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: $1,500
Assistant 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: $1,500
Cameramen’ 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: ……………………..$490
Talent 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