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Casablanca The Complete Budget Breakdown
It’s one of the greatest movies of all time and the following fascinating info is a very interesting breakdown of just how much the whole thing cost to put together. These figures could all be multiplied by 20 or much more in the case of the actor’s salaries if the movie were to be made today of course.
Continuity and Treatment
CASABLANCA is based on an unproduced play entitled Everybody Comes to Rick’s by Murray Burnett and Joan Allison. The amount Warner Brothers paid for Everybody Comes to Rick’s was $20,000.
- The following are salaries paid to studio writers and other personnel for work on the script:W. Klein: $1,983
Aeneas MacKenzie: $2,150
Julius Epstein: $15,208
Phillip Epstein: $15,208
Howard Koch: $4,200
Lenore Coffee: $750
Secretaries: $1,432
Script changes: $6,350Writers’ Salaries Grand Total: $47,281 - Director’s Salary: Michael Curtiz: $73,400
- Producer’s Salary: Hal Wallis: $52,000
- Assistant Directors:To the week ending May 23, 1942: $3,036
Lee Katz: $1,431
George Tobin: $560
Alma Dwight: $630
Extra Assistant: $280
Hugh McMullen: $1,400
Robert Aisner: $1,000
Al Alleborn: $1,500Assistant Directors’ Grand Total: $9,837
- Cameramen & Assistants:To the week ending May 23, 1942: $2,813
Director of Photography: Arthur Edeson, A.S.C.: $4,000
2nd Cameraman: $1,040
Assistant: $640
Still man: $880
Test, Extra cameras: $1,500Cameramen’ Grand Total: $10,873
- Cast Salaries:
Humphrey Bogart
$36,667
Ingrid Bergman
$25,000
Paul Henreid
$25,000
Claude Rains
$22,000
Conrad Veidt
$25,000
Sydney Greenstreet
$7,900
Peter Lorre
$2,333
S.Z. Sakall
$2,600
Madeleine LeBeau
$700
Gino Corrado
$350
Dooley Wilson
$3,500
Joy Page
$200
Martin Garralaga
$300
John Qualen
$400
Dan Seymour
$1,000
Leo Mostovoy
$2,267
George Dee
$300
Helmut Dantine
$800
Curt Bois
$1,000
Marcel Dalio
$667
Corinna Mura
$2,000
A. Extras:………………………………….$44,978
B. Bits: ……………………………………..$10,551
C. Animal Handlers: ……………………..$490Talent Grand Total: $161,584
- Musicians:A. Song writers, releases, arrangers: $8,000
B. Musicians: $20,000Musicians’ Grand Total: $28,000 - Property Labor:A. Prop Labor: $850
B. Set Dressers: $2,635
C. Prop Operating Labor: $6,665Property Labor Grand Total: $10,150 - Construction of Sets: $18,000
- Stand-by Labor: $15,350
- Electrical Rental and Expense: $750
- Electricians:A. Rigging: $1,500
B. Operating: $18,380
C. Striking: $875Electricians Grand Total: $20,755 - Make-up Expense:A. Make-up salaries: $6,000
B. Hairdressers salaries: $2,600
C. Wigs purchased and rented: $500Make-up Expense Grand Total: $9,100 - Art Department Salaries: $8,846
- Cutters Salaries: $4,630
- Property Rental and Expense:A. Outside rentals: $2,790
B. Outside purchases: $1,275
C. Studio charges: $2,235Property Rental and Expense Grand Total: $6,300 - Location Expense: $1,252
- Trick shots, Miniatures, Etc.:A. Miniature construction: $3,025
B. Cameramen: $1,775
C. Operating Labor: $1,300
D. Electricians: $1,373Trick shots, Miniatures, Etc. Grand Total: $7,475
- Wardrobe Expense:A. Outside Rentals: $5,000
B. Outside Purchases: $1,000
C. Studio Charges: $6,035
D. Wardrobe labor: $10,285Wardrobe Expense Grand Total: $22,320 - Negative Film: $8,000
- Developing & Printing: $10,500
- Camera Rental & Expense: $400
- Meals: $1,200
- Auto Rental Expense & Travel: $5,000
- Insurance: $2,800
- Miscellaneous Expenses: $3,350
- Sound Expense: $2,200
- Trailer: $2,000
- Sound Operating Salaries: $8,000
- Stills: $850
- Publicity: $3,000Total Direct Cost: …………………………….. $638,222General Studio Overhead @ 35%: $223,822
Depreciation @ 2 1/2%: $15,956
- Grand Total Cost: $878,000