Considered one of the greatest films of the twentieth century, Casablanca earned three Academy Awards (including Best Picture) and instant critical and commercial success following its release in 1942. Directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, this romantic drama is still hailed for its all-star cast, exceptional screenwriting, and memorable soundtrack, and continues to be ranked as one of the greatest motion pictures ever made.

This inaugural volume in the Critical Insights Film series contains insightful essays analyzing the reasons for this film classic’s acclaim, as well as its influences on the film industry as we know it today. Essays are 5,000 words in length and offer analyses of Casablanca based on cultural and historical contexts, close viewings from particular critical standpoints (from traditional to postmodern), comparisons in the light of other films, and critical receptions over time. All essays are written by renowned film scholars of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, providing in-depth, academic coverage of all key issues and interpretations.