Censorship and Casablanca

Casablanca is one of the most researched and analyzed films in scholarship. However, an historical analysis reveals that censorship by the federal government influenced how Warner Brothers shot and edited the film. A review of the federal documents from the Office of War Information, Bureau of Motion Pictures, and the Overseas Bureau forced changes in the film involving the depiction of the French. We consider several parts of the film identified by the censors as problematic and consider how Warner Brothers shot those scenes, including the famous conclusion of the film.