feature - Eight behind-the-scenes documentaries:
– Michael Curtiz: The Greatest Director You Never Heard Of
– Casablanca: An Unlikely Classic
– You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story
– The Brothers Warner
– Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul
– Great Performances: Bacall on Bogart
– You Must Remember This: A Tribute to Casablanca
– As Time Goes By: The Children Remember - Deleted scenes
- Outtakes
- Who Holds Tomorrow? feature
- Carrotblanca Looney Tunes cartoon
- Scoring the Casablanca stage sessions
- Two vintage Casablanca radio broadcasts:
– 4/26/43: Lady Esther Screen Guild Theater
– 11/19/47: Vox Pop
Additionally, the blu-ray edition will also feature the following –
- Full size reproduction of the original 1942 film poster
- Sixty-two-page production art book that includes never-before-seen photos, personal memos, and archival documents about the production
- Four collectible drink coaster
