Casablanca (1983 TV series)
Short-lived 1983 TV series based on the classic film.
Casablanca is an American drama series from 1983, adapted from the 1942 film of the same name and centered on espionage and intrigue during World War II. A total of five episodes were produced; the show premiered on NBC on April 10, 1983, followed by episodes on April 17 and 24, after which it was canceled. The two remaining episodes that had not aired were eventually broadcast four months later, on August 27 and September 3, as part of summer programming. This was the second television series based on the movie; the first, a 1955 show starring Charles McGraw as Rick Blaine, also had a short run, lasting only ten episodes.
The cast includes David Soul as Rick Blaine, Reuven Bar-Yotam as Ferrari, Hector Elizondo as Captain Louis Renault, Kai Wulff as Lieutenant Heinz, Patrick Horgan as Major Strasser, Ray Liotta as Sacha, Arthur Malet as Carl, and Scatman Crothers as Sam.
As in the 1942 film—which was widely released in 1943, won the Academy Award for Best Picture in March 1944—the main character is Rick Blaine, here played by David Soul (born in 1943). The role of French police captain Louis Renault, originally portrayed by Claude Rains, is taken by Hector Elizondo. Sydney Greenstreet’s black marketeer Ferrari is played by Reuven Bar-Yotam. Sacha the bartender, a comedic role in the film played by Leonid Kinskey, is given a serious interpretation by Ray Liotta. Sam, the iconic piano player originally played by Dooley Wilson, is portrayed by veteran character actor Scatman Crothers (who had parodied the same role in the 1978 Neil Simon comedy *The Cheap Detective*). Carl the maître d’, originally played by S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakall, is portrayed by Arthur Malet. The main villain, Major Strasser—originally Conrad Veidt, who is fatally shot by Rick at the film’s end—is played by English actor Patrick Horgan. Strasser is also given an aide, Lieutenant Heinz, played by Kai Wulff. The series is set roughly a year before the events of the 1942 film.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- World War II spy/intrigue
- Starring
- David Soul / Hector Elizondo / Ray Liotta / Patrick Horgan
- Theme Music Composer
- Gerald Fried / Peter Matz
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Num Seasons
- 1
- Num Episodes
- 5
- Executive Producer
- David L. Wolper
- Producer
- Charles B. Fitzsimons
- Company
- David L. Wolper Productions / Warner Bros. Television
- Location
- California
- Runtime
- 60 minutes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series features David Soul as Rick Blaine, a role originated by Humphrey Bogart in the 1942 film. Hector Elizondo plays Captain Louis Renault, Reuven Bar-Yotam portrays Ferrari, and Ray Liotta takes the role of Sacha the bartender as a serious character. Scatman Crothers plays Sam, the piano player, while Arthur Malet appears as Carl the maître d'. Patrick Horgan plays Major Strasser, with Kai Wulff as his aide Lieutenant Heinz. The series is described as taking place over a year before the events depicted in the 1942 film.
Reader's Guide
The 1983 Casablanca series represents a notable but failed attempt to translate a beloved film classic into episodic television. Its quick cancellation after only three weeks of broadcast, followed by the airing of the remaining two episodes months later, underscores the difficulty of adapting iconic cinema for the small screen. The series is the second such attempt, the first being a 1955 show starring Charles McGraw that also lasted only 10 episodes. Despite a cast including well-known actors such as David Soul, Hector Elizondo, and Ray Liotta, the series could not capture the audience or critical acclaim of the original film, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in March 1944. Its legacy is primarily as a footnote in television history, illustrating the challenges of reviving classic properties.
Did You Know?
- Five episodes were filmed, but only three aired consecutively in April 1983 before the series was taken off the air.
- The two remaining unaired episodes were shown on August 27 and September 3, 1983, during summer programming.
- This was the second attempt at a TV series based on the 1942 film; the first was a 1955 show starring Charles McGraw that lasted 10 episodes.
- Ray Liotta played Sacha the bartender as a serious role, whereas the 1942 film portrayed the character comically.
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