Tweet ROMANTIC CLASSIC "CASABLANCA" TO BE SCREENED ON FACEBOOK

BURBANK, CALIF., May 15, 2012 – Here’s looking at you kid! Warner Bros. Digital Distribution today announced the legendary film “Casablanca” – which critic Leonard Maltin calls “the best Hollywood movie of all time,” starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman and winner of three Academy Awards®, including Best Picture (1944), can be viewed directly on the “Casablanca” movie Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/CasablancaTheMovie" target="_blank). On Wednesday, May 16 movie fans across the United States are invited to microwave some popcorn and gather by the warm glow of the computer monitor to enjoy a complimentary showing this timeless love story at 7 pm ET and 7 pm PT.

This complimentary screening of “Casablanca” celebrates the recent launch of the “Casablanca 70th Anniversary Three-disc Blu-ray + DVD Combo Edition” from Warner Home Video. This limited and numbered gift set edition will introduce two never-before-seen documentaries – “Casablanca: An Unlikely Classic,” and “Michael Curtiz: The Greatest Director You Never Heard Of.” The new documentaries will complete the most extensive collection of content in one gift set -- more than 14 hours of bonus material that also includes a compilation of three comprehensive feature length documentaries: “The Brothers Warner, You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story” and “Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul.” The “Casablanca 70th Anniversary 3-Disc Blu ray + DVD Combo Edition” is now available for $64.99 SRP.

This special screening event also celebrates “Inside the Script,” a new digital publishing initiative that gives movie fans an innovative new way to go deep inside their favorite films. “Inside the Script” is a series of highly illustrated eBooks that contain the film’s actual shooting script, rare materials from the Warner Bros. Corporate Archive and much more. The first series of “Inside the Script” titles are based on cinematic treasures including, “Casablanca,” “Ben-Hur,” “An American in Paris” and “North by Northwest,” and are currently available via iBookstore, Kindle and NOOK by Barnes & Noble.

“Inside the Script” offers movie fans an all-access pass to go behind-the-scenes of the films they know and love. Every “Inside the Script” title includes the film’s complete shooting script in a customizable eBook format; dozens of chapters about the script and the film that detail the movie’s development; rare historical documents such as production notes, storyboards and candid photos; and an interactive image gallery of costumes, on-set stills, movie posters, set designs and behind-the-scenes photos.

Highlighted elements from “Casablanca: Inside the Script” include:
- Jack Warner’s telegrams and memos
- Producer Hal Wallis’ script and production notes
- Production Code Administration letters, notes and seal of approval
- Telegram from producer Hal Wallis refuting his fight with Jack Warner

Note: Movie fans must begin watching “Casablanca” prior to 9 pm PT through the film’s Facebook Page. Only one screening per Facebook account is permitted. Additional details on the screening can be found at (http://www.facebook.com/CasablancaTheMovie" target="_blank).

About the Film
“Casablanca” has remained a beloved favorite for almost seven decades, and was voted the screen’s greatest love story and the #3 film of all time by the American Film Institute (AFI). This classic wartime romance also took Oscars® for Michael Curtiz (Directing -1944); Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and Howard Koch (Writing – Screenplay -1944 ) and the studio (Outstanding Motion Picture -1944 ).

“Casablanca”: easy to enter, but much harder to leave, especially if you're wanted by the Nazis. Such a man is Resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), whose only hope is Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a cynical American who sticks his neck out for no one - especially Victor's wife Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), the ex-lover who broke his heart. Ilsa offers herself in exchange for Laszlo's transport out of the country and bitter Rick must decide what counts more - personal happiness or countless lives hanging in the balance.

About Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD) oversees the electronic distribution of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group’s content through Video-On-Demand, Pay-Per-View, Electronic Sell-Through and Subscription Video-On-Demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels. WBDD also distributes content through third party digital retailers and licensees. A worldwide industry leader since its inception, WBDD also manages the Studio’s E-commerce sites that include WBShop.com and WarnerArchive.com. Twitter: @WBDigitalDist

Nice to see the people in the know at WB who had something to do with the advert, show "Louis" where Rick pronounced the name as "Louie", which is the correct French pronunciation.

Phew, so glad people finally have a chance to see this long-buried lost classic of the silver screen!

Phew, so glad people finally have a chance to see this long-buried lost classic of the silver screen!

My thoughts exactly.

Phew, so glad people finally have a chance to see this long-buried lost classic of the silver screen!

My thoughts exactly.

Oh, I dunno, I think this is a very clever way to reach a new audience. If you're going to try to market to a newbie you can't do much better than Casablanca. It will be interesting to see how successful it is.

Phew, so glad people finally have a chance to see this long-buried lost classic of the silver screen!

My thoughts exactly.

Oh, I dunno, I think this is a very clever way to reach a new audience. If you're going to try to market to a newbie you can't do much better than Casablanca.

Well, 'tisn't often I disagree with ya, Fred but....why CASABLANCA in particular?

Oh, I dunno, I think this is a very clever way to reach a new audience. If you're going to try to market to a newbie you can't do much better than Casablanca.

Well, 'tisn't often I disagree with ya, Fred but....why CASABLANCA in particular?

It's got a high profile as a great film (what with all those lists people insist on making). Even people who don't watch older films have heard (no matter how vaguely) of Casablanca. I assume they are trying to reach an audience that is social-media savvy but who may not be familiar with classic films, and they'll cast a wider net with Casablanca, than say, Dziga Vertov. Yes, I've seen it a gadzillion times, you've seen it a gadzillion times, but I suspect they're trying to catch people who will be seeing it for the first time. Those people are born every day and they aren't born with a priori knowledge of classic films, they need an introduction to them, just like we all did. Casablanca is also a great film, it delivers on all the promises, it's a sterling example of how entertaining classic films can be. They are also flogging all the production materials they are now marketing for the film, which can be used interactively on FB. They can then announce: "If you liked watching and discussing Casablanca on Facebook, stay tuned--our next FB classic, scheduled for next month, is (insert classic war horse here)!"

So I'm sticking with Casablanca, sirs.

Oooohhhhhhh....grrrrr....why do you have to be so right sometimes??!!

I'm goin into a sulk.

Oooohhhhhhh....grrrrr....why do you have to be so right sometimes??!!

I'm goin into a sulk.

Have a Guinness with that sulk, it will be more enjoyable.

I still say they shoulda gone with Sh! The Octopus.

[Christopher Jacobs]

I still say they shoulda gone with Sh! The Octopus.

What, not GOLDEN DAWN?

Oooohhhhhhh....grrrrr....why do you have to be so right sometimes??!!

I'm goin into a sulk.

Have a Guinness with that sulk, it will be more enjoyable.

Michael, you were lucky to get away with "Sometimes "....

I still say they shoulda gone with Sh! The Octopus.

What, not GOLDEN DAWN?

Maybe if they colourize it.

Casablanca is about a man who betrays his friends.
Quite appropriate for Facebook.

Oooohhhhhhh....grrrrr....why do you have to be so right sometimes??!!

I'm goin into a sulk.

Michael, you were lucky to get away with "Sometimes "....

I was about to go into a real hissy fit over that, but then I remembered how many times I've fallen flat on my face. Note to self, scratch hissy.

Oooohhhhhhh....grrrrr....why do you have to be so right sometimes??!!

I'm goin into a sulk.

Have a Guinness with that sulk, it will be more enjoyable.

Michael, you were lucky to get away with "Sometimes "....

Hah yeah...