Fashion Me Fabulous: Casablanca in theaters!!!

Turner Classic Movies released Casablanca to the big screen for a One Night Only. And I just had to go. If you don't know already, Humphrey Bogart is my most favourite actor and I've seen 48 of his 80 films and own about half. At first the closest theater showing it was in Ohio and it was just too far for me to drive for a 2 hour movie. But then they extended it to an additional 200 theaters and one was in Erie. I was so excited!! The date that TCM chose for this One Night Only engagement was the 60th anniversary of Humphrey Bogart winning his only Oscar for Best Actor and it was 70 years after Casablanca debuted in New York.

I wore a new grey skirt, black sweater, grey wool felt hat, and pearl and diamond costume jewelry. I loved my outfit. I drove up to Erie to meet Briss at his work. He was running behind on his work and I was worrie we would miss the beginning. So we rushed over to the theater and as we were walking in a girl said, "you must be here for Casablanca with that costume." I turned around and she was wearing a Casablanca shirt. It made my night. We get in the theater and find that it is completely packed!! The ages of most people were over 50 but there were a few of us young ones. I even saw one man in a trench coat just like the one Humphrey Bogart wears in the end scene. Some very die hard fans.

TCM introduces Casablanca

Briss and I found seats near the middle and next to an elderly couple. Briss remarked that the theater smelled like old people and I hate to admit it but it did smell like a nursing home. As we sat down, Robert Osborne opened up the movie with an introduction to Casablanca. Briss took out his phone to shut it off and the man next to us yelled, "can you turn that off please?!" Briss was quite a bit mad as he turned to him and said, "thats exactly what I'm doing." I'm fairly certain the man felt quite embarrassed when he realised Briss was in his blues not doing anything wrong because he wouldn't make eye contact with me after the film.

So after a glorious introduction by Robert Osborne the film began and the theater applauded when the title card came on. The theater again clapped when Bogie was first shown. But from there the theater was silent. No one was munching on popcorn, no one was tapping their feet, each and every one of us there was there to enjoy the beauty and magic of Casablanca. It was a wonderful thing to feel the energy of that theater. After the film concluded there was a hearty round of applause. It was amazing. Seeing Humphrey Bogart as he was meant to be seen on a 30 foot screen so that when he looked at you, it was as if he was looking straight at me, made my heart flutter. That is how movies are to be enjoyed.

It was a great, amazing, magical, memorable night. If you are interested in reading my post about Casablanca I wrote in 2010 go here: Casablanca Post